€475,000 Myrtleville site reflects rising prices for sea-view homes near Cork city

A €475,000 Myrtleville site underlines growing demand for coastal living within easy reach of Cork city

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026 - 12:00

Catherine Shanahan

Myrtleville, Co Cork
€475,000
Size	47 sq m
Site	0.69a

REAL estate experts who contributed to Property’s recent end-of-year review emphasised the unflagging demand for coastal living in areas of natural beauty, particularly homes close to beaches and with sea views. As ever, Kinsale was high on the agenda of both overseas and local buyers.

Upward pressure on prices in the coastal town isn’t just down to demand, as Engel & Volkers’ Gobnait O’Connell — who earns her bread and butter in Kinsale — pointed out. It’s also affected by the town’s heritage (Kinsale has a large Architectural Conservation Area and many protected structures); by planning constraints’ and by its geography.

Kinsale town and harbour Picture: Larry Cummins

Built around a deep, narrow harbour, with steep hillsides, its topography reduces the number of buildable sites and raises building costs. These constraints have a knock-on effect on other coastal pockets within a commute of Cork city. Feedback from agents suggests that areas such as Ballycotton, Fountainstown, and Myrtleville — historically more affordable, if less well-resourced than Kinsale — are increasingly filling the void.

Interest in sites in Myrtleville is certainly on the up. Just over two years ago, Trevor O’Sullivan of Lisney SIR sold a 0.75a site right above Myrtleville Beach for €350,000. Planning permission for two luxury cliff-top properties has since been obtained by Authentic Homes.

Computer generated image of the proposed homes at 0.75a Mannions Field site in Myrtleville. The site was sold by Lisney for €350,000.

They’re due to come out of the ground this year and have already been marketed by Mr O’Sullivan at €1.65m each. BRH Design Partners are behind the contemporary design and both homes will be finished out with A1 energy ratings.

Behind these sites, further back from the shoreline, off the Stoney Boreen, two more sites are for sale, with planning permission for similar luxury homes (also designed by BRH). Each site has a minimum sale price of €550,000. The entire site was previously occupied by a rundown bungalow, called Heathcliff, which sold in 2023 with the same agent for €550,000 — and has since been levelled.

Against this backdrop, the arrival to market of a 0.69a site above Myrtleville’s Coast Road, with a €475,000 price tag, might entice a buyer with their own grand design plans.

As there’s already a bungalow on the site, albeit derelict, there’s proof of established residential use, which should make planning more straightforward.

The site of Lane's Cottage in Myrtleville, where residential use is established

The existing home, known locally as Monnie Lane’s Cottage, is hidden behind trees, but the view from the elevated parcel is unhindered, says selling agent Scott O’Sullivan of Sherry FitzGerald. It enjoys “spectacular panoramic sea views, overlooking Myrtleville, Fennell’s Bay, Cork’s outer harbour, and Roches Point”, the agent says.

The vendors have owned the property for 40 years. Mr O’Sullivan said no one has lived there for decades and while the purchaser will “essentially be buying a site”, they have the comfort of knowing the principle of a dwelling is accepted. Options include restoration/renovation/expansion of the existing bungalow or levelling it and starting from scratch, or obtaining planning permission for a new home/homes and selling it on.

Lane's Cottage, Myrtleville, is on the opposite side of the Coast Road to Bunnyconnellan

The site is directly above the former Bunnyconnellan bar and restaurant and has vehicular access to the rear and pedestrian access from the Coast Road.

Properties along the Coast Road have been achieving strong sales since the pandemic, with four topping €1m in the past three years, of which one, Medjez-El-Bab, made almost €1.8m.

Myrtleville is just a five-minute spin from Crosshaven, 10 minutes from bustling Carrigaline, and a half-hour drive to Cork city.

VERDICT: Ticks the box for beach proximity and stunning sea views. Good privacy, with the comfort of a small number of neighbouring one-off homes.