Foxglove Cottage, West Cork is a real charmer

Century-old Foxglove Cottage has been lovingly renovated, and extended, in West Cork, says Trish Dromey.

FOXGLOVE Cottage, in West Cork, has the kind of character and charm that you find in renovated, old stone properties, complete with exposed beams and stonework, sloped ceilings and mature, colourful gardens.

Bought 15 years ago by a couple returning from the UK, the hundred-year-old farmhouse has been given a comprehensive makeover to match its new name. Two stone barns, one at each end, were turned into additional living space and an extension was added at the back, which brought the floor area up to 1,600 sq ft.

Selling agents Pat Maguire Properties say it’s been very tastefully renovated, and has many original features, as well as modern comforts, which include oil-fired central heating and double-glazed, timber windows.

The original ground-floor area of the old farmhouse has been turned into a large, open-plan kitchen/living room with painted roof beams.

This has a timber-floored living area, with a stove in a red-brick surround, as well as a traditional farmhouse kitchen with fitted units, some pine, some painted red, as well as a Belfast sink, a range and some free-standing, antique pine furniture.

In an extension at the rear, there is a timber-floored lounge with a vaulted timber ceiling, with exposed beams and a partially exposed stonewall. Other ground-floor rooms include a utility room, a bathroom and two bedrooms.

Upstairs, there’s a bathroom with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams, as well as two timber-floored bedrooms, including one with an en-suite.

Outside, there’s an acre of gardens with a paddock, some mature trees and plants, including hydrangea, which, along with the foxgloves, provide colour in the summer, and the cottage’s name. To the rear of the lounge, there’s a large covered patio, which is suitable for al fresco dining.

Located at the end of a cul de sac, Foxglove Cottage is situated at Bredagh Cross, six miles from Skibbereen and four miles from Drimoleague.

Seeking offers of €250,000, Mr Maguire says the property has tremendous character and is exactly the type of cottage that will appeal to UK buyers. “It’s also possible that it could appeal to buyers from Dublin or Cork City who want to come and live the good life in West Cork,’’

VERDICT: Charm, character and West Cork colour in a tranquil setting

Location: West Cork

Price: €250,000

Size: 148 sq m (1,600 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

BER: Pending