The good life, but affordable, at one ‘El’ of a colourful country location

A tasty makeover has been applied to the interiors of Hemel, an upgraded country cottage a quarter of an hour’s drive from Cork City at Kilbonane, near Aherla.

And, good and all as the inside is, the gardens of half an acre are at least an equal for the property, packed with colour, and fruit and herbs, all meticulously maintained, along with two ponds, a little guest cottage and outbuildings.

South of the Cork-Macroom N22, and by the Aherla-Cloughduv road, Hemel is new to market with John O’Mahony of O’Mahony Walsh who seeks offers around €210,000 and who raves “it’s a joy to behold, with a warm country feel to it, yet it’s near a range of services and a bus route.”

Both the country-style main living room and the adjoining sun room have wood-burning stoves, the ground floor bedroom also has a stove, and one of the two upstairs bedrooms (the stairs runs up from the living room) has kept an old fireplace — but there’s also gas central heating. The shower room is at ground level. Separately, there’s a c 200 sq ft second building, described as ‘residential’ and suitable for other uses such as home office, hobby room etc.

Out in the mature gardens there’s a range of flowering trees, fruit trees and bushes, herb beds and a whole lot more — tasty indeed.

LOCATION: Aherla, Cork

PRICE: €210,000

SIZE: 112 sq m (1,200 sq ft)

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 1

BER RATING: E2

VERDICT: Good life in an affordable, commutable country package.