Vote of confidence from Rosscarbery builder

With prices from €230,000, these holiday homes are sure to draw buyers, Tommy Barker reports.

IS builder Geoff Wycherley outstanding in his own field? Most likely, and in more ways than one. The west Cork native broke ground this past week on a site for four holiday homes, and is preparing to roll out construction of all four over these summer months. Why? Confidence. Confidence in the location — Rosscarbery, which he bills as “the Golden Hour, within an hour’s drive of Cork city” — as well as confidence in his market niche and ability to deliver these stone and slate homes.

His digger was probably in a class of one in the county, if not the country, as he started site clearance and foundation digging, especially as his product is holiday homes, which is among the most challenging sector in an already challenging market.

Seaside village (and consistent Tidy Towns strong performer) Rosscarbery’s population is forecast for continued growth, says Wycherley: Rosscarbery has already been good for him, as the first seven houses he built in the Paddocks scheme all sold practically off the plans back in 2003.

Last year, he got planning permission for four more, looking over Rosscarbery’s lagoon/boating lake, and is forging ahead after testing market sentiment via selling agent Jeremy Murphy, another proud Rosscarbery native.

Prices for the four in a terrace start from €230,000, which is just above 2003 selling prices, but that’s also for houses with almost 200 sq ft more space, and a higher specification, adds Wycherley. He and auctioneer Jeremy Murphy say there’s already interest from buyers who’ll combine possible holiday and retirement/trading down uses. “Rosscarbery’s so close to Cork, families can be based down there for the entire summer and commute up and down to the city for work. Amenities are superb, with the Warren strand a walk away; there’s pitch and putt, a tennis court, GAA club, playground, peddle boats on the lake, and great restaurants and bars in the village square off the Cork-Skibbereen road,” they say.