City to Country: Spacious Limerick city redbrick, Ballina chalet or scenic views at in Ballydehob

Detached and well presented, this four bed redbrick house at 12 Cluain Dubh, Fr Russell Road, Raheen is the type of trade up property that could make some Limerick family’s New Year very happy.

“It’s been meticulously maintained inside and out and has excellent family space," says Sean McGee of Sherry FitzGerald Limerick, noting that properties like this are in short supply in Raheen.

Built in 2007, it’s a double fronted property on a corner site with a south facing back garden. By converting the attic the owners have increased the floor area to 234 sq metre and have also improved the BER rating, which is now a B2.

At ground floor level, the house has a walnut floored living room with a fireplace, an oak floored family room/gym and a recently upgraded kitchen /diner with cream quartz topped units and a blue island. There’s also a bedroom, a utility room and a guest WC.

The first floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms including one en suite while the attic has an en suite timber floored room used as a home office.

The house has parking for four cars at the front, a glasshouse at the side and a well planted lawned garden at the rear.

Guiding at €595,000, it’s one just small number of detached houses in the Cluain Dubh estate which is located close to Crescent Shopping Centre and around five km from the city centre.

VERDICT: Likely to be in high demand.

Set amidst the leafy woodlands at the 100-acre Mount Falcon estate near Ballina in Mayo, No 7 The Woodlands is one the more unusual market arrivals this week.

A gable-fronted, part stone, part timber clad Scandinavian style chalet, it’s one of 12 lodges built by an old water tower on the grounds of Mount Falcon, a Victorian gothic manor house operating as a four-star hotel.

Seeking offers of €499,500 for the 2005 built three-bed lodge, Nuala Feeney of Sherry FitzGerald Feeney West says that while several of the nearby properties are used for holidays this one is an elegant owner occupied home which has been fitted out to a high standard.

“The owner has put in a high-quality contemporary kitchen with granite worktops and converted a bedroom into a home office,’’ she reveals.

Offering 135 sq metres of accommodation, the lodge has high ceilinged sitting/dining room with a full-height front window and a tall stone chimney breast. Also at ground level it has an upgraded kitchen, a shower room, an en suite bedroom and bedroom/home office. Upstairs it has an en suite master bedroom and a galleried landing.

Located eight km from Ballina it’s within a short walk from Mount Falcon Hotel where activities include falconry, salmon fishing and walking trails.

“The woodland setting is secluded, peaceful and idyllic,’’ says Ms Feeney who has had enquiries from the US.

VERDICT: A more unusual option for a buyer looking for a rural home.

Front views of Ballyalla Lake are an added attraction at this detached architect designed property at Ballyhee, Larchhill near Ennis.

“We expect it to attract trade up buyers from Limerick, Ennis and possibly Galway,’’ says Siobhan Costelloe of Costelloe auctioneers who is quoting a guide of €625,000 five -bed property and its one and a half acre site.

Located on an elevated hillside site above the lake, it’s an early 2000s built dormer property which offers 309 sq metres of accommodation.

“A contemporary home with a high standard of finish, it was designed by its architect owner and has been floored with Italian porcelain tiles and fitted with a striking ash staircase “ reveals Ms Costelloe adding that it has woodland gardens which might supply the owner with a lifetime supply of firewood.

Overlooking the lake through large windows and patio doors at one side of the property is exceptionally a long tiled sitting /dining room. Alongside it also a modern kitchen/breakfast room while other ground floor rooms include a guest WC, a utility, a home office/ bedroom and a shower room. 

On the upper level the property has a bathroom and four timber floored bedrooms including one en suite. To the rear there’s an attached garage used for storage.

Located 43 km from Limerick city and 72 km from Galway, the property is just five km from Ennis.

VERDICT: Offers excellent space for a buyer looking to work remotely, as well as scenic views for them to admire.

This detached five-bed stone fronted dormer property at Greenmount near Ballydehob will most likely be bought by a buyer who wants to spend holidays enjoying West Cork scenery and swimming in local coves.

The area, close to Schull and Roaringwater Bay, is always popular with holidaymakers but Liam Hodnett of Hodnett Forde, joint agent with Irish Rural Homes thinks it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that this house might become a permanent home for a relocator or a retiree who wants to experience the West Cork lifestyle.

“It was built in 2004 as a full time home,” he reveals, noting that it’s spacious (with 250 sq metres of living space) and has a sizable one acre site which includes an almost finished garage that might be made into a home office.

Accommodation includes a kitchen/diner, a lounge with a wood burning stove, a bathroom and two ground floor bedrooms including one en suite. The upper floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms, one of which is now being used as a home office.

Located around three km from Ballydehob village, the property is around three and a half km from Audley cove, a sandy beach which according to Mr Hodnett is popular for swimming all year round.

Guiding at €550,000, its already had viewing with UK buyers including a few thinking of buying it as a summer home and others who like the idea of spending their retirement there,

VERDICT: A West Cork property with options.