Exceptional good value of Leonora draws interest at home and abroad

Co Tipperary property has an asking price in excess of €175,000, Trish Dromey reports.

THE charms of Leonora in north Tipperary have already attracted the attention of UK-based Irish house hunters, who made summer plans to come to Portroe especially to see it.

Such is the level of interest in the spacious detached house with half an acre of gardens, that selling agents Sherry FitzGerald Talbot expect to sell it ahead of its scheduled auction date on September 30.

The asking price of in excess of €175,000 offers exceptionally good value and the property is attractive to local buyers looking to trade up, says auctioneer William Talbot who’s also showing the house to the UK buyer, a returning local who wants a holiday/retirement property. The stone-faced 1980s house takes its name from the couple who built it, Leo and Nora. Offering in the region of 1,800 sq ft of space, it’s been well maintained but now needs updating and some modernisation. The selling points include very attractive gardens bounded by a river and woodland. The fact that the three bed property also has planning permission for an additional two bedrooms adds to its appeal.

A large open plan space on the ground floor includes a 400 sq ft living room with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and a double height ceiling. There’s also a dining area with a vaulted ceiling and kitchen with fitted units and a beamed ceiling. To the rear, the house has a utility room and a sunroom which opens out in to the garden. A set of stairs leads down to an office, two bedrooms and a shower room.

Another set of stairs leads up to to a galleried area which has a bedroom with built-in wardrobes and a shower room. The planning permission obtained by the owners allows for the conversion of the vaulted area over the living room into two additional en suite bedrooms.

In the gardens there’s a lofted garage, a pump house, a store and a glass house. There are also extensive lawns, mature trees, shrubs and plants as well as a patio at the rear.

Located at Castletown, Leonora is one and a half kilometres from both Lough Derg and the village of Portroe, and 12 kms from Nenagh.

VERDICT: You could see Lough Derg from the house — if it weren’t for the trees, and you’ve a stream for compensation.