You’ll have the hots for this Hilton near Wilton

THEY built ‘em big in the poshly-named Hilton, back in the early 1980s, and this non-Paris Hilton example is a sizeable southern Ireland home of 3,500 sq ft of living and sleeping space, on a substantial half acre suburban site.

The Hilton estate, off Cork’s Model Farm Road, is noted for its expanse of space, privacy and greenery: you just don’t get to see your neighbours, unless you want to, or unless, per chance, there’s a forest fire.

Greystones is the latest of the Hilton houses here to come up for sale, and on average there might be a house or two changing hands here every year.

Recent values are up on the €1.5 million level, and that’s where Greystones comes in, priced at €1.6 million via agent Malcolm Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing.

The original builder of this faux-stone facaded home was Noel Parkes, and this west-facing house, in the midst of its own large and private site, backs on to a former Church of Ireland rectory with green space to the rear.

It has been owned since the early 1990s by Diarmuid and Theresa O’Donovan, who owned the Rendevous bar on Model Farm Road, as well as Darcys’ in Ballincollig. Having sold the bar businesses a few years ago, and with a family reared, they are downsizing further.

But, the move only comes after a recent family wedding which was celebrated in the gardens of Greystones. Landscape designer Brian Cross was drafted in to make sure the gardens would pass muster for the big day.

They passed, and have continued to thrive since, and will be a real boon to the next owners, and the very adaptable landscaped patio areas will be a great plus if you want to enjoy fine weather outdoor living.

The house has large living areas and five, if not six, bedrooms.

With the current raft of senior medics being appointed at the CUH and needing homes, this cohort will be among the viewing hordes but “there’ll be interest from families as well, who may be on a main or busier road in the western suburbs. Families from Ballincollig, who may want to be closer to the city, the CIT, CUH or UCC will also be interested,” Mr Tyrrell adds.

Greystones has lots of mahogany joinery at ground floor level. There is a big entrance hall, with guest WC off, a 20’ by 17’ lounge with feature fireplace and with access to an only marginally smaller formal diningroom via double doors. The dining room has patio access, there’s a study, kitchen with integrate appliances, breakfast room and off this is a big family room, with vaulted ceiling and LeDroff fireplace. This 20’ by 14’ room also has patio and garden access.

In addition, there’s a ground floor utility, rear lobby and attached garage, while overhead are six bedrooms, or five plus study, and the master bed is en suite, has a Jacuzzi bath and granite sink surrounds. The main family bathroom also has a good spec, with a five piece suite.

Space is the theme inside and out, and externally the standard is high with lots of Liscannor paving, and storage options include that garage, a tool store, boiler house, plus an outside WC.