Might strike a chord with you

Tommy Barker finds a country retreat whose owner sings its own praises.

THERE’S a space called The Music Room in this mid-Cork home with a twist, and why wouldn’t there be? The vendor is a pro.

He’s also handy with home makeovers, as evidenced in this hugely altered, extended, upgraded and improved spot, one that sings its own praises.

A real country retreat in a parkland setting, it is being sold by its owner Jim Murray, as the lure of foreign touring, swims in the southern oceans, and more, all beckon.

A musician for as long as he can remember, he started playing the family piano at the age of three he also played accordion and then embraced the guitar, gigging with his father’s band before moving on to play with the likes of Sharon Shannon.

He also partnered Dingle-based Seamus Begley and “a decade later I’ve been lucky enough to have toured Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand many times over and have toured and recorded with people like Sinead O’ Connor, Steve Earl, Altan, Willie Nelson, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell.”

With a new album tour with Sharon Shannon starting shortly, and with Mike McGoldrick and Dezi Donnelly, who are Manchester-based, promoting the album ‘Renegade’ Jim is moving on in more ways than one.

“After years of hard work on the house I feel it’s complete and I must say it turned out just as I planned, I’m very proud of it.

There’s been great nights of music with artistes from all over the world and great neighbours and friends and memories.

But like the music, it’s good to stay fresh and I’ll looking forward to a new project,” he says of the sale of his Brehaun, Macroom Co Cork composition.

The smart and modern take on the traditional ‘cottage on an acre’ is for sale with John O’Mahony of Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh.

It has an asking price of €450,000, and is set just off the main Cork-Kerry Road 2.5 miles from the town.

Now a two-storey house on landscaped grounds that include old rail sleepers, an orchard and more, it has three bedrooms, main entry porch, sitting room with a feature chunky timber fireplace.

The music room has an antique fireplace and stove, there’s a big kitchen/dining room with double oven, slate tiled floor and French doors off to the outdoors, utility, and guest WC, while overhead the main bedroom (one of three) is en suite, and is backed up by a main family bathroom.

It has oil central heating, lots of power point points throughout with broadband and insulation levels so high if these walls could talk, they’d sing in comfort.