From countryside estates to hidden urban spaces, gardens add endless pleasure as well as visual and olfactory interest to a property.
With summer evenings stretching out ahead, an outdoor space is a huge benefit for this time of year.
These six homes in counties Clare, Kilkenny and Westmeath, the town of Carlingford, Co Louth and cities Dublin and Cork, offer great outdoor escapes.
Wisteria-laden Kilkenny bungalow
Address: Brownsbarn Lodge, Brownsbarn, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, R95 X2C0
Price: €750,000
Agent: Sherry Fitzgerald McCreery
Set within the historic Brownsbarn estate overlooking the Nore Valley, this wisteria-clad detached four-bedroom house, which extends to about 142 square metres, is set on about half an acre of grounds.
I.t looks like a period property, but was built in 1996.
The D2 BER-rated house riffs on a traditional architectural interior with modern-day comforts.
The Kilkenny country home is just 4.6km from Thomastown and approximately 21.2km from Kilkenny City.
The gardens are a standout.
To the rear, mature trees frame its extensive lawns.
Railway sleeper steps connect different levels of the grounds and add character to the landscaped setting. They also lead to a garden room.
The formal garden at the back has clipped box hedging, symmetrical planting beds and intersecting gravel pathways.
Surprisingly sprawling Sallynoggin garden
Address: 4 Longford Villas, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, A96 NW63
Price: €550,000
Agent: Haines Property
You don’t expect these 101 square metre period cottages to have such an extensive outdoor space.
But it does and has acres of potential.
It has mature plants, secret sections and goes on for about 20 metres. It’s a key feature and gives you the space to extend in time, should you need additional space.
The house has an F BER rating with several features, including restored pine floorboards, open fireplaces, exposed brickwork and a cast-iron wood-burning stove to help add warmth and personality.
The house opens into a bright front reception room and continues through to the kitchen and dining area.
At the back is a generously proportioned living room with French doors opening directly to the north-west-facing exterior.
Two bedrooms and a fully tiled shower room complete the ground floor.
There’s also an attic room with built-in storage and a bathroom.
Country estate vibes in Co Westmeath
Address: The Old Rectory, Ballincurra, Moyvore, Co Westmeath, N91DKH2
Price: €595,000
Agent: Murtagh Bros
With about two acres of landscaped grounds, The Old Rectory, on the outskirts of Moyvore village, is a Victorian residence dating from around 1870.
Extending to approximately 250 square metres, the D1 BER-rated property retains many original features and has been refurbished and reroofed over the past two decades.
Set out mainly in lawn with mature trees and fruit trees, the grounds include detached outbuildings that give you a further 125 square metres of potential space over two floors.
These could have many uses, subject to planning.
One of those uses could be stables for, in addition to the grounds, there’s an adjoining paddock for those that might like to keep a pony or two.
The house is arranged over two floors and centres on a generous entrance hall.
Two reception rooms are positioned at the front, while to the rear is a guest bathroom, utility room and a spacious kitchen.
Upstairs, there are five bedrooms, all doubles. Two are ensuite.
Rural Clare farmhouse
Address: Teach an Atha, Ballymalone, Tuamgraney, Co Clare, V94 E04W
Price: €365,000
Agent: Clare Tipp Properties
Set in Edna O’Brien country, this C3 BER-rated detached three-bedroom farmhouse is on approximately 3.5 acres of land and is surrounded by the kind of gorgeous open countryside O’Brien couldn’t wait to escape from all those decades ago.
The grounds include traditional outbuildings and outhouses that could be refurbished for a variety of future uses, subject to the necessary planning permissions.
To the rear, the garden features raised beds, a rocky area and a wide variety of planting, including wildflowers, flowering shrubs and herbs, creating colour and interest throughout the seasons.
Double doors from the house provide direct access to the garden.
Another feature of the property is the stream that runs through the land, crossed by a footbridge and adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
The lands also benefit from a separate roadside entrance.
Kitchen to garden passage in Cork
Address: 144 West Avenue, Park Gate, Frankfield, Co Cork, T12 F1PW
Price: €525,000
Agent: Jeremy Murphy & Associates
Located within the established Park Gate development in Frankfield, this is a B2 BER-rated four-bedroom semi-detached family home that has been extensively renovated and upgraded in recent years.
It has a small suburban garden,n but it is its connection to that green space that merits attention.
Large picture windows frame the mature tree and lawn, giving the illusion that the space is actually in the garden.
Presented in turnkey condition throughout, the layout features a stellar open-plan kitchen and dining area fitted with concrete countertops and bespoke cabinetry,
A sunroom extension added in 2020 provides additional living space and enjoys views of the garden.
Outside, the rear garden has been landscaped to create a private outdoor area suitable for both family use and entertaining.
Additional improvements include composite front and rear doors, upgraded lighting and a widened driveway.
Upstairs, there are four well-proportioned bedrooms, while the bathrooms have been modernised with contemporary fittings and finishes.
The garden includes upgraded lighting and a widened driveway.
Carlingford cottage with Mourne Mountain garden views
Address: Chapel Hill, Carlingford, Co Louth, A91E788
Price: €325,050
Agent: Blue Sky Property
Situated on Chapel Hill overlooking Carlingford village, St Anthony’s Cottage is a restored three-bedroom home that enjoys elevated views across Carlingford Lough and towards the Mourne Mountains.
The E2 BER-rated property was extensively refurbished in 2017, with upgrades including heating, wiring, insulation, double-glazed windows, the kitchen and bathroom facilities.
While modernised for contemporary living, the cottage retains much of its original character and charm.
The cottage garden has been thoughtfully arranged into a series of distinct outdoor areas.
Designed to take advantage of the property's elevated position, it offers many levels that could be used for outdoor dining, relaxation and enjoying the surrounding views.
Inside, an entrance porch leads to a living room centred around a wood-burning stove, with an adjoining fitted kitchen and a recently updated bathroom.
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, plus a guest bathroom.
