Castlewarden, Straffan, Co. KildareW23NX30
€550,000
3 Bed~1 Bath~108 m²~BER F
What you'll like:
- Desirable Straffan location: Situated in a prestigious County Kildare address near world-class golf courses, providing high long-term desirability and strong community appeal for discerning buyers.
- Generous one acre site: Features approximately one acre of beautifully maintained grounds, offering exceptional outdoor space, mature boundaries, and endless potential for gardening or recreation.
- Detached bungalow layout: Offers the convenience of single-storey living within a detached structure, ensuring greater privacy and appeal for families or downsizers alike.
- Excellent presentation condition: The interior is presented in fantastic condition throughout, allowing new owners to move in immediately without undertaking any initial cosmetic repairs.
- Spacious living accommodation: Extends to approximately 108 square metres, featuring bright and well-proportioned rooms designed to accommodate comfortable everyday family life easily.
- Abundant natural light: Large windows enhance the living spaces, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere across the kitchen, dining, and main reception rooms.
- Generous off street parking: Features a large driveway providing ample space for multiple vehicles, which is particularly convenient for families with visitors or multiple cars.
- Block built garage: Includes a valuable outbuilding suitable for secure storage, a home workshop, or potential conversion subject to acquiring the necessary planning permissions.
- Private mature boundaries: Surrounded by established trees and hedging that create a secluded haven, shielding the dwelling from neighbouring properties and passing traffic.
- Tranquil countryside setting: Delivers a peaceful rural lifestyle surrounded by picturesque Kildare scenery while remaining close to all essential modern conveniences and local amenities.
- Commuter friendly connectivity: Provides rapid access to both the M4 and M7 motorways, ensuring straightforward daily commutes into Dublin City Centre and the airport.
- Proximity to major towns: Located just minutes away from Straffan, Clane, Kill, and Maynooth, granting effortless access to vibrant shopping, dining, and professional services.
- Renowned local education: Close proximity to a selection of well-regarded schools makes this an ideal long-term family home for households with growing children.
- Established residential neighbourhood: Positioned within a tightly held and highly sought-after Kildare pocket where property turnover is historically low and tightly contested.
- Solid construction era: Built circa 1955, the property reflects traditional building methods with thick walls and a sturdy structural footprint typical of the period.
- Expansion potential: The expansive one-acre plot offers significant scope for future architectural extensions or side additions, allowing the property to grow with your family.
- Stable asking price: The recorded listing history indicates a stable pricing strategy at 550,000 euros without erratic fluctuations, reflecting a confident seller position.
- Outdoor entertainment space: The extensive lawned gardens provide a wonderful venue for summer gatherings, children's play equipment, and relaxed outdoor weekend living.
- Clear commuting alternatives: Nearby towns offer reliable public transport links including train services, giving residents flexible options for reaching the capital.
- Active local market demand: Premium Kildare rural properties with substantial grounds consistently attract strong interest from buyers seeking space outside urban centres.
But keep in mind:
- Extremely poor energy rating: Holds a low BER rating of F, indicating severe thermal inefficiency and high potential heating costs that require immediate efficiency upgrades.
- Outdated heating system: Operates on oil-fired heating, which can be expensive to run and requires ongoing fuel deliveries compared to modern natural gas or heat pumps.
- Single bathroom constraint: Provides only one family bathroom for three bedrooms, which may create morning bottlenecks and inconvenience for a busy modern household.
- Historic building age: Built around 1955, the structure likely requires thorough investigative checks for older wiring, plumbing, and potential asbestos materials by a qualified surveyor.
- Roof and insulation review: The F energy rating suggests that roof space insulation and double glazing should be professionally inspected to gauge upgrade requirements.
- Septic tank verification: Rural properties in this area frequently rely on private wastewater treatment systems, so buyers must verify compliance, capacity, and current condition.
- Private well requirements: If the property uses a private well for water supply, rigorous testing for water quality, pressure, and filtration system age is essential.
- High retrofit expenses: Bringing the energy performance up to modern standards will likely require substantial financial investment in external insulation, windows, and renewable heating.
- Limited public transport: The immediate rural location lacks doorstep public transit, meaning residents remain entirely dependent on private motor vehicles for daily errands.
- Maintenance of grounds: Maintaining approximately one acre of mature gardens demands significant time, physical effort, or ongoing financial expenditure for professional landscaping help.
- Boundary fence inspection: Buyers should carefully examine legal maps and boundary markers to verify that all one acre of claimed land aligns precisely with title deeds.
- Planning restriction risks: Being located in a rural Kildare countryside zone could make securing planning permission for future extensions or major alterations more challenging.
- Potential damp issues: Older detached bungalows can be susceptible to rising damp or poor sub-floor ventilation, necessitating a careful damp-proofing survey before purchasing.
- Surface water drainage: The large flat lawns should be checked for proper surface water drainage during wet weather to prevent pooling near the building foundations.
- Future road development: Buyers should investigate local authority development plans to ensure no future road widening schemes or infrastructure projects affect the area.
- Insurance cost premiums: Older houses with low energy ratings and non-standard rural utilities can sometimes attract higher buildings and contents insurance premiums.
- Chimney and fireplace safety: Open fires or older stoves should be inspected and swept before use to ensure flues are sound and free from structural fire hazards.
- Electrical safety audit: The fuse board and wiring circuits must be professionally evaluated to confirm they meet current safety standards and can handle modern electrical loads.
- Broadband connectivity check: High-speed fibre internet availability should be formally verified with providers, as rural pockets can occasionally suffer from slower connection speeds.
- Strict surveyor due diligence: Given the 1955 build date and F energy rating, buyers must budget for a comprehensive structural survey to uncover hidden maintenance liabilities.
Price positioning
?
- The asking price of €550,000 appears slightly elevated relative to baseline expectations due to the very poor BER rating of F, which will necessitate substantial immediate capital investment to upgrade energy efficiency and bring the dwelling up to modern standards.
- Undervaluation or value-supporting signals stem primarily from the exceptionally rare offering of a detached bungalow on a substantial one-acre private site in a prime Kildare location near prestigious golf amenities and major commuter routes.
- Factors that could heavily undermine this asking price include the single bathroom configuration, modest 108 square metre floor area, and the heavy upgrade costs required by the F energy rating, whereas robust rural housing demand strongly supports the valuation.
- Additionally, the asking price history shows stability without aggressive downward revisions, and while the broader area features diverse transaction values ranging widely, the unique 1-acre rural footprint justifies a premium over standard suburban estate housing.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is a detached bungalow built c.1955, extending to approximately 108 square metres, and sits on a generous one-acre site with a block-built garage.
- Given its age (c.1955), a buyer should investigate the condition of the original structure, roof integrity, electrical wiring, plumbing, and sewage treatment systems.
- The presence of oil heating indicates that a buyer should check the age and efficiency of the boiler and oil tank.
- Given the rural setting on a large site, a buyer should verify boundaries, title details, planning permission for any past alterations or the garage, and the functionality of any private on-site wastewater treatment if applicable.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The property has a poor BER rating of F, which indicates that a comprehensive deep retrofit is required to bring the home to a modern energy efficiency standard (such as a BER rating of B2 or higher).
- A deep retrofit for a 108 square metre detached home typically requires significant capital expenditure, roughly estimated between 50,000 and 80,000 euro or potentially more depending on the extent of external wall insulation, window and door replacements, attic insulation, and the installation of a renewable heating system such as a heat pump.
- A detailed technical survey should be commissioned to accurately scope out the required fabric upgrades, heating system overhaul, and ventilation improvements.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost: €2,200 to €2,800.
- Explanation: The property has a floor area of 108 m² and holds an F BER rating, indicating poor energy efficiency and high potential heat loss. Coupled with the oil heating system mentioned in the listing, annual heating and energy consumption are expected to be significantly higher than average until energy upgrade works are carried out.
Pollution Safe
9/10Environmental situation to investigate
- The property is located in a predominantly rural agricultural setting in County Kildare, appearing well removed from major heavy industrial sites, active incinerators, or large commercial landfills.
- Any minor local agricultural or legacy environmental uses should be verified independently during standard property due diligence.
Flood Safe
8/10Water overflow reports to follow up
- The regional topography around Castlewarden and Straffan generally indicates a low overall risk of widespread fluvial or coastal flooding, though site-specific drainage should be checked.
- Buyers should consult detailed local OPW flood mapping and arrange a professional engineering survey to confirm that the immediate 1-acre plot has adequate surface water management.
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
No verified results were found for this group in the previous five years.
Recent sales in the wider Straffan area
670 THE GARDEN COURTYARD, THE K CLUB, STRAFFAN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €500,000.00
UNIT 829 - GROUND FLOOR, BLOCK C - LADYCASTLE, STRAFFAN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €480,000.00
7 THE BEECHES, NEW RD, STRAFFAN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €865,000.00
218 BAWNOGUES, STRAFFAN, CO. KILDARE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €325,000.00
746 RYDER CUP VILLAGE, THE K CLUB, STRAFFAN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €710,000.00
Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR). Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.
Last Sale
A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Stamp duty: Approximately €5,500 based on 1% of the asking price for residential property up to €1 million.
- Solicitor legal fees: Estimated between €1,500 and €3,000 plus VAT and outlay for conveyancing.
- Land registration fees: Around €600 to €800 for property registration and registry map filings.
- Property valuation fees: Approximately €150 to €300 for a mortgage valuation report.
- Surveyor fees: Estimated between €500 and €1,000 depending on the level of detail required for a structural survey.
- Annual home insurance: Approximately €400 to €800 per year depending on the policy and coverage level.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Local residents in the Straffan and Castlewarden areas frequently discuss the peaceful countryside setting combined with convenient access to major commuter routes like the M4 and M7.
- Community discussions often highlight the desirability of proximity to world-class amenities such as The K Club and surrounding villages like Kill and Clane.
- Property seekers in County Kildare regularly express strong interest in detached homes offering substantial private acreage for potential future enhancement or tranquil living.
- Local traffic management and road safety near rural junctions remain common topics of discussion among residents in community forums.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children8/10
The property features an expansive 1-acre site with extensive lawned gardens, providing a wonderful and safe outdoor environment for young children to play.
- Teenagers7/10
The 1-acre plot and detached bungalow offer plenty of independent space and privacy, though the location in Straffan means teens will rely heavily on parents for transport to local amenities.
- Multi-generational Living5/10
While the 1-acre site offers potential for future extension or outbuildings subject to planning, the existing 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom accommodation of 108 m² may feel limited for multi-generational living.
- Single Buyers5/10
A detached bungalow on an acre requires ongoing garden maintenance and upkeep, which might be demanding for a single buyer without assistance.
- Couples8/10
An exceptional setting for couples seeking a peaceful rural retreat with generous indoor and outdoor space, while remaining within easy reach of Dublin via the M4 and M7.
- Empty Nesters8/10
Single-level bungalow living is ideal for ageing in place, and the extensive gardens offer a rewarding hobby for empty nesters downsizing from larger properties.
- Retirees8/10
The detached bungalow layout avoids stairs entirely, making it well-suited for retirees, though proximity to medical services and transport should be verified.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working8/10
The peaceful rural environment and generous footprint make it an excellent spot for remote working, though broadband speeds should be verified by the buyer.
- Hybrid Commuting7/10
Convenient access to the M4 and M7 motorways facilitates hybrid commuting into Dublin City Centre and surrounding areas.
- Retired9/10
Single-level bungalow accommodation combined with a tranquil country setting makes this property ideal for retirement.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place9/10
As a detached bungalow with no interior stairs, the property is exceptionally well-suited for ageing in place.
- Low Maintenance5/10
While the interior of 108 m² is manageable, the 1-acre grounds and a BER rating of F indicate that ongoing maintenance and energy-efficiency upgrades will be required.
- Secure Gated Entry4/10
The listing mentions a generous driveway and mature boundaries offering privacy, but buyers should verify if secure gated entry is currently installed.
- Minimalist Design5/10
Built c.1955, the property features a traditional bungalow layout rather than a contemporary open-plan minimalist architectural style.
- Flexible Floor Plans6/10
The 3-bedroom layout offers functional spaces, with potential to adapt rooms, though structural changes would depend on the specific floor plan.
- Heritage Home6/10
Having been built circa 1955, the property carries mid-century character, though it is not formally classified as a protected heritage structure.
- Ecological Setup3/10
The property relies on oil heating and holds a low BER rating of F, meaning energy efficiency and ecological systems would benefit from modern retrofitting.
- Outdoor areas10/10
A standout feature of the property is its magnificent 1-acre site with expansive wrap-around gardens, mature boundaries, and a block-built garage.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening10/10
The magnificent 1-acre site featuring extensive lawned gardens and mature boundaries provides an absolute paradise for gardening enthusiasts.
- Walking8/10
The scenic Kildare countryside surroundings offer pleasant rural walking routes right from the doorstep.
- Gym4/10
Dedicated gym facilities will require travel into nearby towns or local sporting hubs, as the immediate area is rural.
- Cycling7/10
The quiet country roads around Castlewarden and Straffan are popular for cycling, though local traffic on connecting roads should be navigated with care.
- Golf9/10
The area is renowned for world-class golf courses, most notably the nearby K Club in Straffan.
- Fishing7/10
Proximity to the Kildare countryside and local waterways provides good access to regional fishing opportunities.
- Horse Riding8/10
Co. Kildare is the heart of Ireland's bloodstock industry, offering excellent local equestrian facilities and riding opportunities.
- Water Sports2/10
Inland County Kildare offers very limited opportunities for water sports compared to coastal or lakeside locations.
- Entertaining8/10
The spacious living accommodation and the expansive 1-acre wrap-around garden provide fantastic scope for hosting outdoor gatherings and entertaining guests.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living10/10
Located in Castlewarden, Straffan, the property offers a picturesque countryside setting with mature boundaries ensuring exceptional privacy and a tranquil atmosphere.
- Rural Living10/10
Set on approximately 1 acre of beautiful grounds in a renowned Kildare countryside location, perfectly suited for a true rural lifestyle.
- Village Living7/10
While set in the countryside, the property is just minutes from local villages like Straffan, Clane, and Kill, offering access to community shops and schools.
- Coastal Living1/10
The property is located inland in County Kildare and is not situated near the coast.
- Urban Living3/10
This is firmly a countryside setting, far removed from urban centers, though Dublin City Centre can be accessed via nearby motorways.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement7/10
Close proximity to active local communities in Straffan, Clane, and Kill offers good opportunities for community involvement and local club participation.
- Café Culture5/10
Local café options are available in nearby villages, but a short drive is required as there are no amenities directly adjacent.
- Nightlife3/10
Nightlife options in the immediate rural vicinity are extremely limited, requiring travel into larger towns or Dublin.
- Health/Wellness groups6/10
Local community hubs and nearby towns offer access to wellness classes, though options immediately on-site are absent.
- Networking Opportunities4/10
Professional networking is sparse locally, making this location better suited for those who commute or work remotely.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity5/10
Proximity to major motorways aids connectivity to regional tech centers, but local infrastructure relies on standard rural connectivity.
Listing information
- Agent
- Ray Cooke Auctioneers
- Phone
- 01 403 0720
- Published on HouseDelve
- 6 October 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-376E6DHouseDelve · Republic of IrelandReport checks
Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.
Automated quality checks: Passed
* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.