Former orphanage could be returned to private home usage

A former orphanage property n Cork harbour’s Passage West town, on over seven acres and being sold for the HSE, carries a €750,000 asking price.

Mount St Joseph’s is being marketed by agent Declan Hickey of Downing Commercial, who says the period house - attributed to top Victorian era architect Deane and Woodward - runs to over 13,5000 sq ft, and could be brought back to private home usage, or sub-divided.

And, he suggests there may be scope for development on the balance of the land, which is bounded above by the Ard Cluain development of luxury homes.

“It’s an elevated site, with magnificent and uninterrupted marine views over Cork harbour, “ notes Mr Hickey.

Passage’s location just six miles downriver of the city saw a small number of upmarket house schemes (such as Horsehead, with a handful of individual house sales of €1-2m and Ard Cluain) delivered, and the seven acres here, behind high stone walls just above the town, could suit site development for one-off houses.

The 7.18 acres is in an irregular shape along Fairhill, with Mount St. Joseph at the northern end.

The main Tudor revival house with crenellated sections, high gables and turrets dates to 1855, and along with the adjacent Marmullane is thought to have been built by local ship builders the Brown family, to designs by Deane and Woodward. A number of its faux Tudor touches are similar (but on a grander scale) to Horsehead, and although some original elements like windows have had some inappropriate replacements, much of the original fabric is intact, but considerable refurbishment is needed.

Zoning is ‘existing built-up area,” which may facilitate residential development, and Mount St Joseph’s entrance gates and pillars are protected.

* Details: Downing Commercial 021-4271000