End the search at hunting lodge

A SETTING in the woods with water views, and a bit of period-style Victorian trimmings in a small and well-formed parcel, are key points in favour of Arda Hunting Lodge, at Ardagh, Union Hall, west Cork.

The compact two-storey coastal house has two bedrooms, but there’s a further two in an adjacent stone tower building tucked away behind to the left.

The package, on eight elevated acres and with a quay/slipway for boats, is up above the Glandore-Union Hall bridge, in one of the coastline’s most gloriously scenic settings. A classic boat regatta run at Glandore brings graceful old craft (some almost of the same vintage as this venerable lodge) into view each summer. When first built back in the mid 1800s, this was a hunting lodge for Lord Bandon, says estate agent Maeve McCarthy of Charles P McCarthy, noting that it is the first time in many years it has come up for sale: its vendors are based in Britain, and have had it for several decades.

It was being bought by another British-based buyer, with Irish connections, but he pulled out in recent weeks (after the IMF rode into town, with a slew of consequent negative international coverage).

It is being re-offered to the market, at €650,000, the price it had been ‘sale agreed’ at — and that was a reduction on an earlier asking price in the €900k price league. It has water frontage and access via a slipway from just across the public road between vibrant fishing village Union Hall and pertly-set Glandore, and the house itself is set amid very mature trees, with views out to the harbour from the rooms at the front.

The house has been recently upgraded, respecting its old character (there’s retained sash windows, slate roof, etc) and now has solar panels for water heating.

There’s a creamy Rayburn range in the dining room, a narrow kitchen, and a 20’ by 14’ sitting room with black slate fireplace as a back-up to the main gas-fired central heating.

There’s also a front and rear hall, cloak room and utility, and overhead are two bedrooms plus bathroom.

The detached tower alongside has two bedrooms, one at each of its levels, and the immediate exterior grounds have nice lawns, terrace etc.