City to Country: Fashionably renovated Dublin 8 redbrick or seaside views from striking €695k West Cork escape

Perfect Dublin city location and rural sea-facing West Cork property boast similar price tags

Toe Head Castletownshend Co Cork

Portobello, Dublin 8
€650,000
Size	72 sq m ( 775 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	D2

The convenience of its Portobello location is a very significant selling point for this Victorian redbrick two-bed mid terrace house at 51 Lennox Street in Dublin 8.

It’s within a ten to twenty minute walk from St Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, Temple Bar and the National Concert Hall,’’ says Clodagh Murphy of Owen Reilly auctioneers who is seeking offers of €650,000.

The 70 sq metre property had been comprehensively renovated when the current owners bought it in 2018, she explains pointing out that it has original charm and some original features.

Overlooking the street at the front is a living room with a cast iron fireplace and, at the rear, there’s a kitchen with cream units which makes good use of space by fitting the fridge under the stairs.

In an extension at the rear there’s a shower room while the upper floor has two bedrooms. Fitted with double glazed sash style windows and gas heating, the house has a D2 BER which might need attention.

On street at the front, it has a tiled patio garden with sheds at the rear A look at the Property Price Register shows just how popular Lennox Street is. Last month a three storey four- bed terraced house at No 10 sold for €1.25 million and last year a redbrick two storey one at No 43 sold for €600,000. This property, No 51, shows as selling for €610,000 in 2018.

VERDICT: A small but attractively upgraded property in a fashionable and convenient location.

Fethard-on-Sea, Co. Wexford
€625,000
Size	219 sq m ( 2,340 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	B3

This handsome stone clad house at Templetown near Fethard-on-Sea has all the space and garden that trade up buyers or relocators could wish for as well as a detached studio and a poly tunnel for growing vegetables.

Built in 1998 ,it’s a detached four-bed house on a site of over half an acre which has been built with traditional style features including stone and brick cladding on the outside as well as timber ceiling beams, picture rails and exposed redbrick on the inside.

“It’s a picture perfect family home,’’ says Sonia Pallas of Sherry FitzGerald noting that its attractions include 219 sq metres of living space, extensive landscaped gardens and proximity to no less than 14 beaches on this section of the Wexford coast.

At the centre of the property, there’s an attractive spacious kitchen/ diner with terracotta tiled flooring, ceiling beams and timber fitted units with a large granite topped island and a stove in a redbrick opening. In addition to this, there’s a sunroom, a utility room, a shower room and two sitting rooms including a more formal one which has a fireplace with a stove.

Upstairs the property has a bathroom and four bedrooms including one en suite. Alongside the house, there’s a detached two storey garage which has an upper level built as an artist's studio which has a kitchen/living area and bathroom.

On the market with a guide of €625,000, the house is located four km from Fethard-on- Sea village.

VERDICT: Could attract commuters from Waterford city or relocators from Dublinfethard.

Killeenaran, Co Galway
€575,000
Size	192 sq m (2,066 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	A3

The owners of this detached coastal property at Killeenaran borrowed some of the designed features of a traditional cottage when they were building their stylish, modern, energy efficient home.

Situated by an inlet in Galway Bay, 26km south of Galway City, it’s a modern 2015-built dormer property which has something of the look (and the porch) of a cottage.

Quoting a guide of €575,000 Brian MacMahon of DNG MacMahon says it’s an attractive contemporary home with an A3 energy rating.

“It’s been built to a high standard and its features include white high gloss kitchen units and a bespoke open tread staircase with glass balustrades,” he reveals.

At ground level the property has a tiled open-plan kitchen/living room with gloss units and a breakfast bar as well as an archway which opens into a sunroom/dining room. There’s also a utility room and two ground-floor bedrooms including one en suite.

On the upper level, the 192 sq m property has a bathroom and two more bedrooms in addition to a sitting room with a large rooflight and a door opening on to a roof terrace.

“The property is on an elevated site overlooking Brandy Harbour and has views of stony shoreline at the front,” says Mr MacMahon adding that it’s on a site of almost four acres.

Located a few minutes’ walk from Killeenaran pier, it’s 5km from Kilcolgan village.

V ERDICT: A stylish, energy-efficient coastal home, set to attract commuters and relocaters.

Toe Head, West Cork
€695,000
Size	260 sq m (2,800 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	6
BER	C1

This Toe Head property has the type of space, comfort, and interesting features you would hope to find in a coastal West Cork home including a first-floor wrap-around balcony as well as an upstairs sitting room with a fully glazed wall.

“It’s a magnificent, near coastal, architect-designed residence with 260sq m of living space and a site of 1.5 acres,” says auctioneer Pat Maguire who recently listed the five-bed, six-bathroom house with a guide of €695,000.

Located 6km south of Castletownshend village and within strolling distance of several small nearby coves, it offers views of the countryside and the Toe Head signal tower from the balcony.

The main living space is on the first floor and includes a huge sitting room with a timber-panelled vaulted ceiling, a stove set in a stone chimney breast/ and a fully glazed gable wall with French doors opening onto the balcony.

There’s also a spacious kitchen/diner with grey gloss units and a high ceiling with roof lights as well as an en suite bedroom and a bathroom.

On the lower floor, there are four en suite bedrooms as well as a smaller kitchen and a living area which Mr Maguire says were designed to be used by guests. Another interesting feature in the property is a small tower-like structure at the side which houses the staircase.

Outside, it has a garden, a garage, and an acre of paddock.

VERDICT: A striking and distinctive West Cork home.