Armchair (Graham Norton's red chair) critics won't find fault with this €550,000 Fermoy home
15 Duntahane Park, Fermoy
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Fermoy, Co Cork |
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€550,000 |
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Size |
195 sq m (2100 sq ft) |
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Bedrooms |
4 |
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Bathrooms |
4 |
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BER |
Pending |
THE recent brutal takedown of Fermoy from the widely-watched platform of Graham Norton's red chair sent the town's residents into paroxysms of rage.
Not since it flooded with gusto had the town generated so many negative headlines. In fairness, locals staged a spirited fightback after one chat show guest (Scotswoman Zoe) described Fermoy as a "horrible, horrible place". The following week, Norton was forced to apologise and what had been bad press began to work in the town's favour, as locals pressed home Fermoy's many attractions.
Key to the appeal of Fermoy and surrounding areas is the majestic River Blackwater, which the town faces and incorporates into its streetscape. It's a river recognised globally for its coarse and game angling, and trout and salmon anglers come from all over to fish in it.
Horsey types and hunting types also abound in the town.
It has a strong equestrian tradition and there are several top stud farms in its hinterland, such as Rathbarry, (Cashman family) and Coolagown, owned by the Stack family.
Heritage attractions such as centuries-old castles and round towers are well represented in the surrounding countryside and the town itself evolved from a 12th century Cistercian monastery. Under the stewardship of Scottish businessman/landowner John Anderson, who offered the British a site for a military base, it became a garrison town. Mr Anderson invested in the town layout, widening its imposing stone bridge, planning the streets and hiring distinguished Cork architect Abraham Hargrave to design many of its elegant buildings.
In essence, Fermoy has a lot more to offer than what the opinion of re-chair guest Zoe might suggest. Like the town, her opinion was all to one-side.
Fermoy is also at a lot less risk of flooding than it was 10-years ago, since the investment by Cork County Council of c€40m in a flood defence scheme. It wasn't among the towns particularly badly affected by flood waters in last month's Storm Babet.
Removed from the danger of flooding and at a particularly nice location in Fermoy is Duntahane Park, on the way into the town, coming from the Cork City side. A development that dates to the late 1990s, it consists of about 16 bespoke homes, built in accordance with the designs of individuals who bought sites at the time. One of those homes, No 15, is now for sale, and going by the Property Price Register, it’s just the third house in the park to come to market since 2010.
Like all of the houses in the park, No 15 is a big home, (2,100 sq ft) and the site it’s on is arguably the largest in the scheme. Selling agent Michael O’Donovan of Savills thinks so and he points to how the garden splays out to the rear.
It’s a really decent garden, expertly landscaped front, back and sides, and relatively low maintenance, with laurel hedging and some silver birch around the perimeter.
"The owners were particularly interested in gardening," says Mr O'Donovan.
The west-facing rear garden is at a level below the house, and there’s a timber deck suspended over it, off the open plan kitchen/sunroom, with storage space beneath.
There’s more storage space in a 355 sq ft detached garage, and the same again beneath, as it too is suspended above the garden.
Mr O’Donovan says the lower space is ideal as a wood shed. As there's plenty of driveway space, the garage could be put to another use eg a home gym.
Inside, the house is immaculate. It’s also a very bright and spacious home, starting with the wide hallway, laid with striking 3-D geometric tiles.
Either side of the hallway are large reception rooms.
One is a dual aspect family room with solid fuel stove, and an attractive round-arch window.
It’s open to the sunroom which is open to the kitchen. It goes without saying that there’s oodles of entertainment space, added to in good weather when the deck can be deployed. French doors lead out from the sunroom and there’s another door off the sizable utility.
Around the back of the hallway as you pass under the stairs, is a stylish WC and beyond it, a very nice study/home office.
Mr O’Donovan points out that this could also be a bedroom, with adjoining WC. At any rate, there’s another four bedrooms upstairs, all doubles, all very tastefully done.
Two have en suites and one has a walk-in wardrobe. The main bathroom has both a standalone roll-top bath and a rainhead shower.
The main bedroom has lovely countryside views, with the spire of Fermoy's St Patrick's Church and the ridges of the Galtee Mountains visible in the distance.
No 15 is a house built and furnished to high standards, evident in features such as the plantation shutters throughout the house, the very large landing which can easily accommodate a sofa, the expensive tiling in the bathrooms, the three-zone heating, the quartz countertops in the kitchen.
It’s evident outdoors too in the well-kept grounds, where screen fencing – with both pedestrian and vehicular access - shields the rear garden from passersby.
Mr O’Donovan says the house is ready for immediate occupation as the vendors - who bought it from the original owner - have already relocated. He says No 15 could be a particularly good option for families who want to base themselves in Cork, but where a member of the household has to travel to Dublin for work one or two days a week.
“It’s just minutes from the M8 Cork/Dublin motorway. And it’s only 20 minutes from the Dunkettle roundabout near Cork City, if you were commuting from Fermoy to the city,” he says.
He adds that there's a nice lifestyle on offer in Fermoy, particularly for families with equestrian interests. Gaelscoil de hÍde, a newish co-ed Gaelscoil, is a short walk from Duntahane Park.
The guide price for No 15 is €550,000.
At the more affordable end of the trade-up price range, No 15 is a quality home close to a town with a lot to offer.
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