Ideal for hunting, fishing and commuting

Rose Martin is charmed by property close to beautiful Lake Inchiquin.

BUILT 35 years ago and in a style reminiscent of a hunting lodge, this house at Baunkyle, Corofin, is a bit of a gem.

Close to Lake Inchiquin, Corofin is a well-known beauty spot and is surrounded by smaller lakes which provide trout and coarse fishing.

In the middle of the county, this area of Clare is a lot quieter that the tourist spots of West Clare and Lough Derg, but both are just a short drive away.

The location also puts this detached property within commuting distance of Ennis, Shannon and Limerick city.

Unusually, this property is going for auction on May 10 and has an AMV or Advised Minimum Value of €700,000 through Sherry FitzGerald McMahon.

Impeccably presented, it offers a leafy site of 1.5 acres and a house with just under 2,600 square feet of space.

It has views over the river Fergus, and while modest in scale it has very impressive internal features, not least the handmade and curved staircase that has a Regency feel.

The house is way ahead of its time considering it was built in the seventies. Underfloor heating is installed through the ground floor and this russet facade has hardwood, double-glazed sash windows, painted in gleaming white.

Selling agent Helen Gallery says the attention to detail has to be seen to be appreciated. It’s also exceptionally bright and spacious house with a great location close to Lake Inchiquin.

The grounds are as well tended as the house, which is set back at the end of a long driveway with drifts of daffodils under planted with Silver birch. Old ditches adding a natural foil to the perfection of the shrub beds.

The Baunkyle house has a country porch entrance, but it leads into a bright, square hallway with that elegant staircase which runs into a gallery overhead. The curved stairs and balustrades are painted in a fresh white, and off to one side is a guest cloakroom with WC and whb. The main reception room is a cream tiled space, (tiles work best with underfloor heating and these are hand-made marble) running to 25’ in length and 21’ wide. French windows at the rear offer views over the Fergus and the room’s centrepiece is an 18th fireplace. The kitchen is also attractive with cream hand-painted units and white tiled worktop. The built-ins include an American fridge and a breakfast bar, and there’s an efficient walk-in larder attached with a separate, fitted utility. Two bedrooms are on the ground floor, both doubles, and they share a main bathroom.

The upper level has another living room, lit by triangular windows in the gable end and framed by white-painted struts. Again, this is a large room and mirrors the size of the ground floor lounge: it comes with an open brick fireplace and is fitted with extensive, open shelving.

The master bedroom is huge by semi standards: the bedroom area is 23’ by 14’ and it also comes with a full bathroom with separate shower and a walk-in wardrobe. The third bedroom is a small double and the fifth room is used as a study.

Also included with the property is a lovely stone outbuilding that looks like a gate lodge and, perhaps, could have conversion potential. It’s 18’ by 17’ and is used as a store/potting shed.