Prime land in the heart of Kinsale

By Tommy Barker

A Kinsale townsite, which has had education uses since the Famine era in 1845, is for sale for development, at a time when a dozen new homes nearby have just been offered for sale at feast-time prices, all individually guided at €1.35m-plus.

Offered this week is a 1.3 acre site, the former St Joseph’s School, a primary girls’ school with 130 pupils run by the Mercy Order, until a new-school amalgamation in 2013 with 60-pupil strong boys’ NS, St John’s.

Acting for the religious order, whose direct involvement in education in Kinsale has now ended, agents David McCarthy and Amanda Isherwood of Lisney, Cork, seek offers of €750,000 for the school/1.3 acre site, with proceeds going to local needs.

Likely be redeveloped for residential development, subject to zoning changes/new zoning, it currently comprises a detached 10,500 sq ft building, with access off the harbour town’s historic Blind Gate and with road frontage to Rampart Lane along its northern boundary.

It adjoins the rejuvenated Convent Garden development of houses and apartments, on the former Mercy Convent site currently being undertaken by Cumnor Construction.

Convent Garden is selling steadily in phases, with 36 sales to date via Savills: they last month launched Kinsale’s Árd Álainn, a development of 12 large, 3,500/3,750 sq ft detached four beds for developer David Kidd, at prices ‘from’ €1.35m — a Kinsale first, at this level for a development of new-builds, with river Bandon views.

Current Kinsale town development zoning at St Joseph’s is “established educational, institutional and civic uses,” with the plan due for review in conjunction with that of Cork County Development Plan, in force from Dec 2020.

The Mercy Order sold the historic convent and extensive grounds in the early 2000s to Cumnor Construction, who lodged for 175 houses and apartments, then the largest residential application in the town, and later applications reduced the density to under 100.

Apartments are expected still in the commandingly-set 18th/19th century convent building, while a curved, new apartment block is currently under construction by Cumnor, who may be expected to have some interest in this additional site, again being sold by the Mercy Order.

Lisneys say “while the property was previously in use as a school and is situated in an area zoned ‘educational uses,’ we are of the opinion that given its location in an established residential area within walking distance of Kinsale town centre, the property will appeal to developers as a potential residential development site.”

Ms Isherwood describes the 1.33 acre site as compact, and “represents a superb development opportunity for residential developers. It is ideally suited to capitalise on the upturn in the residential property market subject to a material contravention of the existing development plan.

“Kinsale has traditionally commanded premium prices for houses due to its picturesque harbour location, sailing facilities and its proximity to Cork city.

"Other Kinsale schemes, such as Convent Garden and Kinsale Manor are performing quite well, and we feel that this is a rare opportunity to acquire a development site in Kinsale town,” she adds.

Details: Lisney 021-4275079