Converted church offers spirit enhancing views

A CHURCH that has been through one conversion process is about to face another change.

Killoveenogue, near Bantry in West Cork, is home to a former chapel of ease built for an overflow of worshippers at nearby Durrus church: the local congregation had been swelled by the arrival of large numbers of Cornish miners in the mid 1800s.

Built in 1856, this former Church of Ireland chapel was deconsecrated in 1988, and was bought some time later at auction by a trio of Swiss nationals living in the area, who slowly and steadily renovated the cavity-constructed stone and brick building.

Set on the Sheep's Head Peninsula, on a 0.6 acre site, it has been used in recent years as a Centre for Art and Healing, with suspended new timber floor for dance sessions.

It has had a open balcony/mezzanine installed under its vaulted roof, reached via a spiral staircase, and has a kitchen with fitted elm units, plus a shower room most of the rest of the building is open plan with about 1,000 sq ft of space, under a steeply pitched slate roof.

One of the three Swiss owners has since returned to the Continent, and the two other owners Lisa Noel and Thomas Kay have decided to sell up and find a new base alongside a house to cut down on travel.

Killoveenoge church is on the market with agent Charles McCarthy of Skibbereen, who is currently understood to be finalising the sale of Ahakista House to TV personality Graham Norton, for up to €1.6 million.

Located four miles from Bantry and just over an hour from Cork city and airport, the former church carries a €600,000 price aspiration, is now a magnificent building that has to be viewed to be property appreciated and while a new owner is likely to switch to residential use, planing has been granted for a separate studio alongside.

The immediate setting is wooded, there are bay views and the ruins of an 8th century priory are visible nearby.