Lot of promise and potential at €325k Midleton home

This period fixer-upper needs a modern upgrade

25 The Rock, St Mary's Road, Midleton

Midleton, Co Cork
€325,000
Size	272 sq m (2928 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	2
BER	E

The buyer of No 25 The Rock, St Mary’s Road, Midleton, is going to need the money and the stomach for a substantial renovation job, but the trade-off is a potentially handsome, considerably roomy (272 sq m) period property (dates to c1830) just two minutes from Main St.

A two-storey, cream coloured townhouse with two attic rooms, it has an interesting history: It was once owned by Dorothy Hallinan, widow of Francis Hallinan, whose family owned and operated a mill in the Avoncore area of Midleton. She was sister-in-law to Sir Eric Hallinan attorney-general of the Bahamas from 1940-44 and Chief Justice West Indies 1958-61.

The house was subsequently owned by Paul and Patricia Butler who operated a pharmacy in Midleton from the mid 1950s up to 1998. They were the first pharmacy in the Republic of Ireland to modernise to open self- selection shelving and featured in the September 12, 1964 Cork Examiner.

So says selling agent Kyle Kennedy of Kennedy Estate Agents who guides this five-bed historic home at €325,000. He notes that it was upgraded c 2012 with new windows fitted and the roadside roof replaced. Outside space is limited as the previous owner has built a new home in the rear garden. An adjoining garage is not part of the sale. St Colman’s Community College is over the back wall.

Mr Kennedy has had “a few people viewing, and a few thinking about what they could do with it”, all of whom appreciate the excellent location. Some original features have been retained such as the terrazzo hallway and the house has the high ceilings you might expect of a property of its vintage.

Midleton is less than a half hour drive from Cork city and a regular commuter rail services runs between the two. The town hosts a weekly Farmers’ Market and beaches are plentiful within a short drive.

VERDICT: You will need plenty more in the bank to upgrade this house to modern standards, but it has lots of room, lots of promise and terrific convenience.