Rare chance to buy into much-sought-after suburb

SIDNEY PARK has its devotees... and why wouldn’t it? It has suburban style, easy-to-live-in houses in an urban setting and schools right on its doorstep.

South-facing, with expansive views over Cork city centre, it is just a short aerobically challenging uphill trek from Patrick’s Street.

The houses here are mostly early and mid-1900s, and rarely come up for sale. The last offering, a 1930s original, No 2, was sold via auction in April 2006. A doer-upper on a large site, with original interiors , it made €660,000, above the €500,000 guide, via agent Conor P Flynn.

Now, No 12, a four-bed semi-detached, in better overall condition and on a corner site, is for sale, guided at €550,0000 by Michael O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald’s Cork city offices.

12 Sidney Park is “in good condition throughout, with many original features such as fireplaces, timber flooring and staircase”, notes Mr O’Donovan, who adds that rooms are generally bright, well-sized and many have views.

There’s a gated parking area, front gardens with access at the side to a rear patio, with old stone boundary wall.

The house has 1,200 sq ft of living space, with two reception rooms with original fireplaces, the room to the front has a bay window, the dining room to the back has patio access via French doors, there’s a hall with original stairwell, and a pantry/utility space off the kitchen.

Upstairs has four bedrooms, two doubles, two singles, plus main bathroom.

There’s has gas central heating, alarm and replacement PVC double glazing, front and back.