Homes at the heart of Glanmire village

• Glanmire, Cork
• €245,000/€255,000
• Size: 97/105 sq m (1,044 sq ft/1,130 sq ft)
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 4
• BER: B2

Tommy Barker views an century-old shop which has been transformed into two homes with river frontage Glanmire, Cork

This pair of upgraded, village centre homes at 1&2 Woodriver View in Glanmire, does exactly what their name suggests — they look out over their rear to the wooded hills flanking the historic centre of Cork’s Glanmire, by the picturesque tidal reaches of the Butlerstown and Glashaboy rivers, just before they meet the wider reaches of Cork harbour.

Set right opposite Church Hill in Glanmire’s very heart — by the school too, and with lots of local services nearby — the pair have river frontage and off-street parking to their back boundaries, and are residential converts from previous part-commercial uses, as a street-facing former shop called Barrys.

And, they’ve been finished to a higher-than-average new-home look, and even get a B2 BER — not too bad at all for comfortable pads with close to 100 years of history and presence in the community.

Estate agent Trish Stokes of Lisney Cork is selling the duo, each three-bedroomed and varying slightly in overall floor area by just about 90 sq ft (1,044 sq ft vs 1,130 sq ft).

They are in walk-in condition she stresses, with contemporary high-end fixtures, sanitary ware, flooring, and kitchens etc.

As well as having car parking and rear access, they are by a pedestrian crossing by the slight rise towards Church Hill, and are next to a bus stop for two services, with 30-minute frequency for city centre access.

The street-facing pair have hall, c 12’ by 12’ sitting room, kitchen/dining room, pantry plus utility, as well as guest WC.

Upstairs, the provision is for two en-suites plus a main bathroom serving three bedrooms, with gas heating and Stira attic access.

Maintenance levels will be low, with enclosed rear courtyard garden/outdoor area.

Past that privacy fencing is a tarmac parking area between the houses and the river.

While all the work is done to the houses, new owners may seek to enhance the site’s relationship to the scenic river stretch just beyond.

VERDICT: Could suit traders- down, first-time buyers, or even investors as, if first-time lets, they will be free of rent caps.