Sylvan setting for mature semi in desirable Woolhara

THE jungle drums have been at work since the For Sale sign went up in the last week on Leenane - something to do with the Woolhara address, perhaps?

One of those Cork residential enclaves which favour the term ‘park’ instead of ‘estate’, Woolhara is just off the main Douglas road, almost equidistant between the old ‘village’ of Douglas and the city centre.

The setting is almost sylvan, with mature gardens giving requisite privacy, and the fact it is a cul de sac adds to the serene picture. There’s a handy sprinkling of house designs, semis, detached and varying sizes as well.

Leenane is your classic post-war semi, with a side garage conversion running the full depth of the house, even out beyond the back wall, adding to the space on offer.

Estate agent Tom Woodward estimates its floor area to be 1,700 sq ft, which is certainly more than meets the eye or expectation from the exterior.

Leenane was pre-launch guided at just under €500,000, but given the initial flurry of affluent interest this was quickly pushed up to the quoted €550,000 mark: offers have already gone past €510,000, and there’s lots of viewings set to flow from next week.

It is an accommodating home, with three first floor bedrooms while the ground floor, side add-on could be a fifth bedroom (there’s a shower and guest WC off the hall), study or family room.

Otherwise, there’s a quite standard layout of front and back reception rooms with fireplaces, a breakfast room off the kitchen has a sliding patio door, and the compact kitchen has built-ins and a utility off.

It has gas heating and double glazing, and doesn’t need any obvious spending.