A place to row your boat out for

CASTLETOWNSHEND is the little village which was home to one half of the Somerville and Ross team, writers of the Irish RM stories.

Their subtle-humoured tales were based on local people and the countryside of West Cork the same vein ploughed by Peter McCarthy in his recent book, McCarthy's Bar.

Another McCarthy (and one mentioned in the travelogue) is auctioneer Charlie McCarthy who's selling the former priest's house in Castletownshend.

While the village has a strong Anglo-Irish flavour (its architecture is part of its charm) the parochial house is also an attractive period residence which has been completely renovated and comes with a converted boathouse.

Priced at €850,000, this is an attractive package for buyers, says Mr McCarthy, because it comes with two separate houses and beautiful grounds of three acres with the all-important sea views.

Approached by a long private driveway from the road, Taggart Park has south and west-facing terraces and beautifully landscaped grounds with lots of mature trees.

Although extended, the creeper-clad property retains a certain gentility while being warm and liveable.Ground floor rooms come with period fireplaces and decorative plasterwork and include two formal reception rooms. These are the drawing room of 10m by 4m and a dining room of 3.8m by 3.8m.

The dining room connects to the kitchen, which is fully fitted and comes with granite worktop.

A walk-in pantry is separate to the utility room/back kitchen, which in turn has access to a garage.

Other rooms include a lounge/study of 4m by 4m and this room has built-in shelving and a fireplace.

The first floor has four double bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a linen cupboard and separate shower room.

The boat house is a well-finished guest apartment, with garage/boat space below, as well as an entrance hall and study. All of the living accommodation is overhead.

This includes an open-plan sitting room, dining room and kitchen with a door to an attractive, cutaway balcony.

One large bedroom of 5m by 2.5m is also located here and there is a separate bathroom.

This house has electric storage heating and the main house has oil heating and all main services.

Also geared up for a launch in the next three weeks is the controversial Fleming Construction development called The Lawn, in Castletownshend.

Following a series of objections by locals, the 43-house mixed scheme is ready to roll with Cahalane Skuse and Co.

The response has been very strong already, says Fleming's Vincent O'Donovan, for the range of townhouses, semis and detached units designed by architect Roddy Hogan.

Starting at €195,000 for a two-bedroomed townhouse, the scheme is an expensive build, says Mr O'Donovan, and the finish includes stone facing and timber windows.

Set off the village, the new estate is unobtrusive from the main street, he says, but will have lovely sea and country views.

This is the first development of its kind in Castletownshend, a village that has changed little since the 19th century.