Coolfadda is a bit of a gem

HETTYFIELD has a ring to it; not only is it a catchy name, but it’s also, in the auctioneering lexicon, one of the most ‘desirable’ and ‘sought after’ estates in the southern suburbs of Cork city.

It’s the inner Douglas attraction, good houses, good schools, good amenities and a short hop to the city. The Cork 4 suburb is an accurate barometer of the rising economic temperature.

Apart from the Mercedes in almost every drive, these post-war houses have been tweaked, extended and improved by the new wave of buyers who have dispensed with the frugality of the previous generation.

And at the moment, Greenhills, a semi-detached house in Hettyfield, is reaching way past its guide to clear the million mark and its agent, Malcolm Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing, has just listed another property there.

Coolfadda is a bit of a gem — it’s detached, has a 0.25 acre corner site and a large footprint. It’s guaranteed to pique interest, despite the cooling market, as its size, site and location should bring out the big guns.

On the market at €1.2 million the house consists of the original four-bedroomed block and a wraparound, single-storey extension. The house has lovely bay windows overlooking the south-facing garden, which right now is covered in a blizzard of blossom. This runs to the front and side of the house, and at the back there’s a private patio and barbecue area with access from the kitchen extension.

According to Malcolm Tyrrell, this single storey building was designed to support a second storey. This could allow the creation of a large, master suite off the bedroom floor, with the existing ground floor space to play around with.

The kitchen measures 21’ by 16’, and it comes with a utility and office area with access from outside.

The original kitchen is now used as a family room, and this lies behind the main reception rooms.

This lounge and dining room area runs the length of the house and faces south over the garden. Across the hallway is the staircase, and beside it a big guest bathroom provided by the wraparound porch. Overhead, there are four, bright bedrooms and a main bathroom.

The house has gas heating and plenty of parking on a cobble-lock driveway and is set behind a private, enclosing hedge.