Choice of two very different properties, and price brackets

RIGHT in the heart of Irish RM country, this house in Castletownshend is as old as the village itself, says Aidan Murphy.

The Town and Country selling agent gives a guide price of €325,000 for what he says is effectively two houses in one. Then, there’s site potential to the rear, which means the property has the potential to be three residences, and could be a valuable investment on that basis, according to Mr Murphy.

The gable of the house faces onto the main street but, to the rear, a series of old cottages have been assumed into the main block, which, by closing a door, could provide two own-door units, he adds.

House number one has a living/dining room with black slate floor and a traditional open fireplace with two bedrooms overhead, one with bathroom.

The second unit runs to 900 sq ft and has two bedrooms, one of which is galley style. Next is a kitchen/dining room, with separate lounge and an adjoining block extension, which, according to Mr Murphy could be knocked down in favour of a new building.

The grounds are bounded by a high stone wall to one side, and new entrances could be made in this to any new structure, says the agent.

High estate walls are a feature of the picturesque village which was preserved in aspic until two years ago, when Fleming Construction began work on a new, mixed scheme called The Lawn at the top of the town.

Despite local opposition at the time, the scheme went ahead and now only one house remains of a total of 43.

A tasty, mixed scheme, The Lawn has been an outstanding success for Flemings and selling agent Pat Maguire of SWS Property Services is now selling the last showhouse, which can be viewed on the web at www.thelawn.ie.

Priced at €600,000 (and emphatically not subject to negotiation), number 12 is a fully furnished, detached four bed with garage.