Trading up: Skehard Road, Cork €265,000

Sq m: 102 (1,100 sq ft)

Back in the days when Kilbrack Lawn was being laid out, Cork’s Skehard Road was almost a road to nowhere, heading out in a line towards the end of the Mahon peninsula and the back of Blackrock. Now, it’s the road out to the retail goldmines and employment hub that is Mahon Point and City Gates 1 and 2.

The south ring road, and Jack Lynch tunnel infrastructure, really opened up this end-of-land peninsula, making it one of Cork’s most active suburbs. But, go just off the Skehard Road and into cul de sac Kilbrack, and all’s quiet once more, like it always was.

Here, estate agent Timothy Sullivan has 31 Kilbrack Lawn for sale, third from the end of the cul de sac with a southwest-facing back garden, with patio. It’s in clean order, a tad dated but sound, the gardens are nice and mature and the attached garage holds immediate upgrade potential.

It’s got oil heating, and lots of scope, and a house across the road with modern extension (briefly on the market last year for €280,000, before being withdrawn) shows what can be done with these solid semi-d homes.

VERDICT: Drive into Kilbrack and the setting will start to win you over.