A beauty with character on tap

THEY must be among the largest houses in the city, and this imposing, red-brick row on Cork’s Western Road is mostly used for guest accommodation, save for No 3.

A family home, the four-storey, mid-row Victorian was made into flats in the past, but with minimal disturbance to the structure — a couple of stud partitions.

There’s no getting around the parlous state, the leaking roof, fractured wall — but you can’t but be impressed by its size. What this house must have been like in its day. A listing pair of leather dining chairs, two club armchairs and a tatty table are all that’s left of the grand old residence — shame.

It’s like a metaphor for life, work hard to put brick on brick and in the end you get to leave it all behind.

In this case the executor’s sale is being handled by Pat Falvey of Carlton Properties, who says the owners are open to suggestions and might even do a joint venture with the right proposal.

The big old building has planning permission for five apartments and it also has valuable yard space onto Mardyke Walk.

It’s slap bang in the middle of the university quarter and next door, the An Óige Hostel at Nos 1&2 (in hostel use since the 1950/60s) is being sold as a going concern for around the €1 million mark through Dublin-based, GVA Dónal Ó Buachalla. There’s been very strong interest in those adjoining properties they say, since the boards went up just before Christmas.

No 3 has a guide of €650,000 and so far, there has been strong residential viewing, says Falvey, with medics top of the list and that’s not surprising considering that the Bon Secours hospital is a walk away and CUH within bleeping distance.

However, this house will need considerable work, in particular the roof which will have to be braced and replaced and the entire house overhauled to best standard, as No 3 is also listed.

And while the horse has bolted on numbers 1, 2 and 4, in terms of maintaining original facades, doubtless, the slump in the property market will leave City Hall with a lot of time on its hands to oversee any reconstruction.

The ideal would be a boutique hotel to capitalise on the Lonely Planet’s bounce for the city’s tourism — a hostel for the fiftysomethings, perhaps? Those who like their accommodation cool but also comfortable.

Either way, this is an iconic property in a road of recognised and long-standing guest houses.

It’s a minute’s walk to the university and another five minutes to the city with the museum and FitzGerald’s Park at its back — a superb spot.

No 3 has 3,500 square feet, most of its features intact, 12’ high ceilings and rear access and a fine south-facing garden at the front, set behind original railings.

It’s an amazing house and one that should be preserved as soon as possible.