Trading up
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
MIGHT Stonehaven be The One?
Set one mile from Castletownshend in west Cork, this one-off stands on one acre and is one of the better-priced market offering in the fairly sought-after coastal setting.
It comes to market with not one, but two agents, Cahalane Skuse in Cork city, and with Charles P McCarthy in Skibbereen, five miles away.
Though close enough to probably smell and hear the sea, the views from this decade-old stone-faced dormer home are rural rather than coastal, and the location is off a quiet road and private drive, past locally-sourced stone walls. The house’s own exterior is also stone-heavy, blending with wood-grain pvc double glazing, and the sympathetic design incorporates a sun-room to the front, with slate roof and raised pitched glass gable.
Internally, there are some quarry slate floors, a central vacuum system, two large reception roms, a ground floor en suite bedroom, plus three more bedrooms overhead (one with en suite), as well as that 18’ by 10’ sun room overlooking the garden and views.
There are beaches nearby at Sandy Cove, Castlehaven and Tragumna.
VERDICT: Built to last, and in a favoured location where planning is hard to get, Stonehaven is ready to go for new owners.
Sq m: 168 (1,800 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
THE owner of Ellenville once won a prize from Gay Byrne for composing a song about where he lived — but, truth be told, he essentially rehashed a few lines about Dreaming of Living in Marble Halls, from the libretto The Gypsy Girl’s Dream, in the Bohemian Girl.
The occupant of this detached four-bed home in Cork city’s Marble Hall Park, by the start of the Ballinlough and Douglas Road near St Finbarr’s Hospital, has lived in Ellenville for 40 years, recently graduated with a degree in geology from UCC aged in his 80s, and is making a move to family in Dublin — UCD watch out.
The sizeable enough family home he is now selling (it has a double bay in front, yielding three reception rooms, plus optional study/bed four at ground level alone,) has good bones, and some finely preserved features, such as an ornately tiled hall floor, and a pristine copper canopy on the main sitting room’s cast iron fireplace.
Upstairs are three bedrooms plus a bathroom and separate WC, but it’s the space at ground level that impresses most, with a side annexe making for lots of utility room potential.
Estate agent Ann O’Mahnony of Sherry FitzGerald seeks €310,000.
VERDICT: Great location in a cul de sac a 10 minute walk from city centre.
Sq m: 220/186/191
Bedrooms: 5/4/4
BER rating: B3
Broadband: Yes
IT wasn’t just the novelty of a showhouse being opened on a wet weekend — there was genuine interest among many of the 125 callers to Cork’s Vicarage scheme on Carr’s Hill, Douglas, last Saturday.
The completed Frinailla scheme, in receivership (and built by Bowen Construction, another casualty of the bust) has five detached houses, out of 17 built, being offered for via agents Savills. The five houses include three house types. The largest, a five-bed and which is also the showhouse of 2,174 sq ft, is being sold fully furnished, and is under offer at its guide of €460,000. The look is cool, and continental, inside, and the houses are quite deep, and tall, with one attic level en suite bedroom in each house. Finish and specification levels are good, with slate roofs, underfloor heating at ground level, wiring for multi-audio, Jacuzzi bath, etc. Launch prices back in 2007/08 were €770,000 and €850,000 to €1.1m for a 2,350 sq ft house, with a small number of sales. Savills will also offer apartments in two blocks in Temple Grove, by the Vicarage’s entrance, very shortly, where final works are being carried out.
VERDICT: There’s not much else built and available, to a good standard, within a walk of Douglas village.
Sq m: 124 (1,335sq ft)
Bedrooms: 2
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
THERE’S still money around for holiday home buys in west Kerry, says Anthony FitzGerald, who’s currently offering this extended traditional cottage at Ballincolla, Ballyferriter.
Just a stroll from Ballincolla boat slip and a short drive, (or brisk walk) to Béal Bán beach, the house is fresh, open plan and the sale includes all of the furniture. The house is on offer at €275,000, and while it only has two bedrooms, it has a substantial amount of space on offer — so it’s ideal as a summer or retirement home.
The older part of the house, the single storey element, is part of a big, kitchen/ living/dining area, with exposed stone walls and the old fireplace at its centre. And there’s a separate living room with twin patio doors to the garden and a stone-built fireplace.
The kitchen element is fitted with vanilla units and wooden worktops and has Smeg integrated appliances. The ground floor also includes a guest bathroom and utility, while heating is run on gas and there’s mains water.
The upper level has two good bedrooms, one with a fireplace included, and main bathroom and the site size is 0.12 of an acre.
Verdict: Ideally placed near Ballyferriter with its pubs and restaurants and close to Ceann Sibéal Golf Links.
Sq m: 148 (1,600 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
THE last house sale at Cork’s Tivoli Estate, of a five-bed house on a half acre was an ostensible do-er upper, but which is now set to be knocked and replaced by a new-build undertaking, after a €400-500k price buy.
Next up for sale, and in far better order, in the same Montenotte estate of one-offs is Ard Mahon, a four-bed detached home, south facing, with river Lee views from its tiered and sloping site.
Estate agent Conor P Flynn seeks offers around €420,000 for the distinctive and elevated family home a couple of miles from the city centre, and it is under offer now around €380,000. Dating to 1936, it now needs modernisation, but has huge potential, Mr Flynn adds.
It has two ground level reception rooms, the best being the 17’ by 13’ drawing room with double aspect and east-facing bay window looking down the harbour.
There’s another south-facing bay window in the slightly smaller living/dining room, plus kitchen, utility/pantry and a guest WC with shower off the parquet-floored hall.
Overhead are four bedrooms, main bathroom, and separate WC.
VERDICT: The setting is the star here, with light and views to capture in any upgraded investment.
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