Spacious West Cork home near Coppeen for €575k offers rural luxury

IT’S not just home-hunters looking for space and value that are going west, or south-west – it’s also the case for the vendors of Gorsefield, near Coppeen and Enniskeane in West Cork.

They are moving even further west, to original family roots, says auctioneer Andy Donoghue, who has just started viewings of their 2,650 sq ft detached home on two and a half private acres, noting the initial inquiries at least are coming from the likes of Cork city and from Dublin.

That’s not surprising him at all, given the lifestyle options to hand in the setting, for not much more than the price of many suburban three-bed semi-ds, as well as recent experience on Gorsefield’s doorstep.

Last year Mr O’Donoghue had listed a stylish, vastly upgraded 150 year old farmhouse a few hundred metres away from Gorsefield on this cul de sc lane off the R585 just west of Coppeen near ‘the Bantry line:’ it’s sort of where west Cork meets mid-Cork, say a 45 minute spin by car from Cork city.

The setting drew great interest to the slate-fronted farmhouse, which Hodnett Forde had guided at €465,000 (it made €460k), at the end of a resurfaced lane with unusual paddock fencing either side done by the County Council.

Who’ll come done the lane for Gorsefield, c €100k dearer and clearly more modern: it’s almost outer suburban in its styling, perhaps?

The double fronted wide home has big rooms, rather than lots of small ones, notable for its feeling of space, from the airy midships hall onwards.

The entire left hand side is triple aspect, with a huge reception room with big stove, and most of the far side is given over to the kitchen diner/ with a common run of pale floor tiles across nearly all of the ground floors for visual continuity’s sake: there’s underfloor heating at ground level and radiators above, with timber floor in contrast.

Surprisingly, given the size and scale of the house, it’s only a three -bedroomed property as currently configured, though some small rooms could be reconfigured for occasion bed use – or, the house can be extended in several direction? Or, adapt the detached garage, which is a good size, with high pitched roof and its own direct lane access also?

Inside, Gorsefield has a large landing/seating area; it has a large main bedroom suite, with private bathroom and dressing room with tall shoe tower holding dozens of pairs of shoes: what, no wellies?

Hodnett Forde’s MD Mr Donoghue says the design is “bespoke, with high-end hand crafted finishes throughout. It has a period-style formal design and its internal layout provides massive open space. The entrance hall is vast and shows its full height grandeur upon crossing the threshold.”

Finishes include quality timbers, glazed internal doors in varnished frames for internal brightness, and the kitchen is in sold oak, with black granite tops, quite the timeless look, with double ovens and large island.

Off the large main living area, on the western side via a sliding door (glazing externally is double glazed, easy-keep pvc) is an outdoor paved patio, a good size, with seating by an open fire/BBQ space detailed in brick and painted render, while over a screening and sheltering wall is a large timber shed.

VERDICT: A big house on several acres, with big rooms (but, not a lot of them either!) ideal for a family that wants space inside and outside. The location was a draw for the buyers of the farmhouse, which got a second round of upgrades in 2017 resulting in a B2 BER also and, again by coincidence, that black slated home’s family owners also made a move even further west, to the sea by Schull.