Sustainable city living in €425,000 St Luke's period townhouse

No 5 Ard na Gréine is just a 15 minute walk from Cork City centre

Sat, 10 Feb, 2024 - 12:00

Catherine Shanahan

St Lukes, Cork City
€425,000
Size	150 sq m (1615 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

THE heavy footfall at Ard na Gréine isn’t what the elegant six-house Edwardian terrace is used to. It’s generated by a pair of house sales, starting with No 4, which went on the market last September. A fantastically re-worked home that featured in these pages, No 4 came to market for €525,000, as the owners packed up to move the short distance to Wellington Road. It sold with Seán McCarthy of ERA Downey McCarthy for €590,000, leaving a trail of disappointed house hunters in its wake.

The dotted line was barely signed, when its neighbour, No 5, was put up for sale.

With a starting price €100,000 lower than No 4, some who were outbid last time around are returning to the fray. Having already viewed No 4, they will know what is possible at these graceful homes.

No 5 is closer to its original state than its neighbour. It retained its galley kitchen (the neighbours extended theirs), designed by Linehans.

Two large interconnected reception rooms remain true to form too, albeit they’ve been opened up to each other via an archway.

Original fireplaces and pine floors remain in place. The big bay window, a defining feature of each of the homes on the terrace, ensures a bright and airy room.

Another feature of these homes is a bathroom on the first floor return. Where some of the houses have a separate WC and bathroom, No 5 has a shower room. Two of the four generous bedrooms are on the first floor, with options to convert the main, very large bedroom, into another reception room, in the style of the Piano Nobile, an Italian tradition of putting the “good” room on an upper floor to better enjoy any views.

The view at No 5 is down towards Ballyhooly Road below and across towards a flourishing community garden, a residents’ initiative designed to transform what was unsightly wasteland between the upper reaches of School Lane/Alexander Road and Ballyhooly Road.

Residents planting the community garden at the old quarry, St Lukes Picture: Eddie O'Hare

On the second floor, two more double bathrooms share the main bathroom.

Selling No 5 is Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald and she says it’s a home “of great character, with a pleasing layout”.

Its owners, from the USA, are gone back to the USA and are selling up.

“People who missed out on No 4 may be interested in this one,” says Ms O’Mahony, adding that some have already booked in for a look.

Enquiries are brisk, she says, from re-locators and from people looking to move from higher up in Montenotte down closer to town in St Lukes. First time buyers are in the frame too for what Ms O’Mahony says is a fabulous period townhouse in the “vibrant mini-village of St Lukes”.

While the energy rating is only a D2, potential buyers will be pleased to hear that the roof on No 5 was recently replaced and that heating is zoned. A pull-down ladder in the second floor hallway gives access to the attic. There are two adjoining sheds in the courtyard.

As No 5’s owners are absent, the gardens are overgrown. There’s a small bit of lawn out front, and a long sloping garden out back. New owners can take inspiration from creative neighbours.

Ard na Gréine is about 20 steps above the main road, through a pedestrian gate, so parking is on-street. This won’t suit some buyers, but it will appeal to those committed to green city living.

There’s good public transport in the area, with several bus routes passing through St Lukes Cross, and there’s plenty of retail and hospitality, including St Luke's live music venue, Henchy’s pub and Cork Coffee Roasters.