Make your way to the Bay... and make hay

THERE’LL be plenty of puffing activity outside this unusual west Cork property offering today — it is placed on the last mile back into Clonakilty on the town’s inaugural Waterfront Running Marathon.

Hundreds of fatigued runners taking part in the half and full Waterfront Marathon are due to slog their way along this stretch of Clonakilty Bay’s shoreline, just where the causeway links up with Inchydoney Island. Over 1,000 runners had, incredibly, signed up for the three gruelling late winter races (mini, half and full marathons) taking place around the Clonakilty coastlines beaches and backroads — weather permitting.

Wrapped up well against the cold is this unusual Clonakilty bayside offering — a rescued old traditional farmhouse, embraced by a just-added on contemporary four-bed home in a bright, open contrasting style.

And, apart from its locations, aspect and setting, a key to its sellability is that is it on 10 acres of good land, within a mile of the town, and close to Inchydoney Island and its two golden beaches.

Estate agents Ray O’Neill and Micheal Duggan of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill (who had a €1.5m Rosscarbery sale this year) value the essentials all factored into this rare-enough offering — hence its €1.2 million price guide. The majority of that price went in the first instance on buying the site and old house, just a few years ago, ever before a new product was built to a very high design and build standard.

Designed by architect Edel Regan, engineered by Denis Scannell, and delivered by skilled local labour, this is high-end home of about 3,600 sq ft in all, with the original 800 sq ft dwelling virtually self-sufficient, but linking into the much larger modern add-on, side and back.

Because it’s such a visually sensitive area, planners insisted the original farm dwelling be integrated into the new home and with roof ridge heights kept low: the result is a pleasing, unobtrusive blend of modernity and tradition.

And, apart from the main house(s), there’s a useful newly-built lofted garage/stable building, ready to be sub-divided and floored inside.

Whoever buys this is likely to be into keeping horses, say the agents, and it is already laid out in paddocks for grazing, while the near parts of the house’s exterior have external seating areas, some in stone, others elevated with decking, for watching horses, sea-birds and waders in the bay.

Inside, the project is 99% realised, with just a final flourish needed, such as upstairs carpeting.

There’s a fitted kitchen, with huge island, in the 65’ by 15’ kitchen/dining/living room, glaring bright sunny day. There’s also a linking, double height entrance hall/foyer, large rear family room 25’ by 13’, and ground floor utility plus guest WC.

Upstairs, there’s a massive en suite master bedroom, plus dressing room, with bay-view balcony, a second general use viewing balcony, and three more double bedrooms, plus family bathroom. The fully finished ‘original’ portion has two first floor bedrooms separated by a bathroom, and open plan kitchen/living room taking up the entire 28’ by 14’ ground floor.

All finishes are simple, unobtrusive but high quality, from tiling to sanitary ware and glazing, including door handles, paving, etc. Workmanship levels are high, plasterwork is glistening white, and the roof is slate, crowned with a bank of solar panels, and there’s the sound of surf on Inchydoney Beach just over the facing hill and around Clonakilty Bay’s mouth beyond Ring. It’s a runner.