Town and country: what will €600,000 buy?

Address: 132 Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
Agent: Gunne

This five-bedroom, 130sq m (1,400sq ft) house needs work but it’s the lower end of the entry budget for this smart ’hood with Herbert Park just around the corner and easy access to the city centre, UCD, the south, and the sea.

Plus: Handsome redbrick with Edwardian good looks and a slightly more affordable way into D4 for anyone prepared to put the work in.
Minus: The layout is odd with "bedrooms" shoehorned in, in certain places – you may not end up with five after a reconfiguration. It is on a busy road.

Address: Rockmount, Mahon Bridge, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford
Agent: Shelley & Purcell

A classic country house, that began life in the 17th century, with generous proportions: from the triple-bay front and huge windows that blaze light into the large rooms. It comes with seven acres of land (with six more on offer), including mature gardens and pasture, near the Comeragh Mountains.

Plus: Maintenance work over the years has left period features intact. It is well away from the main road.
Minus: The wing, while providing valuable extra accommodation, slightly upsets the symmetry of the main part of the house.