Rare chance for a chunk of the gold coast

Rose Martin

This 40-acre farm comes on the market in a state of nature that is, it hasn't been 'done' and it has boundless attractions, not least, three private beaches and enough land to keep the hoi polloi at bay.

And while the price might seem a bit steep for a traditional three-bedroom farmhouse and separate apartment, it's about the price of a four-bed detached house in the outer suburbs of Dublin or a semi in areas closer to the city.

In west Cork, it buys you a chunk of the gold coast and some pretty cool neighbours from the world of the arts and some pretty wealthy ones from everywhere else.

Last year, a converted farmhouse on 35 acres of coastline hit the market at 3 million and, while the demographic for such a property might seem narrow, there has been plenty of interest says that property's auctioneer,, Dominic Daly.

Whitehall farm bounds the Whitehall Estate, a 100-acre holding at Rincolisky Harbour which sold some five years ago for a reputed, 1.5 million. This sale didn't include Rincolisky Castle, which was retained by its German owner who hopes to restore it.

The O'Driscoll clan redoubt was built in 1495 and faces Jeremy Irons' McCarthy Ríoch Castle across the bay.

Whitehall farm has a certain cachet of its own as the property of local poet, Willie O'Regan, who has catalogued the life and times of his hinterland and written epics, odes and elegies which have a strong, local circulation.

He also holds the distinction of being born and reared on West Skeam island, one of Carbery's Hundred Isles, and left there for Turk Head in 1943.

You couldn't live on the island on your own, he says, as landing a boat required two people and even today it's very difficult to negotiate a landing there.

His farm is a rectangle of land running down to Rincolisky Bay and it includes three private beaches, two of which are a mix of sand and shale, which, with a bit of seaweed clearing, are perfect for a dip. They are also very private and would have made perfect smugglers' coves.

The land is kind, and fairly level all the way to the sea, while the bulk of the 40 acres is behind the farmhouse.

This comes with an outhouse to the side that has been converted to a first-floor apartment. However, there's huge potential to convert the entire building.

The farmhouse is typical of its type, with a main kitchen to the left of the hallway and 'the room' to the right. The staircase in the middle rises to three bedrooms and there's a bathroom and kitchen extension to the rear.

Behind the house is a farmyard with a haybarn and cattle-holding facilities, which could allow another dwelling on its footprint, subject to negotiation with Cork County Council.

Just up the road is Cunnamore Pier, with its ferry to Hare Island, a very popular holiday destination, and Skibbereen is a 10-minute drive away. Ballydehob and Schull are a short drive in the opposite direction.

John Hodnett of SWS Property Services is looking for offers in the region of E1.1 million for this rare Whitehall farm sale.