Trading up: Kilworth, Cork €240,000

Just how much more family home you get for you money if you go outside of Irish cities is shown by this spotless-order family home, called Denell Lodge near Kilworth.

Guided at €240,000 - the price of an average enough semi-d in the suburbs — it’s a 1,560 sq ft detached dormer with one of its four bedrooms en suite.

It has a sun room, with decking off it, there’s a handy selection of steel and timber sheds, and it is all on a decent rural site with paddock, just near to junction 14 of the M8 motorway. That put Denell Lodge just a short distance from Fermoy and Mitchelstown, or a half-hour commute to Cork city and the Jack Lynch tunnel.

Denell Lodge was very well built and insulated back in 2003, says its selling agent Michael Dorgan in Mitchelstown, who says homes of this quality with scenic views are a bit of a rarity in the locale, and right now he has it under offer close to its modest-seeming asking price.

It has dual heating system, two bright reception rooms with a dining room leading to the sun room via French doors, there’s an external decking and al fresco dining area, paddock fencing and gardens with laws as well kept as the house’s interior.

VERDICT: Clearly owned by the house- and garden-proud.