Superb family home in the community of Farran, just west of Ballincollig, Co Cork

BACK on the market, after a change of selling agent and a modest-enough price drop, is the family home called Shelby, out west of Cork city and Ballincollig, at Farran.

Farran, Co Cork €420,000

Size: 206 sq m (2,213 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

BER: C3

Not far of the N22 main Cork-Macroom/Kerry road on what’s known as Farran’s Rocky Road by Farran Cross, Shelby is a modern dormer home, with four bedrooms plus upstairs studio in a 2,200 sq ft package. It’s on a site of 0.4 of an acre which includes a large detached double garage, and side sun room.

Selling agent is Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald, who guides at €420,000, and that’s down from a November 2015 first launch, at €450,000.

Now, not only is the price more attractive, the weather’s better too and viewers can get to appreciate the gardens, see their scope and, for family buyers, the kids’ swing and slide set holds the promise of hours of outside play.

Presented well now for sale, with some deft lifestyle touches and a spacious 26’ by 11’ gable-end sun room, this dormer home has a double bedroom at each of its first floor corners, with one en suite and what’s described as a study is to the front mid-section, with slender windows in a peaky front dormer/gable, with Stira attic access from this room also.

Downstairs, off a central hall with panel effect ceiling, are a music room, family room, and open-plan style living/dining room by a small kitchen, plus back hall, utility, and guest WC.

Best space is the T-shaped sun room, with solid, sloping ceilings, triple aspect and overhead Veluxes, plus back wall of display shelving.

Sherry Fitz’s Norma Healy says there’s a real sense of community around accessible Farran, plus lots of amenities, and the Rocky Road has a good spread of neighbouring homes, so it’s not isolated: “it’s ideal for a buyer looking for country living within minutes of the Ballincollig bypass road network, and easily reached from Bishopstown and Wilton, hospitals and third level colleges,” she adds.

As a bonus, the detached garage has potential for someone into their hobbies, as a workshop or as a base for a home business, while sheltered behind the house is a large flagged patio, gravelled BBQ area, large lawn and swings.

VERDICT: Set on a south-facing hill between the N22 and the Lee reservoir, woods and boating amenities plus the National Rowing Centre at Farran, Shelby indeed has country living appeal, just a short spin from Cork city.