VIDEO: Privacy, peace and quiet just an hour from Cork at Kilcolman Rectory

Mary Rose Daly visits a pristine period property at Kilcolman, West Cork, which comes with three cottages.

Kilcolman is one of those out of the way places that can be found anywhere in Ireland — places away from the main tourist drag where the main business of life continues.

This rural backwater is an area of fine farmland surrounded by ancient estate walls — a witness to the quality of its green pastures and its value to whichever baronetcy is in charge.

Today, it’s the hegemony of the dairy farmer, that plunderer of white gold who reigns supreme in the fertile, folded hills of the Argideen valley.

Kilcolman, was created as a township for what could be termed ‘senior management’ of the Earls of Bandon and you can see why — the location means you reach Cork city in less than an hour; travel west and you’re in Clonakilty in 15 minutes. And there’s privacy, peace and quiet in this backwater location — it’s not a common choice, rather it provides peace and safety from the madding crowd, but in a pivotal commuting spot to Cork and beyond.

In this era of the punching-about-its-weight-pound, it should be one of the main selling points for Kilcolman Rectory, newly back on the market after a gap of10 years.

With the Sterling bonus, English buyers are sure to be to the fore for the substantial, mid-19th century house with its three holiday cottages and acres of ground, which includes the obligatory sweeping driveway from the road. It’s on the market at €1.2 million with five acres and a range of stone built out-offices, including the separately accessed courtyard of holiday lets.

Back in 2006 and 2007 it was put up for sale at a total guide price of €3 million, which included 22 acres of land at the time. The property was then offered in lots — with the house, cottages and approximately five acres pitched at €1.7m and the remainder of the land at €1.03m.

Even by the swollen property values of that time, the price was regarded as quite strong and a sale took some time and probably, some negotiation — but sell it did, although the eventual price was not confirmed.

Now back on the market with Sherry FitzGerald Brennan Busteed, Kilcolman is effectively unchanged since its last outing nearly ten years ago. And small wonder, as it’s now, as it was then, a ready-to-go comfortable house that’s large enough to be impressive, but manageable enough to be intimate and family-friendly.

And with the cottages attached, it not only has the potential to pay its way, (what with airbnb and more), it’s also in superb condition, says the agent, and unlike other properties of its vintage, doesn’t need any work.

The Rectory is set at the end of a curved driveway from a narrow, but leafy byroad. Built of local stone, the house is two-storey over basement with a small courtyard immediately to the rear. Behind this again are the holiday cottages, which have been converted from former stables and which could also provide staff as well as guest accommodation.

The main house is very impressive, but is comfortably sized — 12ft-foot-high ceilings and big sash windows make for a bright and airy property and most rooms have dual aspect. The house has been exceptionally well maintained down the years and its believed to have been built in the early to mid 1800s as a living for one Canon Lamb whose descendants lived in the property up to the 1980s when it was sold out of family hands.

The rectory served nearby St Mary’s Church, which, along with Kilcolman House, and Kilcolman Park, was part of the Earl of Bandon’s demesne. Kilcolman Park was last sold in 2006, while Kilcolman House, a three-storey property of similar vintage to the rectory, was burnt down in 1921. A similar act of arson saw off the seat of the Earls of Bandon, the 19th century Castle Bernard, which is now an ivy covered ruin close to the modern home built by the 5th Earl. The surrounding land is now a golf course.

The Rectory, however, emerged unscathed through periods of great upheaval, from the Famine to the War of Independence and has been in continual use as a family home.

The second last owners, who sold the property in 2007/2008 did a lot of remedial work at the turn of the century so the the roof has been redone with new felt and battens placed under old slate, but on perfect trusses, as they reported at the time. New plumbing was installed and the electrics upgraded and the basement/ garden level was completely gutted, dry lined and replastered. Its now the functioning modern heart of this old house

Those owners, who were and are, high end boutique hoteliers, used their considerable skills in re-construction, restoration and interior decoration, as well as gardening to create a first class home of the Rectory.

And it’s something the present owners have continued, which makes this sale a rarity of sorts. In terms of layout, there are two formal reception rooms flanking the main entrance hallway, with an en suite guest bedroom and a study to the rear.

A separate guest bathroom is tucked in to the left of the main staircase. Down a few steps to the garden level is the hub of the house a big, square eat-in kitchen, presided over by a double-oven Aga. The family living room is also at this level, along with a garden room and guest cloakroom.

And in terms of service rooms, along with a pantry and utility near the kitchen, there’s a wine cellar and a log room, where fuel for the house’s many fires is stored.

The top level of the house has four double bedrooms, all bright and airy with tall sash windows and they share two family bathrooms, but the master suite has a master bathroom and dressing room.

Outside, there are ancient trees, vast swathes of lawn, herbaceous borders and shrub beds in a pleasant rural and very private location The house is on the market with David Busteed of Sherry Fitzgerald Brennan Busteed, Bandon.

VERDICT: Gracious, grand and in great shape, this is a house that’s stood the test of time and is perfect for a family or as a discreet, restaurant, guest house business.

Bandon, West Cork

€1.2 million

Size: 505 sq m/5435 sq ft plus three cottages with 1800 sq ft approx, and 5 acres

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 1

BER: Exempt