West Cork's  chic Castletownshend has Irish RM to Improve

It's in the homeplace of writers Somerville and Ross, Edith Somerville and Violet Martin, known for the series of books later made into the TV series The Irish RM.

While a guide price is not publicly quoted by auctioneer Andy Donoghue, it’s understood it’s being guided from €30,000 an acre. This would indicate an initial value in the region of €600,000 — ahead of agricultural values locally, but less than development land in general.

When launched in 2003/2004, prices at Flemings’ ‘The Lawn’ were from €270,000 for three-beds, and up to €500,000 for five-bed detached houses.

Some 43 houses were built to a streetscape design by Hogan Associates architects, a reduction from initial plans for 100 houses on the portion above the village’s approach.

Resales since have been lower at The Lawn, many sub-€200,000 category, with the highest to date since 2011 at €390,000.

After a flurry of strong local resistance to The Lawn, it appears to have settled in without further ado.

Most were bought initially as second homes, but now many are more full-time occupancy, post pandemic. More broadly, the location is high value, with sales of period and water-facing properties sometimes up in the millions of euro.

Three older-era homes have appeared on the Price Register at in excess of €1m to date, led by The Rocket House at €2.54m.

Very broad interest can be expected, at The Lawn’s land/field, but most likely for a far lower density than at the adjacent development with 43 houses on five acres.

It may see interest for development of a few large detached one-offs, or may even be bought for one, substantial “trophy” dwelling on considerable acreage.

Sites, or older-era houses with redevelopment/upgrade scope locally can sell for €250,000 or more.

The very accessible Castletownshend village available holding of 18 acres, with Urban Area Zoning and adjacent services, is in one block and has views to the water, Horse Island, and the spit at Reen.

“The property has to be one of the most desirable zoned land holdings to come to the market in West Cork, and offers huge potential for future development in a most dramatic and prestigious coastal setting,” said Hodnett Forde’s Andy Donoghue.

It wraps around the 200-year-old St Barrahane's Church of Ireland parish church, designed by James Pain in the 1820s and which features three Harry Clarke windows, with the ground the burial place of cousins Edith Somerville and Violet Martin (Ross).

It also bounds the grounds of The Castle, a part 18th and 19th-century castellated home of the Salter Townshend family, now in hospitality use.

A number of individual/one-off houses are scattered along the northern boundary and by the section closest to the water.
DETAILS: Hodnett Forde 023-8833367