Designed by Cork architect Henry Hill and built circa early 1870s, this is the gate lodge to Coolkelure House, once the home to the 4th Earl of Bandon.

There is a distinct gothic element in the facade, with characteristic gargoyles and crests cast on the stone entrance porch. Equally impressive are the grounds, extending to one acre and filled with mature shrubs and trees, and with ornamental ponds, bridges and a stream all making this something of a gardener's delight.

The current owners are American artists Martha McFarland and George Goetz who came to live in the lodge with their young son Arthur in l996. They embarked on a restoration project of the house, using conservation friendly materials where possible, and preserving wonderful original features such as old timber ceiling beams and wide plank floors, the stone staircase and window shutters.

Entrance to the property is through a cypress topiary arch which leads directly to the stone porch and into the hall. Leading off is the dining room, full of period character with support beams with plaster cast crests, open fireplace and tiled floor.

Adjacent is a large, fully square sitting room, again with original beams and fireplace, but also a bay window with working shutters. The library is well fitted with floor to ceiling bookshelves. As you might expect in a house of this vintage, the kitchen is unfitted and instead has a number of free standing storage pieces along with a range style cooker.

The house is well maintained, but may want some redecoration and modernisation by the next owners, says selling agent John O'Neill.

Also at ground floor level is the first of three bedrooms, currently fitted with antique furnishings, and the bathroom with slate floor and airing cupboard. Up the stone staircase and off the landing are a further two bedrooms, the largest of which has two windows and an open fireplace. Both rooms have polished timber floorboards.

The dressing room, which could convert to an en suite bathroom, was originally the game- keeper's lookout. Its view takes in parts of the garden where a varied collection of specimen trees predominate. These include Japanese maples, magnolia, a weeping copper beech, a dawn redwood and oriental handkerchief tree. Vying for attention too are equally lofty shrubs such as New Zealand tree ferns, rhododendron, camellia, hydrangea and a giant gunnera.

There is also a pond attracting a variety of wildlife and surrounded by iris, calla lillies and grasses. A rustic bridge leads to an oriental style area and from which there are views of nearby Gothic St Edmund's Church.

Running through the gardens to the rear is a river over which stands a Japanese style bridge.

Coolkelure is within one hour's drive of Cork city and airport, and deep in countryside ideal for walking, cycling and fishing in the nearby lakes.

Price: 475,000 Agent: Celtic Properties Real Estate Alliance, 027-52290 The Best of Irish Homes:

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