Westport: period house with mature gardens

Dating from 1810, this well-proportioned period house stands on a sixth of an acre in the popular area of Rosbeg, three minutes’ drive from Westport. Clad in Virginia Creeper, Ivy Cottage includes Con’s House, a small self-contained unit that could be used as a guest cottage or granny flat. The house has recently been reduced from an original asking price of €625,000.

The current owners, who have relocated to Dublin due to work commitments, purchased the house 10 years ago from a well-known local photographer, Liam Lyons. Together with local architect Robert Kilkelly & Associates, the couple undertook a renovation of the property, including dry-lining the walls, replumbing and rewiring and exposing all the wide-plank pitch pine flooring throughout.

The house has four en suite bedrooms, some with original fireplaces and window shutters. There are two reception rooms and a study. The sun lounge has an original period fireplace and exposed oak beams, as does the well-proportioned kitchen.

The kitchen also has a new atrium ceiling, which allows a flood of light on to new quarry tiles and an antique French stove. The gardens are on two levels, one of which leads to the one-bedroom guest cottage via a small orchard and chicken run.

The cottage’s mature garden is filled with trees and shrubs that have graced the land for 200 years. Although not large, the site is perfectly manicured and just minutes from the Rail Walk – the converted railway line, where one can stroll to Westport.

The houseis on the old main Louisburgh-Westport road, but thankfully traffic has been reduced dramatically by the new link road.