Go west and enjoy the country life

FOR not much more than the cost of a good family home in Cork’s western suburbs, those families prepared to go further west will get a period home and the trappings of country life.

As a non-suburban option, Brandon House, at Aghabullogue near Coachford, is about 18 miles west or a 30 minute drive along the Lee Valley from Cork city, close, but not too close.

It is a relatively compact Georgian property, the sort of place that might be described as modest in size, except that it has five bedrooms, and two of these have ensuites with baths.

The ground floor level has a sitting room and dining room, each with corniced ceilings and marble fireplaces, there is also a garden room with a modern stone fireplace, wood floor and a 20’ by 10’ lean-to conservatory off it via sliding doors. Unfortunately, the conservatory is only single glazed and so won’t be practical all year around.

Other accommodation includes a kitchen and study, with garden access from the study, and the utility room off the back hallway also has garden access, and a guest loo alongside.

The house is quite original, with its low pitch slate roof and classic sash windows, and has been minded but not hugely invested in.

Peter Cave of CB Hamilton Osborne King says new owners can move in and make whatever changes they want as they go along - it won’t require a period of absence for overhaul. €500,000 is the asking price.

Brandon House has oil central heating, there’s a double garage and a single garage - no old stone outbuildings - but the property comes on 5.5 acres of land, so there’s room for horses, ponies, dogs and wild children. The gardens, just in need of slight rescuing, include an orchard with apple and pear trees, fruit bushes and paddocks.

Bandon House is two miles from Coachford, and is privately set with mature trees.