Cork Harbour and Currabinny views from a Crosshaven family home in a private setting

This dream trade-up has stunning views across Cork Harbour

Crosshaven, Co Cork
€955,000
Size	190sq m (2,045sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4
BER	B2

The owners of No 21 Ardcross Court knew precisely what they were getting when they bought the house around 15 years ago because they bought it from a neighbour.

They were familiar with its attributes: South-facing back garden, private setting, tucked discreetly up a cul-de-sac off Camden Rd in Crosshaven.

The views came with the territory: Out over Cork Harbour and the dense green umbrella of Currabinny, across towards Spike Island and beyond again, to the distinctive ridgelines of Cobh. Rear views stretch back as far as Church Bay.

“It was an ex-rental when we bought it, but it was perfectly livable,” says the owner, who nonetheless undertook two substantial renovations. “You hear people saying ‘if I’d my time again, I’d do it differently’ — so I did it twice,” she laughs.

During the first renovation they completely reconfigured the kitchen, knocking through from the dining room, to create one big open plan kitchen/ dining/ living space. Then, three or four years ago, they undertook a second major upgrade, replacing the entire kitchen with premium German brand LEICHT, with installation by Chris Keating, House of Design.

As part of those works, patio doors were relocated further along the wall to make room for a large picture window. The result? An ever-so-bright dining/living space at the heart of the home. Internal doors were replaced too, bathrooms were upgraded, and a glass banister installed.

Accommodation at No 21 is generous: As well as the open-plan hub, there are two reception rooms, each finished with engineered hardwood flooring, each with a bay window.

“When the floors were being laid I said ‘you can use those to make my coffin’. I thought I’d be carried out of here. But my kids are finished school and my husband has a new job, so we are returning to Limerick, where I am from,” says the owner.

The owners relocated to Crosshaven from England “and it was the best thing we ever did”, they say.

“In England, the kids couldn’t go outside the door. Here, they had great freedom. When they got a bit older, they could get the bus into Douglas or Cork city. Our house is a five-minute walk from the bus stop.”

The back garden was a great source of enjoyment, particularly after some serious landscaping at the time of the second renovation. A sunken patio is surrounded by raised beds and in one corner is an home-built outdoor oven/barbecue. Higher up on the lawn, sunsets are best observed from a pergola.

Scott O’Sullivan and Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald are selling No 21 and are guiding the 190sq m, five-bed home at €955k, having recently sold a similar home, Dromainn, on Upper Crosshaven Rd, for €1.036m. The agents expect local interest from buyers looking to upsize out of Crosshaven estates, as well as relocators “who’ve moved to Dublin or London and are looking to come home”.

Mr O’Sullivan says: “There’s high interest from this type of buyer, with a young family.”

VERDICT: A handsome family home in a pretty coastal setting