Galweys Cross, Macroom, Cork, €365,000

Tommy Barker visits a large property by the Sullane river with roots reaching back a century and more.

Sat, 22 Apr, 2017 - 01:00

Tommy Barker, Property Editor

Size: 235 sq m (2,515 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4/5
Bathrooms: 3
BER: Pending

Old meets new, and craftsmanship meets comfort, at this edge-of-Macroom town home, with roots going back a century or more, as well as design features that pitch it into a modern league of its own.

The stone-built, upgraded home is just south of the walls of the old Macroom Castle Demesne, on roadside grounds of three-quarters of an acre at Galweys Cross, by the Sleaveen and Wood Roads: it’s within a walk of the town centre, adds its selling agent Tom Heffernan, who guides at €365,000.

Neighbouring Macroom Castle was the original family home of William Penn in whose honour the US state of Pennsylvania is named, and was later owned by the McCarthy clan, a descendent of whom Lady Olivia Ardilaun (a Guinness) gave the demesne to the people of Macroom in 1924, after much of the castle was burned down in 1922.

Today, the demesne is home to a public park, the GAA club and Macroom Golf Club, with the River Sullane cutting though its grounds as it flows through the town to meet the Lee, and a reasonable hurler or golfer could drive a ball from this home to the pleasantly wooded course over the road.

With its gable end backing on to the public road, (there’s a handy pedestrian gate as well as a car access point and drive), front lawn and large rear garden Mr Heffernan describes this 2,500 sq ft one-off as being in a wonderful country-side setting, close to town.

Distinctive features include some exposed stone walls and masses of stripped pine in the shutter-clad hall and first floor landing for quite the medieval look and visual warmth, as well as some high, apex ceilinged feature rooms. These include a double-height ‘Great Room’ that’s nearly 30’ long, with wood-burning stove, and an upstairs media room or optional bed five, with exposed roof trusses and sloping ceilings.

There’s also a double aspect lounge with wood-beamed ceiling and stove, inner hall with arched window, home office area, kitchen/breakfast room, four bedrooms with two en suites, and a main bathroom with roll-top cast iron bath. There’s excellent woodwork, in wall panelling and the property has central heating and pvc double glazing.