House of the week: Macroom, Lee Valley, Cork €675,000
Now, a water-fronting property in the Lee Valley that bears their name, Lir House, may be about to change hands after several years on the market, thanks to a significant price drop: it has been virtually halved in price expectation, since first floated in 2014, back then guiding €1.3 million.
A dramatic price adjustment now on the 5,800 sq ft contemporary five-bed home, on almost 12 acres with considerable frontage to the Lee just near Coolcower and Macroom, may well draw renewed interest to Lir House, which now is priced at €675,000, after auctioneers Savills this week joined original selling agents Engel and Volkers on the task of selling the architect-designed 2004-built, feature packed Leeside home.
At the significantly adjusted new €675,000 price, Lir House is still just about the dearest home turning up in an online trawl of the Macroom area, with the period De La Cour Villa on 3.3 acres near Lissarda guided at €500,000, while the superb period home on great gardens Lissardagh House itself on over 13 acres on the main N22 Cork-Macroom Road is guided at €975,000.
Approached from the north of the river from Macroom or from Coachford/Ahinagh, there’s a sort of backwater south of Macroom where the Sullane and Lee rivers meet, and with its 12 acres “you virtually have an activity centre as your home, it’s ideal for those into horses, kayaking or water sports,” says joint agent Michael O’Donovan of Savills of Lir House.
It’s set amid a mixture of tillage and pasture fields, at the very end of a country lane where every second home is a farm, and includes some water frontage, as well as outbuildings suitable as stables with three loose boxes, a training manege, plus a chalet. The lands are laid out in paddocks, with post and rail fencing.
The original sales description of Lir House said it was “probably one of the finest residences in West Cork,” and while indeed it is set west of Cork (about half way to Killarney) the location might be better described as Mid-Cork.
The solidly-built home has five bedrooms, either side of a dramatic central, double height atrium, with top-lit cantilevered staircase, a modern take on the classic floating form, with tall windows along its rise.
Rails are in stainless steel, with glass balustrading up the stairs and around either side of the landing above.
The atrium is over 25’ long, and nearly 12’ deep, throughout the centre core of the house, and another distinguishing feature is the variety of window shapes and forms, many of them floor-to-ceiling for viewing out over the surrounding fields and down to the water’s edge.
It was built 12 years ago, the agents say, “to the highest quality standards and no expense was spared to finish this 4,890 sq ft residence to an immaculate standard.”
Practically, it has a B2 energy rating, with concrete floors at both levels and geothermal-sourced heating, so running costs should be low, it’s suggested.
Two of the five bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, and two have south-facing views over the water inlet, plus the double aspect master suite has a balcony via French doors. Also upstairs is a laundry.
Other rooms downstairs include a contemporary kitchen with island next to a living area, and there’s a dining table in a bay window with floor-to-ceiling glazing.
The living room has an open fire place, and there’s a study, guest WC and utility.
Meanwhile a second lounge has an open fireplace and a home bar: back when Lir House first floated on the market around 2014, it featured in a Myhome blog as having one on the 20 best bars in private homes then on the market.
Location wise, it’s quiet and quite private, about a 30 minute commute from Cork city and airport and even nearer is Ballincollig, with its tecchie employment base.
Swan lake on Leeside?
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