Hooke & McDonald has logged dozens of enquiries for a new development of 36 detached three and four-bedroom houses in Kenmare, Co Kerry, which go on sale this weekend. The name, Tir-na-nOg, evokes dreams of perpetual youth, although this is not on offer with the Netherlands-financed scheme. Selling agent is Hooke & McDonald and prices start at £205,000 for the smallest 1,269 sq ft house.
Although Kenmare does not benefit from coastal resort tax incentives, the area is one of great natural beauty. The houses, which are situated between lakes and the sea, are expected to interest buyers already familiar with the area's many attractions.
Tir-na-nOg will be built on a plateau, five miles from Kenmare and less than 10 from Sneem. Purchasers will have a choice of site and three different house types, with some of the houses designed on two levels to accommodate the slope of the land. A showhouse is opening on the site this week.
There are 12 four-bedroom split-level houses of 1,269 sq ft at £205,000 to £228,000, depending on garden size. These have a living and dining-room and a patio at ground level. The cloakroom, kitchen and main en suite bedroom is on the next floor and three further bedrooms and a bathroom are on the top level.
Another four-bedroom 1,484 sq ft house of a more traditional design is priced from £207,000 to £213,000. There are eight of these two storey houses, which have dormer windows and house up to seven comfortably, according to Hooke & McDonald. There is a living-room, dining-room, kitchen, cloakroom and bedroom en suite on the ground floor and three further bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.
The third style, a three-bedroom 1,345 sq ft house on four different levels, costs from £205,000 to £217,000. The sitting-room is at ground level, cloakroom, kitchen, dining-room and en suite bedroom at second level, bedroom two is on the next landing and a third bedroom and main bathroom are on the top floor. While not all of the houses will be sold for letting, the potential in this tourist spot is good. In the summer, Kenmare's 1,500 population is boosted to 15,000 by visitors to the area. The houses will all be built to Bord Failte four star standard and a local letting agent will be available. There are proposals to build a leisure centre on the site next year with a pool, gymnasium and games room. The entrance to the development is adjacent to the new 18 hole championship Greenane golf course.
