A country retreat for everyday use

THERE’S a lot to take in at this Ballyshoneen country home. With a couple of acres of pristine grounds, guest cottage, tennis court, an original barn, and outbuildings, it is place where, if you lived here, you could happily lose yourself.

Imagine coming here at the end of the working week, pottering about the gardens — and then finding it is nearly Monday morning, and another ‘holiday’ weekend has ended.

Just west of Cork city — five minutes from the Ballincollig bypass, near Ballyburden — this is a former 19th century farmhouse that has kept a great deal of character, but in which huge investment has been made.