Back to school for a nice Ballyduff home

SCHOOL’s out at Ballyduff’s former national school building, right in the middle of the pretty Waterford village.

Now, a quarter century and more after it took the retirement package, its future or next period could be as permanent home, or a niche business venture.

It ceased its teaching duties in the 1970s, and has been owned since 1976 by a local businessman who used it primarily for storage.

Mallow-based estate agent Peter Barry, who hails from this pastoral part of Co Waterford, but who has his new property up the Blackwater valley in neighbouring, seeks €200,000 for the L-shaped property, on a reasonable site 65’ wide and a good 118 feet deep.

Four miles from Lismore and 18 from Dungarvan, it would suit as a character-keeping restoration job, and would rent well to anglers who come to the area for the fishing, or it could just be taken on as a labour of love by someone who wants to live in the centre of village activity.

It dates back to 1902, and has mixed use zoning, leaving commercial or residential options open. Though it needs work, it is stone built, with most of its original materials retained. The front portion is 40’ by 20’ and the rear is 35’ by 23,’ giving scope for up to 1,500 sq ft of accommodation.

Get out the old school graph paper, and get drawing — you can even end up dreaming in the back of the classroom.