Bright, airy house on half-acre

FLAVOURS of the cost-conscious moment are grow-your-own and allotment gardening — and this affordable country home at Ballydonaghmore, Dungourney, in east Cork, fits the bill with its half-acre of carefully tended ground.

An eye-catcher, the owners have travelled, and filled the house and grounds with souvenirs of visits to far-flung place. It is rooted in the rural locale as well, a renovated old-world style house done to modern standards of comfort, but without sacrificing character and charm.

It’s a detached, 1,500 sq ft house with three bedrooms and a bright sun-room with vaulted ceiling and glazing up the gable. Its doubled up roof and valley mean that some rooms have high or pitched ceilings, with overhead Veluxes, so the overall impression is of airiness, says selling agent, William Wallis, of ERA Wallis, in Midleton. He seeks €295,000 for the renovated and extended home, 20 miles from Cork city.