City to Country: Comfy Dublin 5 cottage for €695,000 or spacious 6-bed Georgian home in Cork countryside

Choose compact in the city or spacious in the county

Gurteen, Bandon

Killester, Dublin 5
€695,000
Size	90 sq m ( 970 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	C2

By adding on a porch at the front of their two bed semi -detached two at 49 Abbeyfield in Killester, Dublin 5 the owners have given it the prettiness of a country cottage.

And by building on a large windowed kitchen extension and doing a lot of upgrading and redecoration they have also given it a stylish modern interior.

Seeking offers of €695,000, Sean Tobin of Sherry FitzGerald Clontarf says the 1920s built property has been renovated to a high standard. “ It offers 90 sq ft of accommodation and has an additional 36 sq metres in the converted attic, “ he says, noting that both the kitchen and attic have both been extended and that the bathroom has been given a makeover.

The open plan kitchen/dining /living space is a long laminate floored room with dusky pink units, large windows and bi-folding doors at the rear. Also at ground level there is a stylishly renovated bathroom and two upgraded bedrooms, including one used as an office. A staircase leads to the converted attic which has two rooms used as bedrooms.

“Situated in a mature residential setting off the Howth Road, Abbeyfield, is a much sought-after location within the bustling village of Killester with its shops, cafes and supermarket. Both St Anne’s Park and Dollymount Strand are within a short walking distance “ says Mr Tobin noting that Killester DART station is within a five minute walk.

VERDICT: A stylish and pretty home in a very popular location.

Croom, Co Limerick
€499,000
Size	102 sq m ( 1,100 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	G

Quaint and old world with 16 acres of land, Buttercup Farm at Ballygrennan near Croom in Limerick almost seems like a property from another time.

A stone built residence dating from the 1900s, it operated for many years as a pet farm offering a display of farm animals and traditional farm machinery. Selling agents Adare Properties say it was a successful business which ran a coffee shop and offered pony rides and at one time had the most popular Santa Claus in the area.

“It’s a beautiful residence with 16 acres of top quality Golden Vale land – it has lawns, trees, gardens and paddocks as well as sheds, hay barns, cow houses, pony shed and chicken shed,’’ reveals auctioneer John Giltinane.

The house is quaint, traditional and full of character, with floral curtains, a fireplace with a stove and a kitchen/diner with country kitchen style units and a China stacked dresser. Well minded by the owners who have installed double glazing, it has a G BER rating and will need upgrading.

Accommodation includes two sitting rooms and a kitchen diner as well as an en suite ground floor bedroom as well as three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

Mr Giltinane says there’s potential to modernise the property which could be used as a hobby farm, turned into a pet farm/ business again or used as a private residence.

Located four km from Croom, Buttercup Farm is 24 km from Limerick city.

VERDICT: Offers land, old world charm and a range of options.

Bandon, Co Cork
€525,000
Size	260 sq m ( 2,800 sq ft)
Bedrooms	6
Bathrooms	3
BER	C3

It would be relatively easy to imagine a character from a Jane Austen novel arriving at the door of this six bed Georgian house at Gurteen in Bandon.

The spacious semi-detached property has, according to Ernest Forde of Hodnett Forde, auctioneers been sensitively cared for and upgraded by its owners. 

"It has single glazed sash windows, and a range of period features which include fireplaces, working shutters, cornicing, doors and joinery as well as Minton tiling and a 17th Century stone bread oven," he reveals More modern features include an upgraded kitchen with a Rayburn stove and country kitchen style units and the house has been fitted with dual oil fired and solid fuel heating. 

“The BER is a C3 which is impressive for a Georgian property with 260 sq metres of living space,’’ observes Mr Forde.

Extensive accommodation includes three sitting rooms, including one in a side annex and two with fireplaces and shuttered sash windows in which it would be easy to imagine a genteel lady in a Jane Austen novel receiving a gentleman caller.

There’s also a utility room, a laundry room while the upper floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms. In addition to this the property also has a separate one bedroom apartment.

Occupying a wooded site of an acre, the house has a decked area at the rear and a polytunnel.

Guiding at €525,000 it’s located three km from Bandon.

VERDICT: Elegant will need further sensitive and careful upgrading.

Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
€600,000
Size	166 sq m ( 1,790 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	A2

The sale of a fully furnished, beautifully fitted out former showhouse at 14 Gort na Gréine, Sixmilebridge offers a rare opportunity for a trade up buyer in the Limerick area. 

Priced at €600,000, it’s a four-bed detached house with 166 sq metres of accommodation and an A2 BER. 

“It’s been fitted out by an interior designer and all contents are included,” says Peter Kearney of Rooney auctioneers who describes the property as luxurious.

The fully fitted out sitting room has herringbone flooring and an entire wall of built in storage units while the spacious contemporary and well equipped kitchen diner at the rear has grey shaker style units and a blue island unit. The ground floor also has an en suite bedroom as well as a utility room and bathroom.

On the upper level there's a bathroom and three bedrooms including one en suite.

Noting that the gardens have also been attractively landscaped, Mr Kearney says there’s little left for a buyer to do. In July No 12, another detached house sold for €479,999 One of just four detached houses in the 14 units development, it’s the last one to be sold.

Located close to amenities in Sixmilebridge village, Gort na Gréine is just over 16 km from Limerick city.

VERDICT: A ready to go, spacious A2 rated property - it could look awfully attractive to a buyer who likes the idea of acquiring a well turned out new home with the minimum of fuss and effort.