Residential

From rock ’n’ roll retreat to religious reawakening in west Cork

The White House in Rosscarbery is a substantial home commissioned by a rector in the 1920s, while David Bowie and Paul McCartney are rumoured to have stayed at Dunowen, which has been owned by two musicians

Brian O'Connell's face
Brian O'Connell
Thu Jun 6 2013 - 01:00

Commissioned by the nearby Church of Ireland rector in the 1920s, no expense was spared in building The White House, a lovely colonial style property on 2.6 acres of lawns and gardens overlooking a salt-water lagoon in Rosscarbery.

It is pretty rare to get a site this size, just yards from a main street which retains a hidden feel.

The current owners renovated the house completely after moving here from Glandore over a decade ago, buying the house for close to €1 million, when stamp duty and inflation are taken into account.

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The owners estimate they spent over €400,000 on renovation and the level of detail in the restoration is impressive, from the Victorian tiles in the hall and kitchen, to the custom-made furniture, including a stunning Joseph Walsh dining table (which is not part of the sale) and bespoke Pippy oak kitchen units.

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Some of the original aspects include a 1920s’ pantry, with original shelving, and a pitch-pine staircase.

One of the most impressive features of the house is the way the large bay windows provide views of the garden and surrounding lagoon and allow lots of light to flood the property.

There are up to six bedrooms on the first floor, while the second floor has two unique bedrooms wrapped about both chimney breasts.

Potential buyers may want to refurbish and redecorate some of the rooms and update the interior design.

The gardens are not too fussy, and feature some exotic plants and a 400-year-old horse chestnut tree as well as a manageable walled garden.

There’s even a private gateway to St Fachtna’s Cathedral next door, so no excuses for missing service on Sundays.

The old stables at the back, where the rector kept his horses until a decade ago, have been maintained and provide additional outdoor storage.

The owners were offered €500,000 for a sliver of land on the site during the boom years, which might suggest potential for planning permission to build additional properties.

The new owners may want to section off the land and recoup some of the purchase price, although it would be a shame to divide up such a unique site.

With all the major renovation works, including wiring, plumbing and roofing done, the property also has a decent BER rating of C3 for a house of its vintage.