Equestrian heaven may stirrup interest
There aren’t too many two-bed houses up for sale around West Cork’s Enniskeane with asking prices just a bit shy of €1 million — but, then again, there are horses for courses, and this property, called The Paddocks, is surely one of this breed
It’s a place where the love of horses and equestrian matters was almost given as much attention to detail as that given to the humans who live here: it’s now for sale, pretty much as a niche package, just now in the hunt for the right buyer.
What’s on offer? Well, there’s 38 acres of land, for starters, hidden away in folds and tucks in fields, mixed quality land but lovely for all that, near Coppeen and Enniskeane, in a pastoral setting.
But, they’re not banished. When offspring, grandchildren or other visitors come to stay, the ‘second’ home, a separate, and far older, roadside and postcard-pretty C19th farm house gets pressed into service, and it’s not too scanty either.
Curiously, even though it’s way smaller than the main home, at about 1,000 sq ft, it gets in three first floor bedrooms, and while it scores a G BER, it’s pretty comfortable as it stands (the main house has a C2 BER.).
The ‘horse and house’ mix is fresh to market and listed with estate agent Ron Krueger of Engel & Volkers in Kinsale, with a €940,000 price tag quoted. (Price locally average €111,00 for two-bed homes and €235,00 for five-bed, but they don't have all the extras here.)
Mr Krueger needs to find the right ‘fit.’ Anyone seriously into horses, the care and the schooling of them, might fit his €940k bill.
The vendor, who moved here over a decade ago from Cork city, was into dressage and build this set-up to meet his exacting standards. Thus the stable block is well above standard, the indoor arena is immaculate (the sale includes a property farm tractor for raking the sand, among other tasks!), the arena’s as good as any riding school or centre, and the landscaping around the house is a thoughtful mix of formal and natural.
As for the house, well, it’s a mix of well-designed restraint and high-end, ‘Continental’ look, with a two-storey/dormer build with distinctly Irish vernacular references such as slate roofs and raised gable barges.
In fact, the ‘high-end’ is in the build quality and open uncluttered lines, with no small or mean rooms.
The generosity of space is most apparent at the upper level, which is home to a galleried landing and has just two bedrooms, each en-suite, one at either end, and one also has a large dressing room/robes with cabinets aplenty.
Architect-designed, it’s got a few quirks: there’s slight internal split level, at both floors funnily enough, with a few steps down from the hall to the kitchen/dining room, where there’s a low dividing wall which allows for very long internal views through much of the ground level.
On the floor above, there’s the same few steps of drop-down into the master bedroom suite, creating a sense of remove and sanctuary, and another interesting touch is the way the hall opens through double doors to an outdoor terrace, partly covered over with an extension canopy of slate roof between two side wings.
Elsewhere, there’s a large, triple-aspect living room, high-ceilinged with central fireplace with glass spark-screen, and with tall and narrow windows on either side for extra brightness.
Heating is delivered underfloor, beneath pale, neutral-hued ceramic tiles, and off this living space is a home office, with terraced and valley views, as well as (right now, at least, glimpses of horses out grazing at pasture).
Décor quality is high, as are finishes, sanitary ware, kitchen units topped with granite etc: the works, with a calm reflective air throughout. All rooms are a good size, bright and airy in atmosphere.
There’s an integrity to the design and layout, which is ideal for those who want just what’s on offer, happy with two bedrooms and with more for guests and visitors a few hundred yards away in the older dwelling. The downside is that there isn’t na easy or obvious way to extend for more bedrooms.
After several viewings already to overseas inquiries, E&V agent Ron Krueger says the key appeal to the mix, which is about 20 minutes from Bandon and less than an hour from Cork city and airport, is the fact it’s “a fabulous equestrian holding,” with a detached main residence, second/guest cottage with contrasting old-world feel, stables, mare and foal boxes, barn and both external and internal sand arenas “all set into a beautiful, rural Irish countryside setting.”
Horses for courses.
Enniskeane, West Cork €940,000 241 sq m (2,583 sq ft) on 38 acres Bedrooms: 2+3 Bathrooms: 3+1 BER: C2
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