Life is on the up and up at €1.5m Kinsale home with windows to the world

The story of Winter's Lane is a long and winding tale, with an upbeat ending

Fri, 31 Oct, 2025 - 08:33

Catherine Shanahan Pictures: Jakub Walutek

Kinsale, Co Cork
€1.5m
Size	226 sq m (2433 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
BER	A2

ARCHITECTS are part alchemist, working wonders with base materials on a daily basis. Haroldo Oliveira, director of architecture with JCA (Jack Coughlan Architects), is known for conjuring homes out of concrete, glass, and steel that make passersby stop and stare. Altus, in Cork City, a sublime apartment scheme built into blasted rock beneath a steep cliff at the base of Sunday’s Well, is one of his magic tricks.

Altus apartments in Sunday's Well, Cork city

Done in partnership with developer Eddie O’Mahony, of Cumnor Construction, the duo is also behind the long-running redevelopment of the Mercy Convent in Kinsale, where top-notch apartments within the restored convent-and-school buildings have been selling at an impressive pace. Finished and fitted to a standard that has to be seen to be believed, the development is part of a diverse mix of stylish, contemporary homes spread across the historic, elevated seven-acre site, on the western side of Kinsale town.

Part of the expansive Convent Garden development

41733330[#embed3]

It’s been a long haul: Cumnor Construction bought the convent and grounds for a reported €4m more than 20 years ago and had to mothball their plans following the economic collapse. They are now on the home straight at Convent Garden, with perhaps the best yet to come, in the form of half a dozen or so, 4,000 sq ft, multi-million euro luxury villas, some of which are already well above ground.

Even in a scheme guaranteed to draw its fair share of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’, four detached, three-storey homes on the Winter’s Hill rise are standouts.

Capped with bold pigmento-red zinc accents and defined by cascading walls of glass to the rear, these striking, contemporary designs exude a Nordic cool; an attractive combination of wide open-plan spaces, good functionality, terrific light, and, crucially, those prized Kinsale Harbour views: James Fort, Charles Fort, Ardbrack, Scilly Dam.

Views of Kinsale Harbour from Winter's Lane

The views, particularly from the top floor, were a key attraction for the Dublin couple who relocated to no 4 Winter’s Lane, off Winter’s Hill, in 2019.

“We had both retired by the time we moved in, and we chose Kinsale because it is such a picturesque town.

“We used to come here a lot for weekends when we were living in Dublin and we found it to be a very enjoyable, sociable place,” the owners say.

Aerial view of Kinsale showing some of the Convent Garden development

The pair had barely relocated when covid hit, but Kinsale was the perfect refuge, with its many scenic coastal walks and opportunities for sea swimming and boating, and two marinas to safely berth yachts or motorboats.

Golfers are spoilt for choice too, with two courses to choose from, including the world-famous Old Head of Kinsale.

Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse with golf course in the background Picture: Andy Gibson

“Being near the sea was a big attraction for us, not to mention the fabulous coastal walks,” the woman of the house says.

At a time when outdoor space was highly prized, they had a glut of it, from the impressive, 340 sq ft middle-floor balcony, with protective glass balustrade and south-facing harbour views, to the granite patio at ground-floor level, where privacy is at a premium.

Beyond the patio is a fully enclosed, stone-walled, upward-sloping garden, expertly landscaped, with good input from the man of the house, whom his wife describes as “a great gardener”.

Granite patio off the ground floor bedrooms

No 4 can lay claim to the biggest rear garden in the row of four. While Cumnor did the main granite patio off the sleeping quarters —and each of three bedrooms has its own access door — they also laid a smaller, fully enclosed patio off the only front bedroom.

A mid-garden patio divides the level ground from the slope

A third, crescent-shaped patio at the centre of the back garden divides levelground from sloping ground and was laid by paver Tom Tobin.

Most of the drama and glamour at No 4 is around the back: The street-facing side has an angular look, reinforced by a deep carport that can accommodate two cars.

Entry is at ground-floor level, under the carport canopy.

It’s here you’ll find the bedrooms, generous doubles, two with luxury en suites, along with a de-luxe family bathroom and a utility.

An open-tread stairs leads to the first floor, a great, big entertainment/chill-out space incorporating kitchen/dining/lounging, where a window wall faces south, and super-size sliders glide open onto the decked terrace.

It’s the design highlight at no 4, along with the top-floor glass eyrie, a large, bright living room with feature stove and superlative views.

The huge amount of glazing does more than serve up views and light; it also boosts energy efficiency, with much solar gain through the south-facing glass.

The top floor is crowned with ‘warm roof’ insulation and all three concrete floors have underfloor heating. The heating system is air to water. The BER is top notch: An A2.

“The whole design is just so practical and warm and the house is so well insulated. The temperature is constant and you never know what it’s like outside,” the owners say.

Utility bills are economical for a house of its size (226 sq m), they add.

Six years in to their Kinsale stint, the owners are relocating for family reasons and so the house they bought for €1.078m in 2019 is back up for sale, with a guide price this time of €1.5m.

As the kind of property likely to attract wealthy retirees and ex-pats looking for a luxury base back home, it’s not surprising that enquiries so far are from the US and Irish abroad looking to return. So says selling agent Gobnait O’Connell, of Engel & Voelkers who emphasises just how central the location is, up behind Rampart Lane and the old town street network, a short stroll from its many colourful pubs and gourmet restaurants.