€595k Edwardian home in Cork is quality city living

The Edwardian era home has had plenty of valuable maintenance work done recently

2 Knocklaun, St Lukes, Cork.

St Luke’s Cross, Cork City
€595,000
Size	164 sq m (1,775 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
BER	C

Beauty is more than skin deep, in the case of No 2 Knocklaun, an Edwardian terraced home within an amble of buzzy St Luke’s Cross in Cork city. It’s pretty, but has also had necessary, valuable, but less ‘sexy’ maintenance work done too now.

That’s the background to this period-home charmer, as outlined by justifiably proud owners Michael and Eimear Cusack, who were lucky to be able to buy it in September 2022, when it had appeared in these pages as ‘ House of the Week’. They’d been outbid at the time, but it fell back in to their lap after the agreed deal didn’t close out.

Back then, this extensively renovated, four-bed, 1,750 sq ft, three-storey home had a €460,000 AMV: The Price Register shows the current owners had to pay €525,000 (where the address is spelled No 2 Knocklawn) when they got the second, fortunate chance to secure it.

It had already had considerable work done by then, such as new Classic Windows and front door, new bathrooms, kitchen, new roof, and insulation. That was all done by previous owners, who’d bought in 2016 as a do-er-up for a reported €270,000, at a time when a number of other Knocklaun neighbours in the row were also changing hands.

Michael and Eimear put in their own work, including the vital repointing of the red-brick chimney, almost out of sight up top, but a key element to keep the house underneath watertight for the decades to come.

Handily, as No 2 is a protected structure, they got a grant under the Building Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), administered via City Hall’s conservation officer. They also put in a stove in the main/front reception room, reroofed over some of the rear kitchen annex, and did some recarpeting, which made for extra creature comforts, plus peace of mind.

Despite being a protected structure, the BER came in as a C, with the recommendation that if a few simple other upgrades — such as PV/solar panels — were fitted the home might get a B-rating and thus qualify for a green mortgage.

Having recently married and now making future life plans — but stressing that their time here has been fantastic, with great neighbours along the terrace — the couple say they will house hunt for another city/suburban home nearer family, and perhaps with a bit more green space.

Knocklaun is reached up steps from the Ballyhoolery Road and the rears of many are quite constrained, courtyards in the main, with pedestrian access up to the cul de sac, The Crescent of Gardiners Hill, to the back, with residents’ parking on Ballyhooley Road.

No 2 has two reception rooms with original fireplaces, one with stove and wide window seat, fresh kitchen with roof lights, utility/guest WC, two first-floor bedrooms (one en suite), and updated and enlarged bathroom on the return level with freestanding oval bath, plus two top-floor bedrooms, with a sprinkle of original fireplaces in the upper rooms, along with heaps of retained character, original architectural detailing, and enhanced weather protection.

VERDICT: Quality city living in one of Cork’s most transformed districts, home to the Address and Montenotte Hotels, cafes, schools, and the latest hot ticket, Goodhood for Neopolitan pizzas, a two-minute walk away from No 2’s front door, with the city and McCurtain St just further down along Summerhill North.