Starter homes in Glengarriff, Cloyne, Blarney, and Douglas from €285,000

The Nurse’s Cottage at Shrone is the picture of health and relaxation

Clockwise from upper left: The Nurse’s Cottage, Glengarriff, Co, Cork; 9 Traonach, Cloyne, Co Cork; Tweedmount Cottage, Tweedmount, Blarney, Co Cork; 82 Lios Na Greine, Douglas, Cork

Glengarriff, West Cork
€369,000
Size	97 sq m (1,044 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
BER	D1

Situated on the coast road almost immediately outside Glengarriff, The Nurse’s Cottage at Shrone is traditional and quirky — just as a West Cork retreat should be.

It’s been lovingly refurbished by current owners who added on a living room extension with large windows, enhanced the comfort level with energy upgrades and also maintained many original features.

Quoting a guide of €369,000 for the three-bed cottage which now has 97 sq metres of living space, Niamh Moloney of Sherry FitzGerald says it’s both charming and conveniently located, within walking distance of the village. Renovations were extensive and involved new kitchen and bathroom fittings and the use of reclaimed materials. “The parquet flooring in the front room is Burmese teak, reclaimed from a girls’ school and the parquet in the hallway is reclaimed from a Harland & Wolff office in Belfast,” reveals Ms Moloney.

Improvements included the fitting of a new boiler, attic insulation and the installation of triple glazed windows in the extension and double glazed ones in the others. The new sitting room has large windows with coastal views. The cottage has a modern tiled bathroom and three bedrooms including two with original cast iron fireplaces. On a good sized site, The Nurse’s Cottage has gardens at front and rear.

VERDICT: A charming, scenic, ready-to-move-into West Cork home.

Cloyne, Co Cork
€345,000
Size	110 sq m (1,184 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
BER	B3

Four-bed semis are often too pricey for first-time buyers, but the €345,000 guide price for No 9 Traonach in Cloyne might make it look affordable to a young couple.

“It’s a modern, well-presented owner-occupied home which was fitted with double glazed windows in 2020 and has a B3 BER which makes it eligible for a green mortgage,” says John Hornibrook of Colbert & Co Estates.

Part of a 2003-built development of 35 houses built around a central green area, it’s located within a 10-minute walk of local amenities in Cloyne and a 15 minute drive from Midleton.

Offering 110 sq m of living space, it has two living rooms including one at the front with a mahogany fireplace, and also has a kitchen/diner and a guest WC at ground level.

Upstairs the property has four bedrooms, two doubles (one en suite) and two singles, as well as an upgraded bathroom which in 2023 was retiled and fitted with a slipper style bath. Externally there’s a driveway and a back garden with a lawn, patio, and a steeltech shed.

“It’s perfect for a buyer working in Midleton or Cork city who wants to enjoy a relaxed village lifestyle,” says Mr Hornibrook, noting that the beaches of Ballynamona and Ballycroneen are within a 10-minute drive while Ballycotton village is just 11 km away.

Judging from the activity on the Property Price Register, Traonach properties are popular. There were three sales in 2025 — No 33 sold for €330,000, No 12 for €400,000, and No 26 for €360,000.

VERDICT: Could tick a lot of boxes for a first-time buyer.

Blarney, Cork
€295,000
Size	58 sq m (624 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	E2

Rustic living with a large garden is on offer at Tweenmount Cottage, Tweedmount, Blarney — just seven km from Cork city centre.

“It’s scenic and tranquil but is just a 10-minute drive from St Patrick’s Street,” says Michelle Kenneally of DNG Finn O’Connor quoting a guide of €295,000 for the 1930s-built two-bed semi-detached bungalow.

A 58 sq metre property, it is on a site of a fifth on an acre and has lawned gardens with pink roses and ample parking. Inside the bungalow there’s an open plan kitchen/dining/living space as well as two bedrooms and a renovated bathroom.

VERDICT: A small cute property with a large garden — it might be extended.

Douglas, Cork
€285,000
Size	64 sq m (700 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
BER	D1

At the more affordable end of the property market in Douglas, No 82 Lios Na Greine may suit an investor or a first-time buyer.

“The attraction is the South Douglas Rd location within walking distance of the city centre,” says Amy Crosse, of Behan, Irwin, & Gosling.

It’s an ex-rental 64sq m ground-floor apartment with a living room, a small kitchen, bathroom, and three bedrooms. Situated in a gated 1990s-built development, it has a designated parking space.

VERDICT: Likely to attract interest because of its affordability and location.