Well heeled and fit to be sold

This former shoemaker’s house near The Lough is no cobbled job, writes Tommy Barker

You won’t have to shoe-horn yourself into the former cobbler’s house at 36 Lough Road in Cork City — its most recent owners have doubled the square foot count.

This terraced home, with wildfowl sanctuary Lough views from the back, was taken in charge in 2007 by a couple with Cork and American roots who fell for the charm and convenience of the location, and who worked wonders with its interior and private patio. From the road outside, you just have no idea how attractive and different it is once past the red-doored threshold.

With a growing family, and a need for more outdoor play areas, the couple are parting with No 36, and it’s a walk-in job with open main living spaces, four bedrooms and two quality bathrooms for its next fortunate owners.

Now close to 1,300 sq ft internally, with access to a large roof deck/viewing space over the extension, No 36 dates to the early 1900s and was for years home and shop to cobbler Daniel Keohane, who tip-tapped soles in front and who (it’s still recalled), kept a horse in the back, with nail hooks still visible in the original enclosed yard wall.

What was a two-bed, no bathroom, simple home was transformed over a 10 month period in ‘06/’07 and overseen by kindly parents Pat Horgan who’s a retired engineer and his wife Jacintha. Steel RSJs opened up, the back extension which gave a kitchen and master bedroom, with patio access from each.

The two first floor bedrooms have kept original outlines, with windows front and back and one has a fireplace, while the landing has a door to the roof balcony, just needing decking put down for a final flourish (“we never got around to it, a baby arrived!” say the justly house-proud couple.)

Items for the make-over were a mix of salvage and antique finds and some judicious shopping, with a feature ornate spiral wrought iron stairs found up the mountains of France on a holiday and repatriated to Cork. It has new stair treads made in pippy oak, contrasting with the dark-stained maple floor in most of the ground level, rescued from an old badminton hall and sourced from a salvage shop in Waterford.

Decor overall is in a calm, relaxing French/ Mediterranean style, the upper level bathroom has a dressing table/sink in what was an old desk, and lots of other fittings and fittings have similar back stories.

For house-hunters, the story here at No 36 is a chance to buy a home that’s individual, with huge visual appeal and comfort added. The main living space is front-to-back, and very deep thanks to the rear kitchen add on, where units are painted and topped with timber, with a Belfast sink.

Living room size is 18’ by 13’ with salvaged cast iron fireplace, opening to the 16’ deep and 13’ wide kitchen, with a study/bedroom four, off to the front, and the master bed behind, next to a shower room.

The west-facing walled-in rear courtyard is a bonus, 36’ wide and 20’ deep, with old limestone walls and paving slabs, with plenty of space for a shed. The house is fully rewired, roofed, plumbed, has gas central heating, double glazing etc— everything bar a horse, though there are swans and ducks aplenty 50 metres away round the corner at the Lough.

No 36 is new to market with agent Darragh Taaffe of Keane Mahony Smith, who seeks offers close to €195,000 and who says it’s in showhouse condition, in a great location near UCC, the Lough and a walk to the city centre.

LOCATION: The Lough, Cork

PRICE: €195,000

SIZE: 120 (1,280 sq ft)

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 2

BER RATING: C1

BEST ASSET: Interior surprises

VERDICT: Don’t judge it this bird by its front plumage - all of its geese are, indeed, swans.