Trading Up: Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny, €450,000

The name is apt: Co Kilkenny’s Highfield House is indeed high above a field and railed paddock, with long views past to the greenest of countryside along the Castlecomer/Athy road, 15 minutes north of Kilkenny city.

This generous-sized, well-built and well-finished family home’s now for sale, on 1.6 acres outside and with 4,700 sq ft inside on two-three levels: estate agent Ella Dunphy of the DNG network guides at €450,000, so it’s even less than €100 per square foot, all-in.

They’re quality square feet too, with concrete floors (finished with glossy timbers) upstairs as well as down, the kitchen’s in solid American oak with pink granite tops, Belfast sink and Stanley cooker, and four of its five bedrooms are en suite, with built-in robes.