Close to the finish line

A HOUSE fit for the fit or for those intending to become fit, is for sale within a few furlongs of Cork racecourse above Mallow.

The recently-built large home has stables for those into horses and has its own indoor heated swimming pool, gym and hard surface tennis court as well for human creature work-outs.

If you are not into horses and just into keeping fit, the 5.2 acres of grounds will provide a bit of grass cutting exercise - especially if you choose to use a push lawnmower. On second thoughts, hold those horses. Lynlual is a contemporary home built along classical or Georgian proportions - hence a sense of symmetry in the facade and the modest reproduction porch entrance complete with obligatory white supporting columns.

The property has about 6,000 sq ft of space in all, with lots of money clearly lavished on it since its construction. It is on the market for about 750,000 with Donal Cronin of Thomas J O'Driscoll auctioneers, who guides it at for about 750,000.

He says it might be bought by a local Mallow business or professional person, by a buyer from the city keen on the attractions of country life and wanting a self-contained mini-estate, or it could be bought by an overseas purchaser: the vendors who bought in late 1990s are UK-based.

It is a mile from the main Mallow to Killarney road at Firville and is on an elevated site in an area with a string of relatively large new homes, a sort of local stockbrokers's belt, even if some of the stock in question refers to bloodstock.

There are views down towards the Blackwater valley (but not necessarily of the river itself) and further off in the distance to the Kerry hills to the west.

Country pursuits popular in the area include fishing on the Blackwater, horse riding (and the new racecourse has given the area a new influx of horse-lovers), hunting, walking and golf. For those staying at base, Lynlual has got three reception rooms, five bedrooms (four with en suites), a study, kitchen with oak units, plus cloakroom, utility and hall with open tread staircase.

But that's just the main house: in addition, there's a separate guest house with sitting room, kitchen/dining room and two bedrooms plus bathroom.

For those getting into a fitness regime, there a 35' pool with blue mosaic tile finish and a ceramic tile deck all around in a pool room measuring 46' by nearly 30' wide.

Access to the pool is from the hall in the main house and it is reached via the gym room with changing rooms.

There's a stable block and tack room, and double garage.