City to Country: Charming Dublin 6 home in sought-after location or stunning views at spacious €395k Tipperary escape 

Trish Dromey discovers a wide range of updated homes across the country

City to Country The Old School Residence, Castlecove, Co Kerry

Terenure, Dublin 6
€500,000
Size	65 sq m (700 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	D2

Built for workers laying tramlines at the start of the last century, No 1 Cormac Terrace in Terenure, Dublin 6 is now a charming two-bed end-of-terrace home.

Small, with just 65 sq m of living space, it was extensively renovated by current owners in 2005. “They repaired the roof, put in gas-fired heating and double-glazing and upgraded everything, maximising the use of space,” says auctioneer Orla Buckley of DNG Terenure quoting a guide of €500,000.

At ground level, it has a timber-floored living/dining room with a fireplace and a window which would once have been external but now looks into the kitchen. In an upgraded lean-to-style extension at the rear, is a modern kitchen/diner with roof lights, cream units, a Belfast sink and some built-in seating.

The upstairs has a contemporary shower room and two bedrooms including a double with a cast iron fireplace and a single one which is now used as a home office.

The property doesn’t have a garden but has parking for two cars on the street.

Ms Buckley says the location in the heart of Terenure is a big draw. “It’s close to amenities in Terenure, Rathgar, Templeogue and Rathfarnham and Bushy Park is within walking distance.”

VERDICT: A small but charming property in a sought-after location.

Adare, Co Limerick
€345,000
Size	120 sq m (1,292 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	C1

This modernised bungalow at Kilcurly near Adare might do nicely for a Limerick city buyer thinking of moving to the country to work remotely or to try out the hybrid work model.

“It’s a 1940s-built property which has been attractively renovated and upgraded by current owners in 2018,” says Gillian Wallace of Murphy Gubbins auctioneer, adding it’s been rewired and replumbed and now has a C1 BER.

With a guide of €345,000, it’s a 120sq metre bungalow on a third of an acre of gardens. “It’s located 5km from Adare and is just 15km from Limerick city,” says Ms Wallace adding that it has attracted a lot of viewings from city buyers.

Accommodation includes a long kitchen/ diner with modern pale grey shaker style units and a breakfast counter as well as a carpeted sitting room, a small utility and a contemporary bathroom. To the rear, there are three carpeted bedrooms including one en suite.

A staircase in the kitchen leads to a carpeted loft room which has been modernised with wall panels and turned into a home office-cum-TV room by the owners.

the bungalow has lawned gardens with mature trees, a gravel parking area, a timber arch and a decked south-facing patio at the rear. “It’s tranquil and private and has views of green rolling countryside,” reveals Ms Wallace.

VERDICT: Would make an attractive rural home for a buyer who wants to escape city life.

Loughtea, Co Tipperary
€395,000
Size	325 sq m (3,500 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	6
BER	C3

Stylishly designed with a double-height front window offering views of Lough Derg, this spacious five-bed detached bungalow at Loughtea near Ballina offers excellent trading up space.

William Talbot of Sherry FitzGerald Talbot says its €395,000 guide price represents very good value for a modern property with 325 sq m of accommodation including attic rooms.

“It was built in 2005 to a high standard although it now needs a little bit of painting and decorating,” says Mr Talbot, noting that it has over three quarters of an acre of gardens.

The tall apex window with lake views belongs to a carpeted front living room. Beyond this, at the rear, there’s a huge oak-floored open-plan kitchen/ dining/living space which has a vaulted ceiling with roof lights and two-tone grey shaker-style units with granite counter tops.

The property has a second living room at the rear, a utility space, a guest WC and bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath as well as five bedrooms including four with en suites.

A spiral staircase in the hallway leads to the upper floor which has a galleried landing, which overlooks the dining room and has lake views. The attic also has two large timber floored rooms.

Like many large properties built during the boom, the bungalow has a central vacuum system. These days, viewers may be more interested in the fact that it has high speed broadband.

VERDICT: A spacious, stylish and modern property with stunning views.

Castlecove, Co Kerry
€495,000
Size	217 sq m (2,335 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	C1

This scenically situated, handsomely Victorian stone- and brick-built property at Castlecove on the Ring of Kerry is almost certainly going to attract interest from overseas buyers.

“It now has four bedrooms and four bathrooms and a kitchen with timber units and granite countertops,” she says, adding that it’s been fitted with green double-glazed windows and oil-fired heating.

The upstairs has a bathroom and three bedrooms including two with en suites. Outside it has large gardens with lawns, a patio, mature trees and an original stone wall.

Located half a km from Castlecove it’s within easy reach of several beaches including Castlecove, White Strand and Derrynane Beach which is nine km away.

“Nestled between the hills and the sea it’s perfectly located for holidays,” says Ms Moran who thinks it might also attract relocators seeking a home on the Wild Atlantic way.

VERDICT: An attractive Victorian property on the Ring of Kerry is always likely to attract good attention.