City to Country: Upgraded Dublin 9 redbrick or views from all directions in €399k West Cork haven

A fine end-of-terrace redbrick Edwardian house, No 43 Saint Anne’s Road in Drumcondra has been sympathetically modernised by its current owners.

Upgrades to the three-bed property involved dry lining it with insulated plaster board, putting down insulated floor slabs, and the installation of a gas condensing boiler and double glazed timber sash windows.

But while improving the comfort level and bringing the BER up to a C2, the owners have kept much of the original character. The 1911-built property has cornicing and picture rails in the sitting and dining room and its original features include doors, some floorboards and two fireplaces including an elaborate marble one in the sitting room.

At the front there’s a high ceilinged living room with fireplace and oak parquet flooring and an archway leading through to a dining room. In an extension at the rear there’s a kitchen with modern high gloss white units as well as a utility room and WC. The upper floor has a modern bathroom and three bedrooms. The property also has a patio garden at the rear.

“It’ s conveniently locate within walking distance of the city centre and is also close to a range of shops, bars and amenities in Drumcondra” says Mr Kennedy. 

VERDICT: Has a nice mix of modern and period features

The owners of Shrine Lodge at Ballinatin in Tramore keep two kayaks which they can bring down through their garden and across a private boardwalk to get to the water’ s edge at Tramore Estuary.

“This property has panoramic views of the estuary and a fabulous landscaped one acre site,” Barry Herterich of Property Partners Herterich says, noting that its garden features include a sandstone patio, a koi pond, a garage, and a steel shed.

On the market with an asking price of €520,000, the four- bed, 1980s-built bungalow gets its name from its proximity to the Pickardstown memorial, built to commemorate the deaths of two IRA men during a War of Independence ambush.

Offering 137 sq metres of accommodation, it’s a modern, well cared for family home with a BER rating of C3.

The best views of the estuary can be seen from the sunroom at the rear which doubles as a family gym. 

Beside it, there’s a living room with a stove and behind it, a dining room leading though to a kitchen with modern cream units.

There’s also a small utility room, a bathroom and four bedrooms including one en suite and one which is used as a home office.

Located at the edge of Tramore, a little over two and a half km from the town and the main strand, it’s 12 kms from Waterford city and ten from Waterford University Hospital.

VERDICT: Seaside living with kayaks in the garden could look very attractive to city buyers.

Stylishly upgraded from the 1960s bungalow it used to be, this three-bed property at Roxborough, Ballyclough, near Limerick Golf Club, offers tranquil rural living within a 15-minute drive from Limerick city centre.

Brenda Mulcahy of Sherry FitzGerald says that Ballyclough is considered a prestigious area and that the detached houses there which, like this one, overlook the golf club, are very sough- after.

Current owners, who bought the property five years ago, have given it a complete makeover and along the way rearranged the layout, converted the attic and replaced 1960s exterior stone work with timber cladding.

Now a very modern looking 245 sq m property with a C2 BER, it has a spacious open-plan living room with an insert stove set on a chimney breast clad in blue timber panels. 

The kitchen at the rear has contemporary pale grey units with a large centre island/ breakfast counter. Off the kitchen there’s a dining room and, alongside it, a second living room with timber panelling on the walls as well as a bathroom and a small utility. In addition to this there are three bedrooms and a bathroom as well as two large rooms and a shower room in the converted attic. 

Guiding at €550,000, the property is on a site of half an acre and has lawned gardens with apple trees and a selection of outbuildings.

VERDICT: A spacious and stylish property located a little over 6km from the city.

New to the market this week with a guide of €399,000, it’s a modern two-bed family home on a site of over an acre which includes a pretty stone cottage which the owners have turned into an Airbnb rental.

The current owners bought and modernized the 1990s built bungalow in 2013.

“They also converted the attic which now has two adaptable rooms with Velux windows’’ says Olivia Hanafin of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill , noting that the BER has been upgraded to a C2.

Accommodation includes a front dining room which has Velux windows and sea views and seems to be a later addition to the property. There’s also a kitchen/diner with modern cream units, a sitting room with a stove and a guest WC.

In the extended section at the front there’s also a small utility room and a small bedroom.

The pretty guest cottage has 36 sq m of living space and includes a kitchen/dining/living area as well as a bathroom and a bedroom. Ms Hanafin says this has been a very successful holiday rental, but could be used as a home office.

Set on a sloping lawned site bounded by mature trees, Four Directions is located within 8km from both Castletownbere and Adrigole.

VERDICT: A scenic home with a bonus cottage.