Victorian semi-detached home in Carrignafoy, Cobh for sale after 39 years of family ownership

Victorian home in Carrignafoy, Cobh, lovingly restored with modern upgrades, landscaped gardens, attic conversion and guide price of €635,000

1 Lakeview, Cobh

Cobh, Co Cork
€635,000
Size	206 sq m (2217 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	3
BER	D2

THE marital home in Cobh was little more than a shell when Mick and Anne Marie Downing bought it in 1986, the year they were wed.

But despite decades of neglect, the couple could see it held promise.

“We had a picture in our heads of what it could be like and we had plenty of time to get there — although not plenty of money. If you heard the gales we slept through in the early days,” Anne-Marie recalls with a laugh.

1 Lakeview, Cobh as it is today

Their decision to buy No 1 Lakeview, a late Victorian home in Carrignafoy, high above the seaport town of Cobh, wasn’t the rash act of a pair of romantics. They bought it knowing Mick had the skills to lay the foundation for their future together.

A preference for hands-on technical learning over schoolbooks had led him to Anco, the forerunner of what is now Solas, the state agency for further education and training. He aced his exams.

“We were tested in 11 skills and I got 11 As,” he says. His qualifications crossed multiple trades, so he was well-equipped to take on Lakeview.

Stylish kitchen at Lakeview

One of the first tasks was to build a proper kitchen, which they did by extending across a rear yard. This extension was subsequently replaced by a much larger structure in 1998, which included an even bigger kitchen and a conservatory to the west, heightening the sense of space and light.

 They did work overhead too, extending the main bedroom, which is now split-level, with an en suite and walk-in-wardrobe. 

Split level main bedroom

On the uppermost floor, they converted the attic, where there’s plenty of scope for storage and a home office.

A utility and downstairs shower room were added to the back of the kitchen — ideal for sports-mad kids to deposit their kit and clean up before heading into the main house.

The Downings have been on a continuous home improvement curve since moving in 39 years ago. Seven years ago, they replaced a country-style kitchen with a contemporary high gloss cashmere and walnut alternative “exactly as it was in the showroom”, Mick says.

 The kitchen island has a curved sandstone countertop “done by a young guy from Oz who worked on the parapets at Belvelly Castle”, Mick adds.

More recently, flooring was upgraded, including new parquet flooring in the hallway, front sitting room, and family room, which opens into the conservatory. 

Front sitting room with bay window and parquet floor

Cosy family room

Windows have been upgraded too.

Out back, much work has been done, from the laying of a generous deck 20 years ago (Mick’s handiwork), to more extensive landscaping during lockdown. 

It’s very well organised now into different zones: deck/ barbecue area/ outdoor bar/ patio/ raised beds/ water feature/ lawn/ large workshop/ and “grandad’s pretend playground” which is what the grandkids call a new play area.

Grandad's play area

Privacy is guaranteed, as is the excellent south-facing aspect.

There’s a garden to the front and side too and more importantly, excellent parking, thanks to Mick’s decision some years back to buy a site next to their home from Leahy Bros, the developers of the housing estate to the rear of Lakeview.

Lots of parking at No 1 Lakeview

 At the time, it had planning permission for a house, now lapsed. It demonstrates potential opportunity for a new owner on this 0.3a site.

The couple are sad to be selling up: “It was a great home to rear a family in,” Anne Marie says, but concede that their 206sq m home, with three double bedrooms and a converted attic, is too big for them now.

Johanna Murphy of Johanna Murphy & Sons is selling No 1, one of a pair of semi-ds that date to 1902 at Lakeview.

She describes it as “an exceptional period residence, beautifully renovated and extended”.

“We’re seeing plenty of local interest, mainly from families,” she says, adding that the guide price is €635,000.

Carrignafoy, at the eastern side of Cobh town, is a 20-minute walk from the train station, where there’s a regular service to Cork City. Bus stops are just minutes from the house.

VERDICT: Lovingly restored, extended period home with a strong focus on comfortable family life, inside and out