Rock on at this perfect pied-á-terre in the centre of gourmet capital

BUILT just over five years ago and looking quite traditional on the outside, this Kinsale property is in the vanguard of the O’Connell Street renaissance.

The once derelict street, which runs parallel to the quays, is now in the throes of a makeover with an award-winning commercial building, the infill of vacant sites and the sale of the landmark Captain’s Cabin, which is due to be converted to apartments and retail units.

The home of two, who’ve now become three, this chic, three-storey property is not built for babies and the gorgeous but potentially perilous staircase doesn’t really wear stair guards well.

Number 63 Lower O’Connell Street has its living room on the top floor with bedrooms spread from the bottom up and the entrance, for cars and pedestrians, off the street.

Built into the rock face, with the ramparts overhead, this is a perfect pied-á-terre in one of the most cosmopolitan towns in Ireland, which means it should see a heavy footfall for selling agent Pacelli Nolan of SWS Property Services.

She gives a guide price of €425,000 for this three-bedroom house which has many interesting features, not least that central staircase and open plan top floor.

The house is very private with a wide, gated entrance leading to a patio area at the rear, with pond - the rocks provide their own water feature in wet weather.

The entrance doorway leads through to a ground floor utility on one side and bedroom/study. On the first floor are two double bedrooms and a big, raised bathroom overlooking the rear. Then, the stairs curve upward to the open-plan living room, with Amish chairs and table, a living area in the middle and a curved, modern kitchen at the far end.

This virtual citadel has run with the ‘defensible space’ theme and allows the chef to overlook the entire room, but without interference. And, to one side, a door leads out to a Juliet balcony over looking the rock face.

On a cursory glance, it might be possible to extend the living space with a deck, which would bring the outdoors in to this second floor.

Oil heating, supplemented by a pot belly stove in the living room, is the main source of energy and the house has some top of the range lighting and security.

As a ready to go property in the middle of a heritage town, number 63 is a good bet.