Low-cost heat and high-quality living in Lower Killeens

State-of-the-art Evergreen is a bounty for buyers, says Rose Martin.

WHERE do Cork’s northsiders go when they want to build? Northside, of course. Those descendants of the Old Irish who lived outside the city walls aren’t usually up for a three-bed in Rochestown — not unless they’re turncoats.

Which means all points north, east and west of Blackpool are self-build country for the native Leesiders. In Lower Killeens, there’s a quiet enclave of large, detached houses called Glen Springs and the house with the largest and most private site there is now up for sale.

On the market with Michael Downey, of ERA Downey McCarthy, Evergreen is a surprisingly large property with 3,300 square feet on a large site of one and half acres. But that’s only half the story, because Evergreen uses the best of modern technology in a house that’s above average in terms of fixtures and fittings. There’s geothermal heating, or more correctly, a Ground Source Heat Pump system that ends in its own plant room. There’s a full communications centre off the kitchen that operates alarms, internet, and the sound surround. Electricity (because geothermals are the main source of power), is on night rate and to make the most of this, there are two washing machines and dryers in the large utility, which work through the night at half rate. Clever. And then, there’s the house itself, a fine, flexible and very luxurious family home which would accommodate very large families. As it stands, it has five, big bedrooms, but that’s without taking into account the large garage, which is domestically finished and would double as a duplex, or first floor apartment. At the moment, it also includes a stand-alone office at the rear with separate entrance and the total garage area is 1,200 square feet.

Just three years old, this house is insulated above standard and is fully finished — there isn’t a thing to be done here.

And for sheer size and luxury of fittings, the kitchen stands out. Built by DK kitchens, it’s country style with some lovely standalone pieces that add a splash of colour to the cream and grey heritage look of the main units.

There’s a massive island, with a mix of solid wood and granite worktop, a range stove in an ornate inglenook, high dressers, pantry units and a more granite worktop stretching along two sides. There’s a separate television room at one side, a dining area facing out over green fields in the middle, and to the rear, a soaring sunroom with brick and exposed beam touches. And that’s without taking into account the reception room, the large hallway with cherrywood, handmade staircase rising to a galleried landing and the playroom/en suite guest bedroom and storage to the rear.

The overhead space fans out on two sides with a super large master bedroom at one end, including dressing room and bathroom and then there are four more double rooms with a main bathroom.

Bathrooms are top of the range, include Jacuzzi baths and are very spacious. To be honest, there’s so much to look at in this house it will fill pages to cover, so the only way to really get a feel for Evergreen is to go and have a look. Micheal Downey has given a guide of €850,000 for the property, which is at the upper level for the city at the moment, but he’s prepared to talk to serious buyers.

Green, secluded, but minutes from Blackpool and town on the North Ring, this house is bountiful offering for buyers looking for a state-of-the-art, detached home.