Tempted by her charm?

ONE of the most eye-catching period homes on the Mizen Head peninsula in West Cork, Ballyrisode House, is up for sale.

Victorian in origin and character, the place has a wooded backdrop and can just be glimpsed off the main road between Schull and Goleen, and has a beach located a few hundred yards away across the main road.

Up for sale with Charles McCarthy of Skibbereen with a 1.25 million euro price guide and on twelve acres of land, it is likely to see strong bidding given the rarity of good period homes in the area - and the profile of buyers among both holiday home hunters and overseas buyers charmed by the area’s acknowledged beauty.

Dating back to the 1800s on the site of an older house and associated for many years with the Hungerford family who were local landlords and related to the Beecher family who had huge estates in the area, Ballyrisode was sold by the Hungerfords in 1981 to a German buyer who is now vacating.

Ballyrisode House is the sort of property a lot of passers-by will have coveted Mr McCarthy predicts strongest interest from indigenous Irish and British bidders, with the UK-based buyers having the currency differential in their favour.

The house is in very good overall condition, and one of its finest features is the south-west facing conservatory with mature vines inside, as well as a fireplace that doubles as an indoor barbecue.

There is over 2,500 sq ft of space, with four principal bedrooms (two en suite) and one has access to a central gable balcony. There’s a first floor sauna and shower, and the ground floor has two reception rooms with fireplaces, library, inner and outer hall, modern kitchen and old, original kitchen as well. Most of the ground level has oak flooring, and windows are double glazed painted teak.

Apart from the main house, there is an old stone-built stable block and yard in need of renovation and/or conversion.

As there is a separate entrance to this section (the old farmyard), it could be run as self-catering accommodation or guest quarters without impinging on the privacy of the house itself.

The grounds are very mature, with a variety of native hardwoods and some semi-tropical species given the mild climate at sea level and the influence of the Gulf Stream.

Lawns in front of the house are framed by woodland and quickly run to pasture.

Cuts of silage are made close to the house, with the bales all wrapped up like so much packed lunches for cattle, while there is some colourful screening of hydrangeas and roses close to the house which itself has the obligatory skirt of climbing plants.

The property is roughly mid way between Goleen and Schull in West Cork, five miles from the former and about six from the latter, with Cork city only about a 90 minute drive away.