Starter homes: Dripsey, Cork €119,000

Size: 100 sq m (1,070 sq ft)

It looks sweet and neat — and the interior doesn’t disappoint either — so for first time buyers, this Dripsey house might be worth a look.

The semi-detached house, in the Lee Valley, comes with a manicured, one-third of an acre site which could easily produce enough vegetables for two.

And the house has been completely and sensitively renovated inside, so the purchase price would be the end of the expense in acquiring this house.

On the market with John O’Mahony of O’Mahony Walsh, he says the house is less than 20 minutes to Cork city, but it’s even less to Ballincollig, for anyone working in EMC, VMware or the VEC.

A walk to the pub and the shop, local amenities also includes a garden centre and cafe down the road, as well as water-skiing at Inniscarra — and the woods at Farran.

Central to the living space is a big open plan kitchen dining room of 20’ by 14’, 0 with soft duck-egg coloured units, tiled and timber floor and recessed lights with Velux window over work zone

Styling is a country chic and the living area has a black stove in a simple white inglenook. The sheeted ceilings overhead are painted in matt white.

A rear hallway leads to two simple bedrooms, a bathroom and utility, and there’s side access with plenty of parking.

VERDICT: Could be a country idyll for a young couple.