Country houses in favour

A RETURN to value is seeing activity inching forward on Ireland’s stalled country house market.

That’s according to estate agent Michael H. Daniels, who brings several new period summer homes to market, on the back of a couple of just-completed successful sales. Now sold, to Canadian buyers who will invest further in an upgrade, is Dereen House, on 50 acres in the Lee Valley near Dripsey and Coachford, half an hour from Cork city.

It first went up for sale in May 2009, guiding €2.2 million, and was relaunched with a change of agent. The 3,200 sq ft package, with lake, walled gardens and woodland, is likely to have made around €1.5m, via Mr Daniels. Also finding a buyer, but in the sub€-1m category, was the 1700s, postcard pretty 3,000 sq ft house Annefield, at Oysterhaven near Kinsale. When launched, back in May 2008, it had a €1.75m AMV.