Majorly overhauled €975k South Cork home with refreshing interior

2,600sq ft dormer on two-thirds of an acre near Kinsale has had stunning architect makeover

Carrigeen, Belgooly, Co. Cork

Belgooly, South Cork
€975,000
Size	244 sq m (2,615 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
BER	A

Almost two decades of family rearing went into this detached home before the owners did a major overhaul, four years ago.

And, now, 23 years after they first built their dormer-style four-bed on a two-thirds-of-an-acre site near Belgooly, south of Cork City, they have decided to to sell up and trade down.

The now 2,600 sq ft house is refreshing in its interior décor, has advanced comfort levels (and an A BER to prove it), a detached, lofted garage, and a thoroughly functional layout. The upgrade was overseen by an architect.

“The transformation of the house has been significant,” says selling agent Lawrence Sweeny, of Savills, who says his vendors “describe it as feeling completely different to the original home, with a much better flow throughout, while the extensive energy upgrades have created a warm-and-comfortable living environment all year round”.

The setting is off the Belgooly-Carrigaline Road at a townland called Carrigeen, within a two-kilometre walk of Belgooly, and eight kilometres from Kinsale, with easy access to the coast by Nohoval and Oysterhaven (where a celebrity Irish singer-songwriter recently bought a coastal period home for €2.25m).

While the rural area of Carrigeen doesn’t have a marked profile, the relative proximity to Kinsale, and to Cork City and its airport about 20km away, underpins the €975,000 sought by Savills.

Regarding buyer interest, agent Lawrence Sweeney reckons “we’d expect strong appeal from Cork City purchasers seeking a high-quality country home within commuting distance, as well as buyers relocating from Kinsale and returning expatriates. The property’s A-rating, contemporary finish, and coastal proximity are likely to be significant attractions, too.”

The works undertaken by the owners here in 2022 were overseen by Gareth Sullivan, of Simply Architecture, and apart from adding more space, a more modern feel, with zinc/pressed metal box dormers by a company Weather Seam to the rear, and improved flow of space, also tackled at the time was a new roof, new floors, new Rationel windows, new Kube kitchen, bedrooms and other built-ins by Cullenview, rewiring, and updated bathrooms.

Decorwise wise it’s notable for strong colour choices from the Colourtrend range, and a habit of carrying wall colours up into and across ceilings for a homogenous room feel: it’s especially effective in the dormer shapes. Door frames and architraves similarly have a good use of complementary colours; the scarcity of white walls is notable in an architect reworked home!.

Mr Sweeney says the interior is almost showhouse standard, but it’s better, because it’s got its owners’ personality and possessions, with interiors curated from a variety of sources, including local and Irish retailers, such as Casey’s Cork, Granny’s Bottom Drawer in Kinsale, Interiosity at Douglas Woollen Mills, and Nook Home in Trim, Co Meath.

The departing family say a recent goal was to get to A-rated comforts, and the gains are awaited in electricity bills as considerable efficiency upgrades followed in 2026 to include 18 solar panels for electricity generation, 10kWh battery storage (handy for the Zappi car charger), while there’s also high-speed broadband, alarm, electric access gates, and landscaped screening from the country road outside.

The owners say: “Belgooly has a fantastic community spirit, with great festivals over the year. Our kids went to school in Cork and Kinsale, and then on to college, and the access to great transport links was ideal for us.

“Belgooly has a local GAA club, which is integral to the place, and a fantastic local shop and post office, but we are looking now to downsize as the kids start to move on. We’ll miss great summers in the house, particularly the garden barbecues with friends and family and looking out at our beautiful garden,” they add.

Aspect to the rear is south/south-west, with a stone-flagged patio and the adjacent, detached, 6m-by-6m garage “provides excellent space for storage, hobbies, or workshop use, with potential for future conversion, subject to planning”, says auctioneer Lawrence Sweeney.

VERDICT: The part stone-and-render façade (all but unseen from the road, in any case) gives little away as to the scale of improvements inside and it’s sure-set to impress on viewings. Despite being a short inland drive from the coastline, it’s likely to set a price record for the more immediate Belgooly vicinity, as “quality will out”.