VIDEO: Fall in love with the views and charm of this renovated cottage in Killarney

Trish Dromey reports on how the efforts by a Dublin woman, on a Kerry sabbatical, transformed an old cottage into a spectacular dwelling.

Killarney, Co Kerry €290,000

Sq m 83 sq m ( 900 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 2/3

Bathrooms: 2

BER: C2

TAKING a mallet and chisel to the plasterwork of her newly bought property yielded quite extraordinary results for the owner of Woodbine Cottage at Aghadoe in Killarney.

Firstly, she discovered that underneath the drab cement render were the wonderful thick old stone walls of a traditional labourer’s cottage.

Secondly, she discovered that locals were willing to come and offer advice and information to a woman willing to spend several months hacking the plasterwork off an entire cottage with a chisel and hammer.

“I found out that this was a Michael O’Connor’ss cottage: they told me that it had once been a small shop, and that the labourer’s cottage in Muckross Gardens is a replica of it.’’

She thinks many were shocked to see her doing this work on her own but says they were hugely helpful, telling her where to buy stone and where to find tradespeople.

A Dublin woman who took a sabbatical from work to spend time in Kerry, she bought Woodbine Cottage just last July.

“I fell in love with the views — from the back you can see the McGillycuddy Reeks, the Gap of Dunloe and the Lakes of Killarney.”

Although the views were her first love, the newly-uncovered stone walls now come in a close second.

“It was like watching something come to life — when you took the plaster off, you could almost hear the walls breathe”.

One year on from buying Woodbine Cottage, she has transformed it into anyone’s idea of a romantic Irish cottage, with comforts.

Newly pointed and whitewashed,the old stone walls are gleaming and white while the views have been cleared of hedging and vegetation which had obstructed them.

It took from September to March to expose the walls. After that the owner brought in a variety of tradespeople, including a stonemason to re-point the stone and apply lime render.

Managing the project herself, she found builders to replace a flat roofed extension with a new pitched roof one to accommodate a kitchen.

During renovations the cottage was fitted with triple-glazed sliding sash windows and the roof was pumped with foam insulation.

This and a high level of insulation in the extension earned it a C2 energy rating, which is exceptionally good for a property that’s more than a hundred years old.

The owner hadn’t ever done a house renovation before - but says she had spent countless hours watching programmes about houses, so she knew what she wanted.

Her aim was to keep it simple, and to show off the whitewashed walls.

Inside the red hall door is a very traditional sitting room with a chimney breast and a stove and a staircase.

To the rear is the kitchen extension which has a 12’ high ceiling and a huge, south- facing corner window (two-and-a-half metre square) with spectacular mountain views.

Fitted with cream units, and a centre island the kitchen, like the rest of the property, has laminate timber flooring.

The extension which brought the cottage’s accommodation up to 900 sq ft, also provided space for a modern bathroom.

On the ground floor in the original part of the house there’s a small room with just enough space to accommodate a bunk bed as well as a double bedroom. On the first floor there’s a second double bedroom with an en suite.

The cottage is on a site of close to an acre and has a patio at the rear as well as a raised area with a bench to take in the views.

Situated at Barleymount West in Aghadoe, Woodbine Cottage is less than half a mile from the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and is four miles from the town centre.

The property is on the market with Edmond O’Donoghue auctioneers with a guide of €290,000. Catherine O’Donoghue says its been generating good interest and has attracted the attention of a few overseas buyers.

“The views are fabulous, the location close to Killarney is really good and it’s beautifully renovated, perfect for someone who wants a romantic Irish cottage.”

The owner ,who according to the Property Price Register paid €160,000 for the cottage last year, has finished her sabbatical and is now returning to Dublin, job done.

VERDICT: Views and charm to fall in love with.