Trading up: Ballinhassig,Cork €625,000

Size: 370 sq m (4,000sq ft)

Open viewings planned for today of Ragbridge House, with Sherry FitzGerald, will prove what auctioner Johnny O’Flynn claims - “it’s exceptional.”

The large home off a back road from Cork to Kinsale dates to the 1700s as a land agent’s house, and was close to dereliction when the current owners took it firmly and carefully in hand. They integrated quality materials and salvage items to keep faith with its origins, but also to make it comfortable: its C2 BER rating is evidence that they brought it back a long way indeed.

This heritage home includes Godin stoves, a Jacuzzi bath and oak floors which had been intended for Michael Flatley’s Castlehyde mansion, as well as salvaged stone arch and granite sills, glass and more, all re-fitted by craftsmen who also worked on the red oak marquetry, joinery, built-ins and cabinets, etc.

Two of its five bedrooms are en suite, and it has great play rooms also.

Ragbridge came to market earlier this summer, with a higher guide and different agents, but now has been reduced to €625,000 by Sherry FitzGerald who stress its ease of access to Kinsale, Cork airport, the city and to Bandon.

VERDICT: A golden oldie done to an exceptional level for generations to come.