Pitch perfect, top of the class

Tommy Barker visits the former home of a famous teacher in west Cork.

LIFE at the very centre of a thriving village life beckons for the buyer of this west Cork period house.

Right on its doorstep is the church, the national school, two all-weather tennis courts, the GAA pitch and the new clubhouse and gym being built by the local club, St James. Even the parish noticeboard is at this crossroads and the stunning coastline can be glimpsed a few miles to the south and west.

Located at the crossroads in Ardfield village, six miles from Clonakilty, this house — set to change hands for the first time in more than half a century — dates to the early 1800s. It was, in its time, the family home of a famous national school principal, Michael Madden, who prepared hundreds of pupils for British and Irish civil service jobs, as well as the post office and customs and excise. He won the Carlisle and Blake Premium for best national school in the 32 counties an unprecedented nine times, and eventually stopped entering to give other schools a chance. Among his pupils were Irish ambassadors, government ministers and PD Mehigan, aka Carbery, the famous 1920s sports writer.

Local historian Tim Feen recounts stories of principal Madden crossing the road at tea time from the new national school he had built, going back again at 8pm to teach mature students, and then correcting essays into the small hours of the morning.

That revered teacher’s former house has been home to Fachtna O’Callaghan, who inherited it from his uncle 50 years ago, and his wife, Joan. They’ve clearly treasured the property on a large village site with pristine hedged gardens, sun-trap courtyard and pretty stone outbuildings.

They’ve now decided to downsize and the property is for sale with joint agents Jim O’Brien of CCM Property Services and Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill, who quote a guide price of €595,000.

The site size is close to half an acre, which is zoned within the Ardfield district as residential.

The two-storey house is in mint condition with original cast iron fireplaces and insert tiling.

The house has some exceptional pitch pine timbers, in the silky-smooth staircase, while the middle bedroom has its walls all in pitch pine panelling, painted Swedish style within the room, and stripped back and waxed in the landing. This use of pitch pine suggests that the house may originally have been built by the church, and perhaps went in time to Master Madden.

There are two fine reception rooms to the front, one on the left was a shop at one time, and there’s a smart L-shaped kitchen dining room to the rear, leading to a big pantry and bright utility room. There’s also a back hall, and guest WC with shower.

Overhead, two of the three bedrooms have a double aspect, and all three bedrooms have sea views.

The rear garden is elevated beyond the pristine and sheltered courtyard, where there’s a very pretty lofted stone building courtyard with conversion potential for guests, and the long lawned and shrubbed private garden has several private seating areas, with rear access by the tennis courts.

Good modern dormer houses in the Ardfield area have been selling in the €600,000 and €700,000 league. This perfect period house cannot be recreated, and has a place right in the heart of its community.