Remember me
Kudos to the owners of 3 Dry Bridge in Glounthaune for the clever way they have reinvented a property they bought as a run-down cottage.
Rebuilding more than renovating, they knocked all but three walls in the three-bed mid-terrace house and dug out the floors. “Almost everything in it now is new including the roof, floors, doors, bathroom fittings, and kitchen units as well as the heating and windows,” reveals Sean McCarthy of ERA Downey McCarthy, noting that it has an upgraded B energy rating
A porch opens into a bright open-plan parquet-floored kitchen/dining/living space which has blue walls and two rooflights. The living area has the stone fireplace you would expect in a cottage; while the kitchen space, fitted with units made from beech plywood and a breakfast counter, has a more contemporary feel.
An open-tread staircase adds a distinctive design touch to the room. The owners have carried the blue colour scheme to the bedrooms, but opted for pink and white in the shower room where they have paired vintage taps with a contemporary basin.
Outside the property at the front is a small gravel garden with a pink bench for sitting out.
Guiding at €295,000, it’s on a hill above Glounthaune and is a 12-minute walk to the train station.
VERDICT: Quirky, stylish, and energy efficient.
Ballyphehane, Cork City
€330,000
Size
78sq m
(840 sq ft)
Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
1
BER
D2
If you had been sitting in the front garden of 37 Pearse Rd in Ballyphehane while Kingfishr were playing across the road at Virgin Media Park you could almost certainly have sung along to Killeagh, the GAA anthem that the whole country has been singing since last year.
The key selling point for the three-bed semi is of course its location, in a popular residential area within walking distance of the city and UCC, but John Corbett of Cohalan Downing says proximity to Musgrave Park can be seen as a bonus. “It’s a bit like getting a free concert,” he adds.
Seeking offers of €330,000, he says the size of No 37’s garden is a significant attraction. “There’s space enough at the side for an extension and a purchaser could apply for planning permission to create off-street parking.”
Dating from the 1940s, it’s a well-kept former rental property with an upgraded bathroom and kitchen. The D2 BER might be improved on, possibly by installing solar panels like the next-door neighbour has.
On one side of the front hallway is a living room with alcove units, and on the other a kitchen/diner with cream shaker style units. The upstairs has a bathroom with a contemporary free-standing bath as well as three bedrooms — two doubles and a single.
The property has a garden at the rear as well as a very large one at the front and side.
“For first-time buyers and those looking for a property with room to grow, this offers exceptional potential in a highly sought-after location,” says Mr Corbett.
VERDICT: A well-located property with a large garden and free musical entertainment these summer evenings.
Midleton, Co. Cork
€260,000
Size
73 sq m
(785 sq ft)
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
1
BER
C
Centrally located within a five-minute walk of Midleton’s Main St, No 9 Clonmult Terrace is a renovated 1890s-built cottage with a guide of €260,000.
The red-brick house is on the market with Ed O’Donovan, of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, who says it’s a well-kept former rental property which has been extended and upgraded.
It has a living/dining room at the front and a kitchen, as well as a bathroom at the rear. On the upper level, the property has two bedrooms.
VERDICT: An affordable option with more character than a modern apartment.
Richmond Hill, Cork city
€280,000
Size
54 sq m
(582 sq ft)
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
1
BER
D1
An end-of-terrace property, No.24 Shandon Court on Richmond Hill is larger than you might expect and has views out across the Cork City skyline.
Located within a 15-minute walk of the city centre, it’s a 1980s-built house which looks like a bungalow from the front but has a second storey at the rear. Its living space includes a kitchen/dining/living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.
Niamh Hegarty, of Hegarty Properties, says it would benefit from upgrading but is an excellent opportunity for a first-time buyer or an investor.
VERDICT: Affordable and central.