Property kicks off for Kinsale’s rugby 7s
Kinsale’s ‘house and a half’ townhouse with apartment is well converted, says Property Editor
- €800,000
260 sq m (2,800 sq ft)
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4
C3
KICKING off with pitch-perfect property market timing for the wild weekend that is Kinsale’s rugby 7s and some 150 scheduled matches is the arrival of the town centre-set Rock Lodge, at 22 Lower O’Connell Street – a period era home and a half (it has a basement) that’s in the centre of the town’s action year-round, thanks to a street-wise location.
Dating back many decades, if not nearly a century, Rock Lodge has had a top to toe makeover and complete renovation, in recent times, and has options aplenty, given a layout that sees its lower ground floor laid out as a self-contained one-bed apartment, with terraced back garden access below street level, where there’s also a gated side street access.
And, then, on its two other/upper levels, there’s the rest of the house, even more stylish, with three first floor bedrooms, and a mid level with a living room, family room, and a big kitchen/dining room with stone-topped island and which has three- large circular light fittings hovering high over it, a bit like like a trio of flying saucers, while large,part-glazed French doors (inside a railed balcony/balustrade) overlook the patio terrace beneath, where the enclosing walls are all painted the same deep, navy blue as the house itself.
All in, Rock Lodge (a good name for a rugby prop, or for a wrestler?) weighs in at 260 sq m – or 2,800 sq ft in the ‘old money’ – and is price-guided at €800,000 by estate agent Johnny O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald: he says it has “beautiful interior architectural detail throughout offering modern grandeur living while incorporating old world charms.”
Evidence of the house’s roots are seen straightway crossing the threshold from street to hall, where the stairs’ handrail is polished mahogany, and the ceilings have ornate plasterwork, plaster roses and contemporary-edge chandeliers pop up frequently too.
Double doors go right, to a family living room with wall-set gas fire, and twin sliding sash windows face the street. Across the way, sliding pocket doors go to the kitchen with vaulted ceiling, island and inset range cooker, larder press, etc. The kitchen’s by Woodview Fitted Furniture, with white quartz tops, and decor pretty much throughout is gleaming white paint, on walls and doors, with colour coming in pops in rugs, furniture and fittings.
Separately there’s a second, smaller reception left of the hall, with white painted cast iron fireplace, and the double aspect master en suite bedroom overhead also has a white painted chimneypiece.
While the bedrooms are on the compact side, Sherry Fitz’s Mr O’Flynn says Rock Lodge is bright and “light and room proportions throughout are generous and well proportioned.”
Skylights over the landing draw in extra light, replacement sash windows are by Woodmarq Ltd, sanitary ware is by Villeroy & Boch, and flooring includes some wide oak planking, Balterio Grande, with Cava Crema porcelain tiling. The location is slap-bang in the historic core of Kinsale, a two minute walk from the waterfront and the pier via Dennis Quay.
Well converted.
