Well home on wishlist

This Cork period home has a pretty perch — with precious parking space aplenty, writes Tommy Barker.

QUITE a bit has changed in the few years since Coolahra in Cork’s Sunday’s Well lsast went up for sale in 2010 - its first time offered since 1988. Variously, and as an update, this Sunday’s Well fine, period residence now has a Diarmuid Gavin-designed installation visible by the end of its garden — albeit anchored firmly by the River Lee’s water’s edge in the public Fitzgerald’s Park, across from its own lower grounds.

And, Coolahra’s price has dropped from €1.5m back in 2010, to now stand at €1.275m, via joint agents Dominic Daly and Ganly Walters.

And, as relevantly and as more than a talking point, in the past month another larger, even grander home on the same riverside stretch has also come up for sale — with a €3.8m guide. Which, although in an even higher league in every respect, makes Coolahra look like a snip. That big €3.8m beauty, one of Cork’s very best, Woodlawn is on almost two acres, has had a few inquiries and viewings already in the past few weeks, via Cohalan Downing — so what chance a fillip also to the viewing throughput at Coolahra?

A strong, well-built mid 1800s semi-d, of over 3,500 sq ft, Coolahra or No 44 Sunday’s Well is in very good fettle for its age, with accommodation over three levels, and a full-south aspect to back, overlooking its own grounds, its neighbours gardens (from this elevated perch, they all seem to meld one into the other) over to Fitzgerald’s Park, to the afore-mentioned Mr Gavin’s grounded flying pod, plucked by municipal authorities from the Chelsea Flower Show, and beyond is UCC’s also-leafy campus. Backing onto busy Sunday’s Well Road, Coolahra has a real bonus up its sale sleeve — excellent parking. There’s effectively a double garage, and off-street parking as well. Lots of locals forced to park on the street here would give their right arms, or either or both car wing mirrors, for such a perceived luxury.

No 44 has had two or three improving owners since the early 1970s, and the work done is in sympathy with the house’s 1800s roots, finished out with a very feminine flair, painted and papered with quality paints and papers like Colefax and Fowler, Nina Campbell and Laura Ashley, and then richly draped to match.

No 44 has four bedrooms, spread over its three levels, as well as four bathrooms, several formal reception rooms including a full-width upper level drawing room with two tall south-facing windows.

There’s also a scene-setting terrace, and balustrade, sheltered from the sun by motorised striped awnings, overlooking the c 0.75 acre of grounds.

VERDICT: Should be back on buyers’ radars.

Sunday’s Well, Cork €1.275 million

Sq m 335 (3,600 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4

BER Rating: Exempt