Trading up: Douglas, Cork €325,000

‘This’ll do us fine.’ You can imagine many viewers with that quip at this three-bed semi-d called Thistle Dún, especially after they survey the sheer size of the back garden. 

For those into the great outdoors, albeit in a suburban setting, the garden will be the sale clincher.

But, the big, south and west-aspected garden isn’t the only special attribute of Thistle Dún: it’s also very nicely tucked away, one of just four semis, in a cul-de-sac off Rathmore Lawn and the South Douglas Road, almost a secret, shared enclave.

The garden goes on, and on, behind, with a hidden section at its far extremity, butting up against the gardens of houses on neighbouring Rosebank estate, while just to the south is a small, old quarry now sectioned off from the back Douglas Road.

Thistle Dún is a well-kept, but dated, three-bed home of just over 1,000 sq ft in a quite standard layout, with drains/underpinning works all done, so for any new occupants it’s a case of onwards and upwards with discretionary upgrade/extension spending.

Selling agent is Niamh Moloney of Sherry FitzGerald, who guides at €325,000, and who has open viewings at noon today until 12.30pm.

VERDICT: A couple of the adjacent homes in this niche are already extended, yet making barely a dint on their gardens, and outside on the ’main’ Rathmore/Rhodaville estate, there are several pretty stylish exemplar extensions too - but none in so special a setting as this.