Coastal charm and a 'patchwork quilt' garden at Suncrest

This Timoleague home is in the right spot for catching the sun and handy for beach visits and country town trips too

Suncrest, 7 Chapel Avenue, Timoleague, Bandon, Co. Cork

Timoleague, West Cork
€345,000
Size	108 sq m [1162 sq ft]
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	E1

The house is bright and welcoming but it’s the colourful ‘patchwork quilt’ out back that’s the real crowning glory here.

That’s how Margaret and John, owners of Suncrest at 7 Chapel Avenue in Timoleague, describe their jewel-bright garden packed with herbs, ferns and flowers including pink, red, and white camellias and ‘fairy thimbles’.

“It’s a real mix and match garden, everything fits in as they’re all doing their own thing and all glorious, I call it my patchwork quilt,” laughs Margaret.

Even the stones in this garden are treasured: “I have stones from every single county in Ireland and some from overseas too.”

Built in 1971, it’s been a bustling family home since then. The couple who had one daughter at that time moved in here and over the ensuing five decades welcomed four more children and a baker’s dozen grandchildren.

Now the 108 sq m home is for sale as the owners are futureproofing to a single-level property, still in west Cork of course. All their children live in the area, except for one who has ‘emigrated’... to Kanturk.

John, a former crane operator, was super handy for household renovations and upgrades so this semi-detached house now has four bedrooms, an extended kitchen and a downstairs bathroom.

“I only made the plans and he did the work, he’s gifted with his hands. He installed the stove and the fireplaces and the downstairs bedroom has a lovely door that can be opened directly to the garden so you can go out and have your tea overlooking everything.”

There are sea views from the garden as well as from bedrooms upstairs and the house is only up a small hill from Timoleague village which has the very popular Monk’s Lane restaurant as well as lively pubs Padjoes bar and Charlie Maddens bar, which also serve food.

Margaret says she loves how busy and diverse the village feels now and enjoys seeing everyone getting such good use out of the attractive waterside pathway which links on to Courtmacsherry: “I used that path so much myself over the years, I think I wore the wheels off the buggies on it.”

Viewings of this property have just started and interest so far is coming from people keen to get a holiday home that’s handy for West Cork but not too far from other towns and the city, and also from people wanting to move to the countryside from Cork and Dublin, notes Majella Galvin of DNG Galvin.

“You’d pay a lot more than this for a three-bed in somewhere like Courtmacsherry just down the road and this is a four-bed with a great rear garden.

“For a young couple or growing family, it offers the opportunity to create their own memories in a spacious four-bedroom home within a welcoming West Cork community. For buyers seeking a holiday home, it provides the perfect combination of village convenience, coastal charm and an ideal base from which to enjoy the beaches, coastline and lifestyle that West Cork offers,” adds Ms Galvin.

This house, guided at €345k, is just seven miles from Clonakilty and Kinsale is an enjoyable 15-mile spin, with Cork city 30 miles away.

The 10-day fun Timoleague Harvest Festival has just started on Friday so it’s a great time to pop along and see the area too.

VERDICT: Happy memories galore at this home which is ready for a new chance to be someone’s forever home or a convivial holiday hub for a lucky family.