Photograph 1 of 50 of Sunnyside House, Ballycatten, Kinsale, County Cork
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Sunnyside House, Ballycatten, Kinsale, County CorkP17K462

€725,000

5 Bed~4 Bath~243 m²~BER C1

What you'll like:

  • Generous Floor Area: The expansive 243 square metre three-storey layout provides exceptional breathing room for a growing family, ensuring versatile living accommodations across multiple distinct levels.
  • Modernised Interior Condition: Recent comprehensive modernisation works mean the dwelling arrives in walk-in condition, sparing the incoming buyer from immediate disruptive renovations or capital expenditures.
  • Elevated Panoramic Views: Positioned strategically on an elevated plot to capture sweeping, uninterrupted views across the surrounding rolling countryside from sunrise to sunset.
  • Open-Plan Family Hub: The spacious ground floor features a bright, flowing open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area equipped with a cosy wood-burning stove for gatherings.
  • Dual Reception Options: Offering both a main front reception room and an additional playroom or living space with garden access, giving wonderful functional layout flexibility.
  • Primary Suite Sanctuary: The first floor hosts a well-proportioned primary bedroom complete with an en-suite bathroom and an adjoining small study or walk-in dressing room.
  • Top-Floor Teenager Zone: A self-contained upper level houses two bedrooms and a shared bathroom, creating a private retreat ideal for older children, teenagers, or visiting guests.
  • Underfloor Heating Comfort: The ground floor benefits from luxurious underfloor heating paired with an efficient oil-fired central heating system throughout the rest of the home.
  • Dedicated Garden Office: A newly built, fully insulated LogHouse measuring four by four metres features power, heating, and hardwired fibre broadband for remote working.
  • Expansive Landscaped Grounds: Set across a mature 0.84-acre site enclosed by established boundary hedging, offering ample privacy, extensive lawns, and a safe outdoor play area.
  • Established Fruit Orchard: The front garden includes a productive orchard planted with thriving apple, plum, and pear trees, providing homegrown fruit for the household.
  • Productive Raised Beds: Dedicated raised garden beds to the rear have successfully supplied previous owners with strawberries, potatoes, rhubarb, and fresh culinary herbs.
  • Multiple Patios: Features a southerly sandstone patio linked seamlessly to interior living areas, alongside sheltered eastern and western gravelled retreats for morning coffee or evening sun.
  • Native Tree Planting: Extensive grounds are enhanced by recent plantings of native Irish trees including hazel, elder, alder, guelder rose, and holly, boosting biodiversity.
  • Ample Parking Infrastructure: A tarmacadam driveway situated on the northern side provides generous off-street parking for multiple vehicles alongside a useful pump house and storage shed.
  • Village Proximity: Located just over a kilometre from Ballinspittle village, allowing comfortable walking distance to a vibrant community, local artisan shops, and popular eateries.
  • School Accessibility: Situated within a few minutes drive of well-regarded local national schools and convenient to secondary transport routes servicing Kinsale and Bandon.
  • Coastal Lifestyle Proximity: Positioned just minutes by car from renowned surfing and swimming beaches including Garrettstown, Garrylucas, and Howe Strand for weekend leisure.
  • Outdoor Recreation Access: Garrettstown Woods with its scenic deciduous woodland trails is located less than five hundred metres from the front door, ideal for nature walks.
  • Commuter Convenience: Offers manageable driving times of approximately fifteen minutes to Kinsale, thirty-five minutes to Cork Airport, and eighteen minutes to Bandon for wider urban services.

But keep in mind:

  • BER Rating C1: The C1 energy rating indicates that the dwelling may require future thermal upgrades, insulation improvements, or heating system modernisations to achieve optimal energy efficiency.
  • Private Well Water: The property relies on a private well water system installed recently in 2025, meaning buyers must independently verify water potability, flow rate, and filtration maintenance.
  • Septic Tank Drainage: Drainage relies on an onsite septic tank system, requiring the buyer to commission a specialized inspection to confirm regulatory compliance and structural integrity.
  • Oil-Fired Heating Costs: Reliance on oil-fired central heating exposes the occupants to fluctuating fossil fuel prices, making it wise to budget for potential future green energy retrofits.
  • Three-Storey Layout: The vertical distribution across three distinct levels means negotiating multiple flights of stairs daily, which might prove inconvenient for toddlers or individuals with limited mobility.
  • Unverified Fixtures and Services: The selling agents explicitly note that all apparatus, fixtures, fittings, and services remain untested, necessitating thorough independent professional surveys prior to purchase.
  • Maintenance of Large Grounds: Managing an expansive 0.84-acre landscaped plot with an orchard, raised beds, and extensive lawns demands considerable ongoing gardening effort or outsourcing costs.
  • Remote Drainage Compliance: Buyers should ensure that the septic tank meets modern environmental standards and local council regulations to avoid unexpected upgrade liabilities after acquisition.
  • Exposed Rural Location: The elevated rural setting may leave the property vulnerable to high winds and driving rain during winter storms, requiring diligent roof and exterior upkeep.
  • Private Water Treatment: Having a standalone well means the household is entirely responsible for pump servicing, electricity costs for extraction, and water quality testing.
  • Proximity to Local Traffic: Depending on the exact alignment of the local approach roads, buyers should check if seasonal beach traffic through the nearby area creates congestion.
  • Limited Public Transport: While school buses service the village, the rural address means relying heavily on private motor vehicles for daily errands, groceries, and social commutes.
  • LogHouse Planning Status: The buyer's solicitor should verify that the newly constructed garden office structure complies fully with local planning exemptions and building regulations.
  • Boundary Hedge Overgrowth: Established boundary hedging surrounding the 0.84 acres will require regular seasonal trimming and maintenance to preserve fence lines and light access.
  • Top Floor Eaves Space: Bedrooms located on the top floor may feature sloping ceilings or restricted headroom typical of third-level conversions, limiting furniture placement options.
  • Driveway Drainage Runoff: The large tarmacadam parking area should be inspected to ensure proper surface water drainage away from the primary structure during heavy rainfall events.
  • Potential Radon Levels: Given the regional geology of County Cork, buyers are advised to conduct a standard radon gas test as part of their structural due diligence process.
  • Window and Glazing Seals: The extensive glazing, including bay windows and multiple French doors, should be checked for thermal seal failures and draft-proofing integrity.
  • Appliance Longevity: Because the kitchen and utility spaces are well-integrated into an open-plan layout, any mechanical appliance failures will directly impact the main living zones.
  • Future Expansion Limits: Given the already substantial footprint and rural site context, securing planning permission for further major structural extensions might face local planning restrictions.

Price positioning

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This comparison depends on limited public and listing evidence, which may be incomplete, outdated or not directly comparable. The score is not a percentage, professional valuation or guaranteed estimate. Ask an independent qualified valuer before relying on a property value.
The asking price appears broadly in line, with a slight undervaluation signal.
  • The asking price appears well-calibrated relative to historical transaction data, offering a balanced entry point for a substantial detached family residence situated within a highly desirable coastal and village-adjacent location.
  • Upward valuation signals stem from the extensive modernised interiors, versatile three-storey layout, purpose-built detached home office, and the mature landscaped site spanning nearly an acre near prominent beaches.
  • Potential factors that could undermine this pricing include ongoing capital expenditure requirements for private well and septic systems, alongside regional market sensitivities regarding energy efficiency ratings below top-tier standards.
  • Supporting factors involve strong local demand for coastal properties offering flexible remote-working infrastructure, extensive outdoor entertaining spaces, and convenient proximity to established schools and vibrant village amenities.

Build Analysis

What we know from similar construction types

  • The property is a recently modernised, three-storey family residence spanning 243 square metres on a 0.84-acre site.
  • Heating is provided by an oil-fired central heating system featuring underfloor heating at ground level and standard radiators on the upper floors.
  • A buyer should investigate the condition and compliance of the private well water system installed in 2025.
  • A buyer should verify the registration, capacity, and percolation quality of the septic tank drainage system.
  • The outbuilding includes a newly built, fully insulated log cabin home office with power, heating, and hardwired WiFi, which a buyer should check for appropriate planning or exemption compliance.

Heating cost*

Estimated expense to heat this property every year

  • Estimated annual heating cost is approximately €2,400 to €3,100.
  • This estimate is based on the 243 m² floor area and a C1 energy rating, utilising the property's oil-fired central heating system and wood-burning stoves.

Pollution Safe

9/10

Environmental situation to investigate

  • The property is situated in a peaceful rural coastal setting away from major heavy industrial zones, large incinerators, or active major landfills.
  • Any minor localized agricultural or legacy environmental factors should be independently verified by the buyer as part of standard due diligence.

Flood Safe

8/10

Water overflow reports to follow up

  • The residence occupies an elevated 0.84-acre site, which generally reduces the likelihood of direct surface flooding from surrounding lower-lying areas.
  • Buyers should review local flood maps and verify drainage provisions relating to the property's private septic tank and well infrastructure.

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 Kinsale area

  • 4 HOGANS ROW, BLIND GATE, KINSALE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €421,000.00
  • 10 SPANISH WALK, CONVENT GARDEN, KINSALE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €676,000.00
  • 6 WESTWOOD GARDENS, BANDON RD, KINSALE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €775,000.00
  • HOUSE NO. 6 OCEAN DRIVE ROAD, KINSALE MANOR, KINSALE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €575,000.00
  • 60 SHEARWATER, PIER RD, KINSALE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €335,000.00

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 €7,250 to €58,000 depending on the applicable residential property rate brackets for a €725,000 purchase price.
  • Solicitor legal fees: approximately €2,000 to €4,000 plus VAT and outlay costs.
  • Land registration fees: approximately €600 to €800 for property registration and mapping.
  • Property valuation fees: approximately €150 to €300 for mortgage or independent valuation.
  • Surveyor fees: approximately €600 to €1,200 for a structural pre-purchase survey of a 243 square metre property.
  • Annual home insurance: approximately €600 to €1,200 per year depending on the policy and rebuilding cost coverage.

Forum Talk

What people are saying about this area

  • Locals in the Ballinspittle and Kinsale areas frequently discuss the vibrant community spirit and the convenience of walking distance to local artisan shops and eateries.
  • Residents highlight the proximity to popular coastal spots like Garrettstown and Garrylucas strands for surfing and outdoor leisure.
  • Community groups often share updates regarding local primary schools and dedicated school bus routes servicing the wider Kinsale and Bandon secondary schools.
  • Discussions around rural living in the Ballycatten area typically emphasize the peaceful countryside setting combined with accessible commutes to Cork Airport and Kinsale town.

LifeFit Assessment

How well this property may suit your lifestyle

Family

7 areas
  • Young Children

    The property features extensive lawns, a playroom, and is located near local primary schools and playgrounds, making it exceptionally well-suited for young families.

    9/10
  • Teenagers

    The top-floor self-contained level with two bedrooms and a bathroom provides a perfect private sanctuary for teenagers or older children.

    9/10
  • Multi-generational Living

    With five bedrooms and three storeys, there is ample space to accommodate extended family members comfortably, though the layout is spread across multiple levels.

    8/10
  • Single Buyers

    A sprawling five-bedroom home on 0.84 acres is likely too large and maintenance-heavy for a single buyer unless they specifically require extensive space.

    3/10
  • Couples

    Offers generous living spaces and a peaceful setting, though the five-bedroom size might exceed the daily needs of a couple.

    7/10
  • Empty Nesters

    Provides a tranquil rural lifestyle with plenty of room to host visiting family, though maintaining a large home and 0.84-acre plot requires ongoing effort.

    7/10
  • Retirees

    The peaceful countryside setting and single-level ground floor living are appealing, but the three-storey layout and large garden may become less practical over time.

    6/10

Work

3 areas
  • Remote Working

    Equipped with hardwired fibre broadband and a newly built, fully insulated detached LogHouse with power, heating, and hardwired WiFi.

    10/10
  • Hybrid Commuting

    Kinsale is 15 minutes away and Cork Airport 35 minutes, making occasional office commutes manageable.

    7/10
  • Retired

    Ideal for active retirees looking for a peaceful village-edge home with a manageable garden and community proximity.

    7/10

Practical

8 areas
  • Ageing in Place

    Ground floor living is versatile, but the three-storey layout and large rural plot may present accessibility challenges in later years.

    6/10
  • Low Maintenance

    The property has been recently modernised, but maintaining a 0.84-acre landscaped plot, well water, and septic tank requires ongoing upkeep.

    5/10
  • Secure Gated Entry

    The property features a private tarmacadam driveway and boundary hedging, but lacks explicitly mentioned automated security gates.

    4/10
  • Minimalist Design

    The home is a spacious, traditional-style three-storey family residence with warm, cosy spaces like wood-burning stoves rather than minimalist architecture.

    5/10
  • Flexible Floor Plans

    Offers versatile accommodation across three levels, including a playroom, separate reception rooms, a primary suite study, and self-contained top floor bedrooms.

    9/10
  • Heritage Home

    The property is a contemporary modernised residence rather than a protected or period heritage home.

    3/10
  • Ecological Setup

    Features raised vegetable beds, an orchard, native Irish tree planting, and a private well, though it relies on oil-fired central heating and a C1 BER.

    7/10
  • Outdoor areas

    Boasts an elevated 0.84-acre plot with expansive lawns, an orchard, a south-facing sandstone patio, and sheltered gravelled morning and evening patios.

    10/10

Interests

9 areas
  • Gardening

    Features an 0.84-acre plot with an established orchard, raised beds for produce, and extensive landscaped grounds.

    9/10
  • Walking

    Garrettstown Woods with deciduous woodland trails is less than 500 metres away, and the village is within walking distance.

    9/10
  • Gym

    The detached 4m x 4m LogHouse offers a dedicated insulated space that can easily be used as a home gym.

    7/10
  • Cycling

    The surrounding scenic country roads offer great cycling routes, though rural roads lack dedicated cycle lanes.

    7/10
  • Golf

    The renowned Old Head of Kinsale golf course is just a short 5-minute drive away.

    8/10
  • Fishing

    The coastal location near Kinsale and local strands provides excellent access to sea and coastal fishing opportunities.

    8/10
  • Horse Riding

    The rural countryside setting is well-suited for equestrian enthusiasts, with rural lanes and potential local stables nearby.

    7/10
  • Water Sports

    Extremely close proximity to Garrettstown and Garrylucas makes it ideal for surfing, swimming, and various water sports.

    9/10
  • Entertaining

    Features an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area, multiple reception rooms, and southerly and eastern/western sandstone patios for al fresco dining.

    9/10

Lifestyle

5 areas
  • Quiet Living

    Situated on an elevated private plot in a peaceful countryside setting surrounded by mature hedging and rolling views.

    9/10
  • Rural Living

    Located in Ballycatten on a 0.84-acre plot with private gardens, an orchard, and scenic countryside vistas.

    10/10
  • Village Living

    Within comfortable walking distance of Ballinspittle village, offering local artisan shops, eateries, and a strong community spirit.

    8/10
  • Coastal Living

    Positioned just minutes by car from renowned surfing and swimming beaches like Garrettstown, Garrylucas, and Howe Strand.

    8/10
  • Urban Living

    This is a distinctly rural and village-edge property, with major urban centers like Kinsale and Cork requiring a drive of 15 to 35 minutes.

    3/10

Social

6 areas
  • Community Involvement

    Ballinspittle village features an active community centre, local clubs, GAA grounds, and a vibrant local community spirit.

    8/10
  • Café Culture

    Ballinspittle offers local artisan shops and eateries, with a wider selection available a short drive away in Kinsale.

    7/10
  • Nightlife

    The immediate rural and village setting is quiet; extensive nightlife options are limited locally and require traveling to Kinsale.

    4/10
  • Health/Wellness groups

    Proximity to the village and outdoor trails supports active living, with wellness groups accessible in nearby Kinsale.

    7/10
  • Networking Opportunities

    Networking is primarily local; professional networking hubs will require travel toward Cork or Kinsale.

    5/10
  • Tech-Hub Connectivity

    Hardwired fibre broadband and the dedicated home office setup provide robust infrastructure for tech-focused remote work.

    8/10

Listing information

Agent
Sheehy Brothers Auctioneers Ltd.
Phone
021 477 2338
Published on HouseDelve
13 September 2026
Correction
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Property reference: HD-95AD35HouseDelve · Republic of Ireland

Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.