Animal haven or organic nirvana

An unusual mix is the perfect escape from old world woes, writes Tommy Barker

GREEN living beckons at this Ballagh, Cork/Kerry border area hideaway, with a touch of the Sound of Music to its upland setting.

However, instead of imagining the Von Trapp family coming in full song over the hills, try a chorus of cats, or pack of dogs giving full rein to their freedom — because this is animal heaven, or organic nirvana.

An unusual property mix, this three acre holding has traditional house, old stone barn part converted and weather-proofed, as well as log cabin, cattery, small pond, and paddocks.

It’s all up a fairly recently made new mile-long road or avenue though verdant countryside, strewn with spruce and ash trees, with views all around, and the route includes a bridge crossing of the River Shaheny.

Location depends on your perspective, it’s either the middle of nowhere, or there’s nowhere nicer you’d want to be. It’s near Kenmare and Kilgarvan, and within a walking trek is Gougane Barra forest park and hill-rim horseshoe walk. Further in the distant views are Killarney’s National Park and the MacGillcuddy Reeks.

A sort of long-term development project, it’s been on the market since earlier this year, and now Kenmare agent DNG Timothy O’Sullivan guides the entire package at €185,000, billing it as “a once in a lifetime chance to acquire a property and land commanding spectacular views.”

It really is a classic rural retreat, and while work has been done on buildings and the land, the main house needs doing up — even a lick of paint would change its appearance for the brighter.

The house is your standard stone dwelling, with slate roof, straight roof ridge, and most rooms inside have a double aspect — in other words, it’s only one room wide.

Overhead has two bedrooms, one with fireplace, and a bathroom, and below is a kitchen/dining room with inglenook fireplace plus separate sitting room, also with an open fireplace, and solid fuel heating appears the norm — so thankfully there’s woodland all around.

The land is a cultivated acre, with two further acres of paddocks or meadow, with one portion very well fenced, hence the attraction for animals keepers/boarding kennels/cattery.

VERDICT: If you want an escape from the world’s woes, this could be it.