FOR SALE Bracken Cottage A Restored Period Cottage Aghancon, Birr, County Offaly, Ireland
Menu: Take the tour sorry not all final photos are on website yet The Interior Exterior Photos Site map Location and map Local Links Before Restoration Photos Restoration Photos Contact us	Bracken Cottage, built in about 1840 with local sandstone, has recently been restored by the team of an artist/designer and a restorer experienced in historic property restorations. It has a distinctive and charming style: two storey with a slate, hip roof, and four-pane windows and front porch. The restoration has been done with a knowledge of the vernacular style and original character with some added luxury, contemporary features and comforts such as a charmingly designed master bedroom and bathroom suite and walk-in storage closet. A later, single storey addition to one side, of the dwelling has NOT been restored but would make an ideal artist's studio or with some conversion, to a spacious self- contained guest room. (Design and restoration can be carried out by the present team). The cottage comes with a quarter-acre of land and the turbary rights (turf-cutting) to a local bog. There is ample courtyard space with a painted barn (formerly Bracken's Shop) for storage or conversion to an office space for a freelancer. Located directly beside an eighteenth century church with an active community congregation, its views are of pastures and across a lovely valley to the most famous of the Ely O’Carroll clan castles, The Leap, which was later home to the Derby family. South County Offaly is in the geographical centre of the country (map) and the cottage is a 10 - 15 minute drive from Roscrea or Birr (with its well-known castle gardens and Ireland's Science & Heritage Centre). There are good shops in both towns and village stores about two miles in either direction from the cottage. Situated within the Slieve Bloom region with its mountain nature preserve, it is a region ideal for long walks in beautiful and gentle hills and valleys and famous for ancient monastic sites. Ard Erin, is the highest mountain at 1,740 feet, stradling Offaly and Laois, from which one can see many other counties. There are good amenities such as swimming pools, golf courses and restaurants in Birr, Roscrea and Tullamore. Kinnitty Castle Hotel is close by with terrific traditional music evenings and there are riding centres there and in Clareen. Ready to move into for those seeking a rural lifestyle, Bracken Cottage is ideal for a single person or couple as a primary or second home. It is only a 40 minutes drive from the largest midlands town of Tullamore which has a direct (70 minute) train line to Dublin/Galway. It is an hour from Limerick City (with another half hour from Shannon airport) or a two-and-a-half hour drive from Dublin airport. (map) There is some antique Irish country furniture and acceccories in the cottage which can be purchased at extra cost. The cottage has of course been damp-proofed with an underground drainage designed to wick all rainwater from the foundations of the building. The roof retains its original slates and very little replacement was necessary but a new chimney was built and flashed. It has also been treated against woodworm, etc. Newly laid ground floors, new floor laid on the first floor and joists reinforced. All windows had new 2 over 2 sashes installed, fully centrally heated, insulated, rewired and re-plumbed, as well as many other features restored. The sewerage is the Bord na Mona "Puraflow" system which is ecologically designed. The water comes from a local group water scheme.
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