Life was put under the microscope at €950k home of scientist William Reville 

Rossdargle in Waterfall is the perfect formula for family living 

Rossdargle, Waterfall. Pictures: H-Pix

Waterfall, Cork
€950,000
Size	242 sq m (2,600 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5 / 6
Bathrooms	4
BER	C2

BOTH mind and matter were dissected at Rossdargle, the Waterfall home of William Reville, emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC, and his clinical psychologist wife, Breda McLeavey.

It was here that William deconstructed complex scientific theories, repackaging them in layman’s language for a regular newspaper column. His favourite room at Rossdargle was his study, where he researched and wrote his scientific columns, which first appeared in The Cork Examiner in the late 1980s, before moving to The Irish Times in 1995.

William's study at Rossdargle

 A scholar with a talent for translating scientific content for a general audience, William’s writings were widely admired. As testament to his enduring appeal, his column has run for more than 30 years, inspiring a book along the way, called Understanding The Natural World (Irish Times Books).

While William dissected scientific theory, Breda dissected minds, completing an honours degree in psychology. The couple married in Bray, where Breda grew up and, for a time, they moved stateside, where William conducted biochemical research as a Fulbright scholar at Iowa State University. Upon their return, Breda completed a master’s and a PhD at University College Cork (UCC), before taking up a post as clinical psychologist with the HSE at Cork University Hospital.

Along the way, they welcomed two sons, Ferdia and Cian, and, in 1990, they built the family home in Greybrook, Waterfall. Named Rossdargle in homage to their roots — Breda is from the Dargle Valley in Bray and William is from Wexford’s New Ross — it was designed by architect Edwin Uniacke, with interior design by the late Cliona Clayton.

The gardens were landscaped by Terry O’Regan, and clients of Breda’s private practice in clinical neuropsychology, run from spacious Rossdargle, “regularly report feeling the benefit of this quiet and comfortable space, and the grounds outside to relax in when needed”.

Spread across 0.7 bountiful acres, there’s plenty of room to wander or sit out, with no threat to privacy. There are patio areas, flower beds, and a carefully chosen mix of trees, shrubs, and plants for year-round colour, with autumn now taking centrre stage in spectacular fashion.

Lawrence Sweeney, of Savills, is handling the sale of the Waterfall home and he notes that the area is traditionally popular with medics and academics as it’s just 6km from Cork University Hospital and 8km from UCC and the Bon Secours, while MTU is even nearer. A 10-minute spin will see you into Wilton.

Rossdargle was designed for family and two ground-floor rooms currently in use as home offices can easily be reinstated as double bedrooms, if you need to, as there are also four double bedrooms on the first floor, of which two are en suite.

It’s a home with some nice architectural touches, from the double-height hallway to the tall, slanted windows in the kitchen/dining area that add visual interest and draw the garden in.

Rossdargle’s reception rooms are spacious, graceful, and lightfilled, with feature fireplaces and expansive windows.

 One opens into a south-facing conservatory, which leads to the rear garden and patio.

A utility and a large, integrated garage make up the remainder of the ground floor in this generous, 242 sq m home. If a buyer wanted an even bigger home, there’s the option to convert the garage (gym/workshop, etc).

Rossdargle is too big now for the couple, both of whom retired in 2012, William, from his UCC post and Breda from her role as head of psychology services in HSE South Lee. Their sons have their own lives in the UK and, after 35 years at Rossdargle, the couple have taken the decision to downsize.

“We hope the new owners of Rossdargle will have as happy a life in their new home as we’ve had for the past 35 years,” the couple say, adding that their fond memories of the house “will accompany them on their next life journey”.

Mr Sweeney brings Rossdargle to market with an AMV of €950,000.

“It’s a really private, slightly elevated site and if you are sitting out in the back garden, it feels like the middle of nowhere, while the reality is Cork City centre is only about 8km away,” the agent says.

Upmarket housing developments like Heatherfield and Earl’s Well have attracted more families to Waterfall, who like the rural aspect without being too remote.

Local amenities include Ballinora GAA Club and Corbally Pre-school, within 700m of Rossdargle.

VERDICT: Big house + big gardens + good location = a healthy formula for family living. A home with a quantum of possibilities.