A home that is a castle, where you can enjoy day and nighttime activities from its putting green beneath the battlements. When you’re done practicing your putting shots, you can turn your attention to dinner, for the barbecue area is on the same level. After dark, there's the simple pleasure of stargazing under winter skies.
Not many homeowners can say they practice golf from the roof of their castle, yet this Limerick listing achieves that for cheaper than some Dublin prices.
Set in a private woodland area, the renovated lime kiln may date back to 1824 but has a layout that works really well as a modern family home.
Address: Heathfield, Ballinruane, Kilmeedy, Co Limerick, V42 V06
Price: €795,000
Joint Agents: Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes and Sherry FitzGerald O'Leary Kinsella
Converted into a home in 2005, this 19th-century kiln now has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and extends to a whopping 486 square metres- that’s four times the size of a modern three-bedroom semi.
The renovation also brought the property into the 21st century with underfloor heating at ground level and an excellent B3 BER energy rating.
From the outside, it looks like an old Irish castle met a dormer cottage and they decided to get hitched. And the interior reflects that.
The Gothic-style front door opens into an arched hallway with marble flooring and exposed stone walls, making it feel like you’re stepping into a piece of Irish heritage.
This leads to the base of the tower, an enormous entrance hall built to show off the sweeping staircase and galleried landing above. This ultimately leads up to the property’s standout feature: a roof terrace with a built-in barbecue and putting green.
Two floors above the 122-square-metre terrace, which is bordered by the ramparts, is laid in artificial lawn – as if you stumbled upon medieval knights playing hooky from guarding the keep.
At ground level there is a sizeable, open-plan living room that extends to 100 square metres, the size of a more modest three-bed semi.
This is a tri-aspect space with two sets of double doors opening out to a set of steps that lead up to the back garden.
This area is zoned to accommodate a large living area, set around an open fire, a generous kitchen with a large island anchoring it within the room, and an ample dining area, where on warm days guests can retire to the garden for drinks afterwards.
A second living room is at the opposite end of the ground floor and offers a place to escape to should you wish to retire from the rest of the family. With exposed stone walls, a large fireplace with a stove and handcrafted oak beams, it has a different feel and is warmed by artworks that bring in pops of colour.
The house has five bedrooms, one of which is ensuite at this level.
The other four are upstairs, off a large landing. Three of these are ensuite. The fourth has a walk-in wardrobe.
The floorplan includes a utility room at first floor level, a smart move that means laundry doesn’t have to be brought downstairs to be returned to bedrooms.
Up a level and a distinct remove from the rest of the house is a home office in the round. You can practice your strokes between business calls.
Outside, the property is surrounded by Ballinruane Woods and has its own beautifully landscaped gardens. These include a waterfall feature and another dedicated golf practice area with a number of different seating areas that create a fairytale-esque atmosphere in the woods.
At the front of the house, there is a very charming wishing well and a pond that is shaded by trees.
The grounds extend to 0.84 acres.
The secluded setting is a significant part of this property’s appeal. The nearest village is Kilmeedy, about two kilometres away, a three-minute drive.
Kilmeedy has two pubs, Glen Bar and Browns Bar, and Roots, which serves the rural town as a shop and café. It also has a tractor garage and a pre-school.
However, for those in need of a more bustling area, Newcastle West is just 17 minutes down the road by car. It is 17 kilometres away, so walking isn’t really an option.
Newcastle West is a historic market town and offers all the essentials with multiple shops, restaurants, pubs and schools.
Agents Sherry FitzGerald is seeking €795,000.
