City to Country: Charming Glasnevin yellow brick for €550k or coastal views at Spanish Point cottage

Situated around the corner from The Gravedigger’s Pub and one of the entrances to the Botanic Gardens, No 19 Saint Teresa Place in Glasnevin is a two-bed mid-terrace house with an attractively preserved red and yellow brick Edwardian façade.

“It was built in 1905 and is now part of an area of architectural conservation,’’ reveals Vincent Mullen of DNG Phibsboro, adding that the property which has many original features has been sympathetically upgraded by the owner who has had it for around 20 years.

“It’s kept its original timber windows but has had a second set of windows fitted inside them, " says Mr Mullen explaining that this helped the property get a C3 BER.

The ground floor is now open plan and timber floored and includes an extended section at the rear with full-height windows and doors. There’s a living area with a stove at the front, a kitchen/diner with shaker-style units in the middle and another living area at the rear.

The upstairs has a bathroom and two bedrooms, one at the front and one at the rear.

Outside there’s a shed plumbed for utilities and a courtyard garden which has raised beds planted with a Japanese maple, bamboos and wisteria.

VERDICT: Small but attractively presented and charming.

Viewers will surely be mesmerised by the vista of crashing waves, blue seas and rocky coastline on offer at Cleadagh Cottage near Spanish Point in Clare.

“It’s very rare to find a property which backs onto the sea with these kinds of Wild Atlantic Way views,’’ says David Considine of Considine Auctioneers, noting that the property comes with a site of five acres with direct access to the coastline.

Built in the 1960s, the bungalow has been extended and modernised by the family who have used it as a holiday home for the last 20 years or so. Although well maintained it has an F BER rating and will require an energy upgrade.

There’s 130 sq metres of living space including a kitchen, a living /dining room, a bathroom and three bedrooms including an en suite. The owners have added on a sunroom at the rear with sea views and as well as an attached garage at the side with an adjoining studio which would be perfect for a home office.

In the Atlantic overlooking gardens, the owners have added a huge stone patio area with seating as well a separate circular shaped one which has a curved section of wall providing shelter. Here, the music-loving owners have also added a large metal sculpture of a Medieval harpist.

Located less than three km from Spanish Point and just three km from Milltown Malbay, Cleadagh Cottage has a guide price of €625.000

VERDICT: What views!

Since the owners of this detached dormer bungalow at Monroe near Clonmel installed 18 solar panels on their roof, they reckon they have achieved an 84% reduction on their electricity bill.

“They generate enough electricity to run the household and also provide surplus energy that can be sold to the grid,’’ reveals John Stokes of Stokes & Quirke auctioneers who just listed the seven-bed property and its half-acre site with a guide of €555,000

The solar panels which were fitted in April this year have brought the BER rating of the 2004 built dormer bungalow up to a B2. “There’s also a modern solid fuel back boiler which heats the home efficiently,‘’ adds Mr Stokes

Located four km outside Clonmel it’s an extra-spacious 321sq metre home Overlooking the front garden through lead effect windows there’s both a sitting room and a dining room while accommodation at the rear includes a kitchen with grey shaker style units and a utility room.

The property also has a bathroom and four ground floor bedrooms including two with en suites and one used as a home office. The upstairs has a bathroom and three bedrooms with Velux windows including one used as a home office and a long one used as a games room.

In the gardens, there’s a tarmac driveway, a detached garage and a large patio as well as lawns used as a play area.

VERDICT: On sunny days this house is always going to be exceptionally energy efficient.

AN escape from crowded city living might be found at Mohona, near Dunmanway, where auctioneer Martin Kelleher is offering a spacious detached home on an acre for a guide of €500,000.

“It’s surrounded by lush grounds, has views of wooded countryside and would make an idyllic home for any family,” says Mr Kelleher, explaining that the 2008-built four-bed five-bathroom house has 276 sq m of living space and, thanks to the addition of a several solar panels, an impressive B2 BER.

Located 2km outside Dunmanway, it’s part stone-faced and part render-finished, with a sunroom at the side and a detached rear garage.

Downstairs has a sitting room as well as a generous-sized open-plan living/dining/kitchen space with granite-topped oak kitchen units and a range-style oven. There’s also a sunroom/playroom, guest WC, a study and a utility.

Most of the solar panels are located on the roof of the detached garage, which could, if needed, be turned into a home office.

Set back from the road and surrounded by an expanse of lawn, the property has a gazebo and a patio.

“We are getting interest from Cork city buyers as well as locals,” says Mr Kelleher, noting that it’s 21km from Clonakilty and around an hour’s drive from the city.

VERDICT: All the wide open space you’d want for country living.