After two centuries, it’s ready for another makeover

GLANMIRE’S Coach House, with its eye-catching eyelet windows, may look familiar as it is an occasional arrival on the property market.

It surfaced back in the 1980s, and last sold in 2004 when it was offered for sale at the €450/500,000 mark after a semi-conversion job that had made the over-basement stone dwelling essentially habitable.

Although it was bought by a couple with a trendy business / bar / development background, it didn’t get a Grand Designs-style makeover this time either.

Now, with a €790,000 asking price for its potential on three riverside acres, it is someone else’s turn to make reality of dream.

The stone and brick-built former coach house is two storeys over basement, with stone and brick making for an interesting palette of materials, and with a wide array of window shapes, from circles and ovals to arches and rectangles.

It all dates back to c 1790, so has seen good and bad times over its 220 years of standing tall. It has about 2,500 sq ft of space partly converted, plus a further 1,200 sq ft at basement level, and is set at Glyntown, Glanmire a 10 or 15 minute commute to Cork city.

Its 3.5 acres is mostly woodland, bounded by the river Glashaboy near Riverstown, and is approached via a long avenue, with the slope of the site making for a sweeping turning circle in front, and then a steep fall away of ground behind and to the side, revealing the basement level property.

The last burst of activity, probably over a decade and more ago, saw teak doors and windows put in, with flat roof tiles on top and a basic enough fit out to allow for four bedrooms, one en suite, and functional living and cooking spaces. But, now a proper conservation and conservation job might see an exacting new owner stripping everything back to basics again and starting over for a very high-end finished product.

“Its sale gives the chance to acquire an historical property with enormous scope to enlarge, improve and embellish,” says estate agent Lucy Wolfe, who quotes the €790,000 asking price, while a proper restoration will surely push a finished project cost to €1.25 to €1.5 million, depending of who does the work and the level of finishes.

“It would make an ideal and exciting family home or alternatively a company headquarters or other use,” says Ms Wolfe.