Trading up: Dripsey, Lee Valley €400,000

The sum of €400,000 will now buy you ‘only’ a certain size and type of home around Cork’s Ballincollig, or Blarney, but, it will get you twice the property if you go up along the scenic Lee Valley, towards Dripsey.

So says Dripsey native and estate agent Robert O’Keeffe of Irish and European, as he launches this very fine, upgraded, detached home, right by the Dripsey River.

The five/six bedroomed home is on a much-tended, heavily planted, and highly productive elevated 0.66 of an acre, about 2km up along the river Lee and hopping over reservoirs, from Cork City.

Mr O’Keeffe says it’s been in the same family’s ownership for decades, and that they refurbished and extended this home about 20 years ago. Now, they are selling to downsize.

There are water views from the property, with the river just across a small road from its entrance, and the National Rowing Centre is out at Farran, while there’s the popular Water Sports Centre at Inniscarra, and water-skiing by Coachford.

As to the house itself, it’s a big dormer home in very good order, has two large reception rooms plus family room, with river views from the dining room. And, the kitchen is split level, with vaulted ceilings in the lower section.

There’s also a utility and conservatory, and bedrooms spread across several floors, some with views and one of which is split level.

VERDICT: Valley value.

Size: 327 sq m (3,500 sq ft)

Bathrooms: 3

Bedrooms: 5/6

BER: C1