Cork ‘ghost’ housing scheme sells 50% above guide in fierce online auction

A long-idle Rochestown Road development sells well above expectations, fueling optimism ahead of another high-value Cork auction

Four Ashley houses and two sites went for 50% over all-in €1.24m AMV to an undisclosed bidder Picture: Dan Linehan

An unfinished Celtic Tiger-era “ghost” development of four houses and two sites on Cork City’s Rochestown Road sold for 50% above its guide price in a fast-paced online auction. 

Now, the same auction house will hold another auction next week for a trio of detached houses in the city’s upmarket Lindville development, also linked to the original developers, the O’Connor family.

Sold at €1.854m after 437 online bids were placed over a 30-minute period and dominated by two parties after opening around the €1.24m AMV, the partly completed Ashley scheme beside St Patrick’s Church on the main Rochestown Road has lain idle since one of the four detached homes, completed as a show home, was offered individually at €1.3m in 2008.

The homes are idle since one of the four detached homes completed as a showhome was offered individually at €1.3m in 2008.

The identity of the successful purchaser of the four boarded-up, detached Arts and Crafts-style houses plus two sites at Ashley has not been disclosed by selling platform Youbid.

The auction followed a previous attempt by Youbid to sell Ashley back in November 2024. The houses require considerable work to become habitable and will most likely be offered for resale in the future.

Three houses at Lindville due an auction disposal next week also

Meanwhile, the Lindville development at Ballintemple on Cork City’s main Blackrock Road — also developed by the O’Connor family — is preparing for another sale. Three detached homes, Nos 27, 28, and 53 Lindville, are scheduled for online auction on Thursday, October 16, with a combined AMV of €1.4m, according to Youbid.

Nos 27 & 28 Lindville 

At least five Lindville homes have previously sold for more than €1m in individual transactions, with two reaching approximately €1.4m. An extended semi-detached home, No. 17 Lindville, sold for €1.22m earlier this year.

On the basis of last week’s disposal of Ashley, the omens for a strong sale at Lindville are good...

Details at: Youbid.ie