Tiny €200k Crescent Lodge could be Cobh's quirkiest Airbnb

A set of steps will bring you straight into the town centre

Crescent Lodge, Cobh

Cobh, Co Cork
€200,000
Size	39 sq m (420 sq ft)
Bedrooms	1-2
Bathrooms	1
BER	G

THOSE clued into the government’s ongoing frantic efforts to boost housing supply will have heard of the idea of “seomraí”, which translates as “rooms” but which is being conflated with the concept of a granny flat, that could be built under relaxed planning rules, in your back garden.

Crescent Lodge, the dinky home featured here, sort of fits the profile of “seomraí” as it’s just 39 sq m and is hidden away up high, to the side of the historic Arch building, previously known as Cobh Town Hall, now the public library. 

Crescent Lodge

Set between two sets of steps, one down to Cobh town’s Casement Square, the other up to the curved grace of The Crescent — Cobh’s iconic terrace — it’s been a bachelor pad for 25 years.

Steps lead straight to Casement Square

With a new roof and new PVC facia and soffit, it looks quite youthful, but selling agent Johanna Murphy of Johanna Murphy & Sons believes it dates to the 1860s and may once have housed the man tasked with opening the gate that gave affluent residents of The Crescent access to the town centre, via a private path from the terrace’s magnificent communal gardens.

The majestic Crescent terrace

 Nowadays, rather than an official gatekeeper, residents have their own key to the gate, including the resident of Crescent Lodge.

As petite a home as you might find in the seaport town, accommodation at Crescent Lodge includes one double bedroom and an open plan kitchen/dining/living space, as well as a bathroom. Ms Murphy says a separate room might work as a study or home office or as a bedroom with a built-in bed.

Open plan living

It’s her third time selling the house in 25 years – the last time was 2016, when it went for €52,000 – and she reckons it would work well as a holiday bolthole “or an Airbnb with a difference”.

While the roof is new, further investment is needed, including upgrades to improve the energy rating, which currently sits at ‘G’. Windows are due for replacement, a new heating system (it currently relies on storage heaters) is likely required, and the bathroom would benefit from a full refurbishment.

Outside needs a bit of tidying up

Outside, the property could also use some attention. The leafy nook that it sits in offers good potential, and a bit of imagination and colourful planting could transform the compact space.

As the guide price for Crescent Lodge is €200,000, it’s possible first time buyers will take a look. For the past 25 years, it’s had three different male owners.

Ms Murphy says the single-storey property is “charming and unique” and offers “unbeatable proximity to Cobh town centre”.

The train station — with regular services to Cork city, a c 20 minute trip — is less than a 10 minute walk away.

VERDICT: Quirky property that will require investment. Proper upgrades could deliver a niche Airbnb, or longterm rental, or novel starter home. Key attraction is its town centre location.