€295k West Cork cottage had Chelsea Flower Show beds in previous greenfingered owner's days

THERE could be horticultural treasure deep in the earth at this West Cork cottage: the 1950s era cottage was a former Co Council home lived in by a well-known local, Jim Forde, who worked at the nearby early 1800s period Travers family home Butlerstown House and “he had the garden here looking like something from the Chelsea Flower Show at one stage”.

That’s according to estate agent Mark Kelly of Hodnett Forde who picked up warm-hearted recall and lore from locals of Mr Forde’s gardening prowess at his own more modest home too.

Set at Butlerstown North, near Barryroe, Courtmacsherry, and Timoleague with Clonakilty to the west, this is a compact three-bed cottage of just over 700sq ft (650sq m), which has been in holiday home usage by a lady owner for the past decade or so.

 Mr Kelly launches it at €295,000 and says he expects a wide cross section of interest, from first-time buyers to traders-down, as well as relocators and holiday home hunters, given its proximity to beaches at the likes of Broadstrand, Blind Strand, and Dunworley; the nearest is possibly a dozen or so fields away, as the gull flies, and the site has views to the bay.

There’s local services and facilities all nearby, while Cork city is about 50 minutes by car and Bandon’s 20 minutes off.

The cottage has a G BER, electric heating, and an open fire, is in good overall condition, has a westerly aspect to the back also getting good southerly light and “there’s huge scope for expansion and reconfiguration if desired”, says Mr Kelly.

While he expects good interest, he says the eventual selling price will be tempered by the fact it needs some updating and energy improvements and is currently on the compact side.

VERDICT: Green for go?