If you’re looking for a restoration project, then Rosebank is for you

THE multi-gabled Skibbereen house, Rosebank, is being practically priced for sale by auction: a declared reserve of €850,000 is quoted for the period era west home, on 14 acres.

That reserve (in other words, if there’s no better offer, it’s yours) should certainly get a few pulses racing, and while this house of character has an appeal to the heart, the work needed to bring it back into shape will see the head trying to restrain or temper the heart’s desire.

Described by estate agent Ray O’Neill of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill as a manor house, it was originally a dower house for the far grander Liss Ard Estate, with the Georgian Liss Ard House and the equally fine Lake Lodge on 200 acres put up for sale back in 2002 for €6 million — and not yet changed hands.