Trading up: Blackrock, Cork €550,000

Sq m: 370 (4,000 sq ft)

How far would €200,000 go in doing a full overhaul of Mount Rivers, off Cork’s classic Castle Road in Blackrock? It will go a long way, but not all of it — but €200k’s been taken off the asking price of this unusual ‘trinity’ of a period property, on a special 1.6 acres site.

A year after going to market for its owners the Casey family who’ve been here 56 years, it had its price slashed to €550,000 from last April’s guide of €750,000. As a result, joint agents Property Partners Matt Fallon and Cohalan Downing expect rekindled and fresh viewing interest.

The 4,000 sq ft home, built in three architectural eras and styles, has its highest section dating to 1760, with two later Georgian villa-like additions built in the early and mid 1800s. It is a protected structure, and has much of its original features in situ, plus some quite grand rooms, but despite on-going maintenance now needs fresh energy, new blood and a budget and a bit more to get it through its fourth century of residential occupation.

The 1.6 acres of grounds include some rare plants, very old trees, a former tennis court linking it to the Castle Road, and a two-bed gate lodge, as well as numerous outbuildings.

VERDICT: The price drop’s an attraction.