Ty-Mad makes the Breton connection

Ty-Mad has stout Irish stone inside and out under its quirkily rimmed ‘hat’ of a roof.

VIVE La France — this southern Ireland home with a Breton name, Ty-Mad, has a strong Gallic flair and flavour, informed and enthused by its owner’s time spent in western France.

Not only does it look a bit exotic with its sleepy, owl-like, eyelet dormer windows, but the roofing was done by a skilled crew brought over from the Continent to ply their trade: the result, with stout Irish stone inside and out under its quirkily rimmed ‘hat’ of a roof, is visually refreshing.

When built about 15 years ago at Ballea bridge, just above the Owenbue river between Ballygarvan and Carrigaline just south of Cork city, the house was quite prominent from the road below. Now, the woods have grown in even more around it, cloaking its five-acre of garden/site backdrop in greenery and fostering wildlife and birdsong.

It has great charm, with lots of exposed brick and stone internally as well as a fully-exposed stone exterior, windows are hand-made wooden sashes, many with gentle arches on the top sections and select French doors have lattice or ornamental gothic-style tracery in their glazing.

Main rooms inside are open and airy, up to the roof apex with exposed timber beams in places, with hefty timber lintels over windows and doors, while the main living space has a wood burning stove on its end gable.

There’s some rough and rustic framing plasterwork around doors and windows, and slate and stone flooring — it’s all country craftwork and bespoke, using natural materials.

One of its three bedrooms is en suite, and the sturdy kitchen is by Linehan Design, with granite tops and has a Belfast sink. There’s a Stanley range, oil-fired, which does the central heating.

Selling agent Dan Howard of Dooley and Howard guides Ty-Mad (Breton for ‘Good House,’ or Tigh Maith as gaeilge?) at €400,000, and says it’s getting immediate interest.

Location is near Ballea Castle, a mile and a half from Carrigaline, and the airport is a five to 10 minute spin away.

VERDICT: Dormez vous in a dormer with views.