Restored 18th-century Cork mill with guest lodge hits the market for €675k

Set on an acre of woodland, the restored Ballyfeard mill blends period character with modern comforts and a separate guest lodge

The Mill, Ballinluig, Ballyfeard, County Cork. Pictures: H-Pix

Ballyfeard, Co Cork
€675,000
Size	240 sq m (2583 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4 + 2
Bathrooms	3 + 1
BER	D2

Escape the daily grind at this superbly renovated historic property between Carrigaline and Kinsale, writes Caroline Delaney

‘Going through the mill’ is not always bad. Not when it’s a one-of-a-kind, luxuriously restored, 18th century mill on an acre of Cork woodland.

The Mill at Ballinluig West, Ballyfeard, lies between Kinsale and Carrigaline and is a world away from the hard-working grain mill it was 250 years ago.

Carrigaline-based auctioneer Michael Pigott sold this property to the current owners eight years ago (for €457,500, says the Property Price Register).

The owners, Ciaran and Anthi, their son, Conor, and three dogs, are now relocating to be nearer to family.

“We were lucky, as this mill was renovated 25 years ago, so it was in great condition. We had been living in Dublin and I was actually out of the country at the time and my wife, Anthi, who’s Greek, was looking at properties. She saw this one and fell in love straight away.” The original mill was built on the course of a stream, but this has been diverted away from the house now.

“The stream has never flooded the whole time we’ve been here. This mill was for grinding wheat and there’s a tuck mill (for working on cloth) nearby, too,” says Ciaran.

The three-storey mill is now a unique home featuring a roof garden, a gym space, custom-made staircase, and original beams. 

And it also has a detached, self-contained, single-storey house that could be super handy for multi-generational living or au-pair accommodation, or an airbnb enterprise.

“When we bought this, I thought this would be a great spot for parties or even a mini music festival in the garden. I have a friend in the North who’s done that on a similar-sized property. But then, covid happened, so there were no parties and our lives moved on, of course, and we had our son. He’s loved living here, too — I wasn’t sure, initially, about a toddler in an 18th century mill with a stream, but it’s all worked out really well.”

The owners had already worked from home even before ‘the whole world’ pivoted to this flexible option, so connectivity was vital. There’s full, high-speed fibre broadband (up to 2Gbps connection available). And other comforts come thanks to a smart heating system (nest) and oil-fired central heating — a new boiler was installed in 2021.

While the property is first-rate, the location is also a crucial factor in its popularity, says auctioneer Michael Pigott: “You’re just 12km from Kinsale and 9km from Carrigaline, but it’s also only a short commute to Cork city centre, Cork Airport, and Ringaskiddy. It is just minutes’ drive to local primary schools, the community playgroup, Inkwell Theatre, Tracton Woods, and local beaches, such as Nohoval Cove, Oysterhaven, Roberts Cove, and Rocky Bay.”

Indoors, there’s a spacious and bright kitchen/living area with an old stone fireplace and stove at one end. “That’s actually my favourite part of the house. We love to cook, and the dogs are there and the TV at one end is handy, too. I’d say we spend the majority of our time here.”

Double doors open directly from the dining room to the gardens, with a huge willow tree beyond the patio area. Deep window reveals throughout give a reassuring sense of age and solidity, complemented by attractive, wrought-iron bannisters, curtain rails, and a candle chandelier.

The main bathroom has been renovated and upgraded with polished concrete and warm wood cabinetry nicely show- casing a claw-foot rolltop bath and giving luxury hotel vibes.

The ground-floor bedroom has been turned in to a home gym — and future owners could revert this to a bedroom for guests or future-proofing. There are two bedrooms on the middle floor, and the main bedroom with an en-suite bathroom takes up the top floor of the mill.

The guest lodge has two bedrooms and an open-plan living/kitchen area.

Outside, cobble- style courtyards connect the two homes and these are surrounded by mature trees and lush planting and that rippling stream. “There are smallish fish in the stream — well, they’re keeping the heron happy anyway. And we’ve seen bats, owls and birds of prey here, too.”

The stylish celebration of traditional features, coupled with modern standards and luxuries, make this unique home a real winner, says Mr Pigott: “The mill is a seamless combination of modern living and incomparable 18th century features.”

The Mill, at Ballinluig West, in Ballyfeard, near Minane Bridge is priced at €675k.

VERDICT: A unique home on an acre of glorious gardens and with a whole other house on site, too. This Ballyfeard property is a fresh take on a re-use project.