Teachers' 'lifestyle' family home was a successful learning  curve 

ONE metre high standing stones from the Bronze age are an archaeological feature in the fields directly behind this sizeable, fully maximised West Cork family lifestyle home, a mix both of being off the beaten track, yet accessible to a range of amenities and attractions.

Set at Clogagh North, near Ballinsacarthy south of the N71 between Bandon and Clonakilty, the 2,700 sq ft extended dormer home on a lovingly tended wedge-shaped site just now ready to burst into summer glories is a trade-down sale offer on behalf of a family that appreciated the setting, coastal proximity, and links to the ancient past, with UCC student archaeologists and other school groups that surveyed them, likely linked to a burial site.

One of the owners here would have paid particular attention to its significant past, as well as to a nearby 16th century prayer house, as he was the local school principal in Clogagh for many years, now retired and both he and his wife (also a teacher) are downsizing, moving closer to adult offspring.

They are vacating their immaculate five-bed home, extended from a three-bed house down the years, as their family grew, with two kitchens, one with a powerful black Rayburn (very suitable for multi-generational families, guests etc).

It’s got bedrooms and bathrooms on both levels, with a library on the landing; apart from the main sitting room off the original kitchen, there’s now a feature lofted gable end living/dining room with stove and access to a side patio, one of two. This one includes a glass-roofed screening veranda overhead for all weather, al fresco meals, BBQs and entertaining, both young and old: the vaulted end room became a hub for all sorts of gatherings, games, parties and study sessions, as needs, seasons and exam schedules indicated.

The home evolved on a greenfield, triangular c 0.6 acre site over 36 years, and now is home to dozens of trees species, with a big front lawn, and behind evolved into more niche sections for organic veg and herb beds (the photography here must have been done last summer?).

Down the years, the gardens have been home to hens, ducks, geese and even a pot belly pig called Napoleon, trained by the youngest sibling to even sit, on command.

Hopefully their Napoleon was more benign in its day than the fictional porker Napoleon in George Orwell’s chilling classic Animal Farm, and today just two curly-haired dogs are residents of this Clogagh animal farm, with their own house and dog run generously assigned.

Selling agent Majella Galvin of DNG Galvin guides the mix of spacious home, and pristine gardens at €595,000 and says it’s a great lifestyle offer, for families of all sizes, with a national school 600 metres away in the village, plus proximity to beaches and hideaway coves around Timoleague, Courtmacsherry and west towards Clonakilty.

The family enjoyed walks, hikes and sea swims as well as fishing on the Argideen river, and there’s also proximity to the charming timepiece Argideen Vale Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, with a history back to the 1890s, and ongoing tea days this summer.

VERDICT: Clearly a much loved and appreciated home, ready to go again.