Spoiled for choice

CASHEL in Co Tipperary has two €1 million-plus Georgian home options, one a town centre villa-style house on land with development scope; the other a true country living retreat on over 20 acres of land.

Set in the centre of the market town of Cashel is Indaville, a single-storey over basement 18th century home on over three acres of private grounds, with several access points and an appeal going beyond private home hunters.

Likely to have been built as a hunting lodge, the pretty villa home had among its regular guests down the year one Charles Bianconi, an Italian- born journeyman whose Irish horses and transport cars were a successful fore-runner of the Slattery’s bus.

In fact, Bianconi started his first commuter service in 1815 between Cahir and Clonmel. Indaville is fresh on the market with Peter Cave of CB Hamilton Osborne King, with a €1.5 million price guide.

He says the fact it is so centrally located in the town of Cashel, on the main Cork to Dublin road and with the Rock of Cashel tourist focus, gives it commercial opportunities.

It has some residential building potential in the grounds and the possibility of using the house as a small niche hotel or guest house.

While it has oil central heating and creature comforts such as several en suite bedrooms, “it has lots of character and original features,” says Mr Cave.

Current layout has hall, sitting room with period detailing, dining room, morning room, kitchen, and seven bedrooms, four with en suite facilities and several have fireplaces.

Five of the seven bedrooms are at the lower basement level, where several store rooms are also located. That’s the town option.

Go a few miles outside of Cashel, towards New Inn, and you’ll have to hunt a little bit to find Garranlea House, off a cul de sac and with views of the Galtee and Knockmealdown mountains.

Also 18th century in origin, it is a sturdy, double bow-ended house with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, three reception rooms, and comes with 24 acres of land, stone stables, haggard and courtyard, and even includes the remains of an old churchyard.

The house is a very well-kept Georgian home, in excellent condition, with good country kitchen that includes an Aga set into a brick chimney, setting a comfortable living tone for the rest of the house.

Selling agent for this country option which hit the market last month as the daffodils bloomed, Garranlea House, is Michael H Daniels, who gives a €1.25 million-plus price guide.

Apart from the surrounding grounds with mature trees and borders, the hinterland is rich countryside and laden with horse-borne sporting pursuits, while Coolmore Stud is nearby.

Location is about two miles off the N8 Cork to Dublin road, and airport options for the overseas buyer include Dublin, Cork and Shannon.