Push the boat out at this 19th-century country house on banks of Ilen River
REENA Dhuna House, at Church Cross near Skibbereen in Co Cork, gets its honourable mention in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. That’s not surprising, as it’s a fine example of an early 19th-century country house on exceptionally lovely grounds on the banks of the Ilen River.
What’s perhaps more surprising is that its boathouse also gets a special mention. Tucked down on the water’s edge, it’s built of limestone with a barrel roof and a red-brick archway.
As well as the boathouse, Reena Dhuna has its own slipway, and from there it’s about 10 minutes by boat to Baltimore Harbour. It would take longer to get there by road, as you’d have to drive northeast to Skibbereen to get a bridge over the Ilen, and then drive south-west again, making for a journey of 20 kilometres or more.
The place is on 11.5 acres with abundant trees, lawns, walkways, a greenhouse, a pond and a walled garden. Perpendicular to the house is a long range of outbuildings including stables, a pigsty and a barn.
A new owner might consider converting some of these to extra living accommodation. Not that there’s any shortage of that inside the house, which has five bedrooms on the first floor.
The ground floor consists of formal reception rooms — symmetrical and dual-aspect, with river views — together with an open-plan kitchen, dining room and living room for less ceremonious day-to-day mucking about. There are authentic features everywhere, including the staircase, window shutters and fireplaces, and a modern kitchen with a stove in a brick fireplace.
The nearest town is Skibbereen, about 10 kilometres away, where there are both primary and secondary schools, restaurants, bars and supermarkets. Cork airport is about an hour-anda-half away by car.
Reena Dhuna is for sale for €2m with Charles McCarthy (028) 21533.