Downsize with style at €865k Blackrock House apartment

Elegance abounds in a top-tier apartment in a unique historic building

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026 - 06:00

Caroline Delaney

Blackrock, Cork City
€860,000
Size	119sq m (1,281sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2
BER	Exempt

On top of the world... and there are lots of explanations. Apartment No 9 is on the top floor of Blackrock House which is a private gated development of 27 apartments in a carefully restored 18th century listed building.

And No 9 is the only top-floor two-bedroom apartment in Blackrock House with a dual east-west aspect which means a distinctive and practical layout.

You could safely give the views 10 out of 10 — there are 10 large period casement windows in this third-floor apartment in a building dating to 1770 and which was originally an Ursuline convent. These windows all have bespoke handcrafted timber shutters in keeping with the building’s protected period character.

That character is apparent in the original masonry which measures 80cm to 100cm deep, giving a level of soundproofing you just don’t get in modern builds.

This particular apartment is also unique within the development as it has a “nice wide hallway” and a 12ft-high store room accessed directly from its entrance vestibule.

“No other unit in this building can offer equivalent dedicated storage. Every centimetre works hard. A feature that owners of No 9 will appreciate every single day.”

And that’s not all — being literally at the top, this apartment has a partly floored and insulated attic accessed by a folding attic staircase complete with full handrails: “No 9 enjoys the benefit of this remarkable space with zero additional levy.”

This property is on the market for €860k with Malcom Tyrrell and John Corbett of Cohalan Downing.

“What is offered here is genuinely unique — not just within this building but within Cork. You’ve got Cork Harbour views to the west and the magnificent historic convent gardens and oratory to the east.”

All this, the style and the practical storage details, are likely to make this apartment a real draw for downsizers who won’t want to lose out on space or the solidity you might associate with a house they may have owned for decades. Everything is on the one level which is handy for future-proofing and there’s lift access to the top floor. Outside you’ve got a designated parking space plus additional shared spaces for visitors and there’s a communal EV charging point.

The building features stained glass commissioned from Harry Clarke and his studio. And within the apartment the finish is elegant and functional — from the bespoke Linehan kitchen with marble worktops to the Villeroy & Boch and Hans Grohe bathroom fittings and the unusual handcrafted Italian lighting scheme on dimmers throughout.

The main bedroom has an en suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe, and the guest (or snorer’s bedroom) is also a double and is near the main bathroom.

Just a stroll down the avenue to Blackrock village and you’re near gastropubs and popular bars and a busy bakery and café.

“You’re also so close to the Marquee — just a walk along the Marina Promenade, and we’ve just had the Zach Bryan concerts at the stadium too of course,” notes John Corbett.

There is a €4,691 annual management fee.