A no-brainer for this €395,000 Donovan's Road home near UCC

IF ever you wanted to demonstrate just how convenient homes on Donovan’s Road are vis-avis the main UCC campus, you have what you need in this spectacular aerial image.

Right across the road is the entrance to the more than century-old Honan Chapel, a beautiful example of Hiberno-Romanesque revival-style architecture. 

It’s looking fresher than ever, in the wake of a year-long, award-winning €1.2m restoration project in 2021, funded by the Honan Trust. The Trust relies heavily on charitable donations. Graduate weddings that take place in the chapel – c100 a year - are another source of income.

Fundraising and administration of the chapel are demanding roles and about 20 years ago, a house at No 9 Donovan’s Road, called Hillside, was purchased to accommodate those involved in the work. 

It was the ideal location, so close to the venue itself. Desks were installed in different rooms and an office set-up evolved. Now however, Hillside is surplus to requirements and has been put on the market, with a guide price of €395,000.

It’s fair to say that Hillside needs a good upgrade, but the bones of a solid home are all there. It’s still laid out like a residence – there’s a sitting room, a lounge and a kitchen/dining room on the ground floor, as well as a WC. 

Overhead are three bedrooms and a bathroom.

An original terrazzo floor remains in the hallway and original fireplaces are visible in a couple of rooms.

 There’s a rear garden too, with scope to do a good deal more eg lay a patio, install raised flower beds, introduce a bit of colour. Or you could look at extending Hillside, pushing the kitchen out further to the rear, or even build a two-story rear extension (with planning permission).

Whatever is done to 107 sq m Hillside will depend on the type of buyer, says selling agent Lawrence Sweeney of Savills, who has already shown around a set of buyers interested in it as an investment property. With one child in college and three more coming up the ranks, it’s an alternative to paying out tens of thousands in rent. UCC's newest accommodation, the Crow's Nest in Victoria Cross, costs €8,325 for the full academic year of 37 weeks.

“For people living out of town who are looking at years of paying accommodation fees for their kids, this kind of investment is a no-brainer,” Mr Sweeney says.

As  Hillside is in an area where properties have traditionally been rented out to college students, Mr Sweeney also expects interest from experienced local landlords. And he’s not ruling out house-hunters looking for a more affordable townhouse property either.

“Hillside is dated and it does need renovation, but there’s massive potential, given the superb location,” he says.

Parking on the road is by permit but some homeowners have replaced front lawn space with a car parking space, with planning permission, so there is precedent, the agent says.

VERDICT: Looks like a good candidate for investors. May also attract academics in search of a convenient townhouse. Price looks good given location, but prepare to upgrade.