The Mill Road in Corbally is one of the oldest thoroughfares in Limerick city. It once connected a weir to the city long before Corbally Mill – which was in its time one of the finest mills in the country – was constructed.
Due to its long history, the Mill Road has some fine period homes hiding discreetly in large gardens, and despite the road losing some of its charm to recent housing developments, what these old homes offer are fine examples of period architecture on extensive grounds.
Take for example Woodlands, an elegant Edwardian pile built for the Holiday family who ran Boyd’s shop in William Street in the city, which is less than two miles away.
Constructed in 1901, it remained in the family until it was purchased in 1983 by current owners, solicitors Paddy and Rosalind Geraghty.
"What we bought was a bit of a wreck," explains Paddy, who engaged architect Hugh Murray to oversee renovations of the 250sq m (2,700sq ft) house.
“At the time, Hugh said: ‘Do you really want to take this project on?’ as he was aware of the work involved,” explains Paddy.
It was a huge job. Even the parquet flooring was an ordeal as “every floorboard was lifted and had to be numbered before it was relaid”.
But having Murray, then a partner in architectural firm Murray O’Laoire which won more than 50 awards including the RIAI Triennial Gold Medal Award in 1995, and the People’s Choice Award for Thomond Park, meant the works were carried out sympathetically.
The house is known affectionately as “one of the babes” of the period homes on the Mill Road by local author and historian Denis O’Shaughnessy, in his book Stories of Limerick.
The property retains most of its period features, with the exception of original hearths in the three fireplaces on the ground floor. Though now with red brick inserts, new owners can reinstate something more in keeping with its Edwardian soul, without much effort.
Having a fireplace in a hallway conjures up lovely images of Christmas mornings, and the family say they light it regularly as there is an abundance of wood – now stored in an old boathouse on the grounds – from all the mature trees on the lands.
Woodlands sits on a site just shy of four acres, of which one acre forms a natural curtilage around the house as it is bordered by mature woodland, old stone walls and three stables where the family kept ponies.
They planted additional broadleaf trees 35 years ago, which allows for the next generation of woodland, as older trees mature and become fuel for winter fires.
What will interest buyers is not just a lovely period home full of old features, it will be the development opportunity for the three acres that lie to the rear – subject to planning (the lands are zoned residential in the current Limerick development plan).
The elegant five-bedroom property, which is Ber-exempt, is now on the market though Chesser Auctioneers, seeking €1.75m.
