Safe harbour: the romance of life on the waterfront

In its 200 years, East Grove, on Cork’s Great Island, has had owners of many nationalities including the Glucksmans, says Tommy Barker

As East Grove comes up for sale, it is pretty as a picture, an artfully balanced package, one of the most interesting Irish property market offerings of the year.

IS EAST GROVE the most romantic house in Ireland? Well, its caretaker Edward O’Riordan thinks so. He’s been working here since 1986, when he was aged 15 — and several years ago, he met and married the artist Brenda Kelly, when she came to paint a mural here for philanthropic owners, Lewis and Loretta Glucksman.