Dinky Oak Tree Cottage in Adrigole is a €395,000 holiday home dream

Irish Examiner

02-05-2025

THE Crowley Petes were living large in a small space well ahead of any move towards sustainable living as a lifestyle choice.
But even if 10 people under one roof meant indoors was sometimes claustrophobic, the whole world opened up outside their front door. Oak Tree Cottage, set in the remarkable landscape of the Beara Peninsula, had the Caha Mountains as a backdrop, and glistening Bantry Bay at its feet.
'It was my father John Crowley's homeplace, and he grew up there with his five brothers and two sisters, his granddad and his parents,' says Noreen, the owner.
' My hope is that the next owners will be as happy as the Crowleys were.'
The Crowley Petes sobriquet was to distinguish her father's family (his father was Peter) from the myriad other Crowley families on the peninsula.
Noreen, whose own home is in Blarney, inherited Oak Tree Cottage and 14.5 acres of sea-hugging farmland from her uncle and godfather, Paul. Noreen's husband, Denis, a farmer, grazes cattle on the land.
They've had the 47 sq m house 15 years and made some changes. During her father's time, there were two small downstairs rooms and three tiny rooms overhead. Now, the ground floor is open-plan and the upstairs is an ensuite double bedroom.
Windows were upgraded and the front door was replaced. The classic country-style look is as cosy as it gets.
'We enjoyed working together, upgrading the house and the land over the years,' Noreen says, adding that it's 'been a delight' to have a West Cork base.
A fan of sea-swimming, she can walk to the water in 10 minutes for a dip off Zetland Pier, 'or you can cycle or drive down, and it's lovely for a dip in the morning'. There are fishing spots too and sometimes porpoises pass by.
Noreen says it's been 'a very hard decision to sell the house, but it's the right decision' as their plans for retirement include travelling further afield than Leahill, in the townland of Adrigole.
'We have three beautiful granddaughters, and another grandchild on the way in Toronto, due in September, and we plan to travel over,' Noreen says.
She would love to see the house go to 'a young farmer starting out, or a young family or a young couple with vision' as she feels there's a great deal of potential. Two stone outbuilding, positioned to enjoy the views, could be converted into studios.
A traditional slated shed with an attached cattle crush and holding pen, is 'ideal for machinery or tool storage', says selling agent Olivia Hanafin of Sherry FitzGerald O'Neill.
Ms Hanafin says Oak Tree Cottage is attracting 'strong interest from both Irish buyers and expats'.
'The appeal of waterfrontage and generous land area are standout features that offer both lifestyle and long-term value,' the agent says.
VERDICT: A dinky bolthole with glorious views and endless potential.