Four Cork homes in Bandon, Ballincollig, Blackrock and Whites Cross from €395,000

Clockwise from upper left: The Saltings, Granreigh, Kilbrittain, Bandon, Co. Cork; 6 Aisling Close, Ballincollig, Cork; Avalon, 20 Willowbank, Church Road, Blackrock, Co. Cork; Coole East, Whites Cross, Co. Cork

Bandon, Co Cork

Kilbrittain, Bandon
€795,000
Size	213 sq m (2293 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	B3

The setting for this four-bed coastal home is so pretty that you’d be proud to use the photo as a screen saver even if you didn’t own it.

Built in 2006 and upgraded and redecorated since then The Saltings in Kilbrittain has a B3 BER so it’s eligible for a ‘green mortgage’ too.

The owners are a Dublin family who are relocating back to the capital. And indeed the interest so far is mainly other Dublin couples and families keen to make the move to West Cork, says Majella Galvin of DNG Galvin.

Within walking distance of Harbour View and Coolmain beaches this detached home has electric gates, landscaped gardens, and a detached garage — and an EV charging point. There are several patios so you can move around to follow the sun... or to get some alone time, or to stay sheltered from breezes.

Two of the five bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and one has a walk-in wardrobe as well. You’re 15 minutes from Kinsale and around 45 minutes away from Cork city — and 30 minutes from Cork Airport... but who’s going to want to go anywhere if they’ve got the keys to this home?

VERDICT: A pristine coastal retreat — no wonder buyers are already circling.

Ballincollig, Co Cork

Aisling Close, Ballincollig
€425,000
Size	117 sq m (1260 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	C3

A south-facing back garden and a big green to the front? What else would you put on your list of house-hunting must-haves? A cul-de-sac location? Consider it done.

This four-bed semi-detached house, No. 6 Aisling Close in Ballincollig, could not be more conveniently located notes Tirza Hourihane of Sherry FitzGerald.

“You’ve got all amenities close by including a selection of schools, shopping centres, boutiques, restaurants and cafes all within walking distance. Public transport is readily available, and you’re just minutes from the Ballincollig bypass offering direct access in minimum time to Bishopstown, Wilton, University College Cork, Munster Technological University, Cork University Hospital and Cork city.” Three of the four bedrooms are doubles and there two separate living rooms downstairs as well as a kitchen/dining room with adjoining utility room.

There’s an open viewing on Wednesday April 29 from 4.30pm-5pm.

VERDICT: Meets a lot of family house-hunter criteria from the get-go. Sales at Aisling Close don’t come up too often: a neighbouring home in this development sold for €400k in 2022.

Blackrock, Cork

Church Road, Blackrock
€395,000
Size	112 sq m (1206 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	E1

You’re in ‘goldilocks’ territory with this Blackrock house: in a cul-de-sac so it’s pretty quiet but close to the action — whether that’s dining, pubs, sports, or shops.

Avalon at No. 20 Willowbank on Church Road is close to the entrance of this mid-1980s built development which has matured nicely and has an appealing mix of greens and trees.

Sports fans, or wranglers of active sporty kids, will be delighted to be just 240 metres from Blackrock National Hurling Club, aka The Rockies.

And map apps put this three bed semi-d at exactly 650 m from the Supervalu on Skehard Road and from a garage on Blackrock Road. You’ve got several pubs and gastro pubs, bakeries, cafés and a popular Indian restaurant within walking distance. And there’s a busy cafe/deli and a treasure trove of an antiques shop also a few hundred metres away.

Rented out for the past few years, this house with a west-facing back garden, is in good condition and has room to extend at the rear says Brian Olden of Cohalan Downing.

VERDICT: Quiet, mature, and perfectly positioned.

Whites Cross, Co Cork

Coole East, Whites Cross
€535,000
Size	183sq m (1970 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3
BER	B3

All the space associated with countryside and all the convenience of city-adjacent living at this Whites Cross detached five-bed home set on around 0.25 acres. Map apps put Coole East at a 10-minute, 6.5km drive from Blackpool Retail Park and 8.7km from the city centre/Opera Lane.

There’s a handy B3 BER at this home built in 1995 by the current owners who are now downsizing.

“The views at the back are amazing, you’re surrounded by countryside there but it’s still so close to the city,” says Katie Fennessy of Sherry FitzGerald.

Plenty parking space, cast iron entrance gates, and three storage sheds on the property take care of some key practicalities.

And a bright conservatory, handy utility room, and a perspex-covered patio area all add to the spatial efficiency of this property which gets sunset views to the front.

The main bedroom is upstairs and has an ensuite bathroom. The other two upstairs bedrooms share a jack-and-jill bathroom. The fourth and fifth bedrooms are downstairs at the opposite side of the hall from the living areas.

There’s an asking price of €535k for this Coole East house.

VERDICT: Could be a cool move for buyers seeking a rural feel without sacrificing proximity to urban amenities.