Branching out to Ballinahinch Wood

BALLINAHINCH WOOD

Ashford, Co Wicklow Asking price: From €330,000 Agent: Sherry FitzGerald New Homes (01) 667 1888 or Clarke Auctioneers (0404) 40421

THE late Seamus Heaney rented Glanmore Cottage near the Co Wicklow village of Ashford in the mid-1970s, when the Nobel laureate’s wife Marie was teaching in the old Ashford National School. Even after moving to Sandymount, the poet continued to divide his time between Ashford and Dublin: when Glanmore Cottage went on the market in 1988, the Heaney family bought it.

The poet used it as a retreat to write, with the location serving as the inspiration for the Glanmore Sonnets.

On the western outskirts of Ashford, Ardstone Homes is building Ballinahinch Wood, a development of 169 three, four and five-bed houses that’s launching this weekend. Prices in the first phase of 28 homes start at €330,000 for a three-bed and at €375,000 for a four-bed.

Ballinahinch Wood also has detached bungalows targeted at downsizers.

Each of the three-bed semis in the initial tranche extends over 1,129 sq ft, while the four-bed semis measure 1,274 sq ft. The three-bed detached bungalows span 1,210 sq ft and the four-bed dormer bungalows have 1,954 sq ft of accommodation, including a ground-floor ensuite double bedroom and a separate living room. The five-bed double-fronted detached style has two living rooms, a sunroom off the kitchen, and a total of 2,305 sq ft of living space.

Ashford is located just off the N11 dual carriageway and is a 20-minute drive from the M50.

Viewings of the three showhouses, which were fitted out by leading interior designer Arlene McIntyre of Ventura Design, will be held between 12pm and 2pm tomorrow and Sunday.