Inside Cavan's €1.25 million home

If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to wander around a home with a €1.25 million price tag in Cavan, look no further. Reporter Gemma Good headed for Shercock last Friday to check out the €1M plus residential property listed for sale in Co Cavan...

Located in Shercock, Rathsillann House is a stunning lakeside residence located just two minutes outside the town.

The six-bed, seven-bathroom, Georgian-inspired home was built 17 years ago in the heart of Cavan’s countryside. It is located on an elevated site of approximately 1.1 acres overlooking Lough Sillan.

It is connected to the R162 by a winding gravel path, which leads down to the front door of the home, where the grandeur of the place becomes evident. Just before exploring the interior, a trip down the wooden steps to the jetty and boathouse reveals the biggest selling point of this property - Lough Sillan itself. The dark waters are rough and wavy on the day, and despite the autumn sunshine and the cool breeze coming up from the lake, it is easy to imagine a table here with some tapas and friends on a warm summer evening. If they live close by, like some neighbours who were viewing the home that day, they could arrive by boat.

Back up the steps, glass is the defining feature of the three floors at the rear of the Georgian style home, giving a contemporary feel despite its 17 years in existence. At this early stage of the visit, one can only imagine the view from each floor. The lower level has a vast amount of entertainment space, deck chairs and a garden with mature trees. Both the middle and top floor boast a large balcony.

It’s at this stage that our fellow viewers exit the house and leave, these are the Shercock neighbours. I wonder how they explored the entire house in about five minutes. Not to worry, there is one other viewer quizzing the sales agent with questions on the two-floored garage. It has underfloor heating and, with a bit of work, it could be a perfect home office. He seems impressed, and also hasn’t entered the home yet.

Walking in the front door, the sheer amount of white makes the property feel more like a hotel than a home. It’s ideal for those looking for a place to holiday in the countryside; the blend of white and grey throughout makes for an impressive stay. The place is shining; however, I wouldn’t say it provides that cosy, homely feeling. That said, it’s nothing a lick of paint or some soft furnishings wouldn’t solve in line with the new owner’s tastes.

The first bedroom encountered is immediately on the right, a cosy en-suite with two single beds and a view of the front drive. On the opposite side is a fabulous sitting room with a towering wall-to-wall bookshelf and a marble fireplace. It’s the first hint of home, where one could easily imagine curling up at the open fire with a good book during the winter.

Just before the kitchen, which is a real treat (more to come), a right turn takes you down a set of marble stairs to the ground floor, which consists of a games room, a utility, an ensuite bedroom and a bathroom with a double shower. The latter is filled with wetsuits, hinting at the many lake activities you could pursue while living here.

Next stop is the third level of the home, which houses four bedrooms, three of which are ensuite. The master bedroom, certainly my pick, has two walk-in wardrobes, a bathroom, and a balcony overlooking the lake and green hills surrounding Shercock. It’s truly breathtaking - ultimate serenity for a morning coffee.

Lastly, the kitchen. Again, almost completely white. It contains a breakfast counter with high stools, a preparation counter, NEFF appliances and ample storage space.

A large concrete slab table is at the front centre of the room, overlooking the landscape, which for now is completely untouched. There is a double-sided fireplace in the kitchen and further living space to the right of the room. Out on the balcony, where there are heads nodding and negotiations aplenty, the view is again breathtaking. Rathsillan House is an entertainer’s dream.

Having eyed the entire home, the rear view is the standout feature. The natural light coming in through the windows greatly adds to the entertainment space the home provides. It’s graceful and modern on the inside, I believe any owner would want to show it off with pride. Queue children with markers, paint, mucky wellies or even a family pet, and those white walls and cream tiles may not fair out too well.

Coming back to reality, the price tag is a humble awakening. This luxury home is off the cards for many, including this viewer. The furnishings come with the home at a negotiated (additional) cost.

As an inaccurate price comparison, a quick online search shows another five-bedroom, five-bathroom home with a sea view in Dalkey on 1.25 acres of land is on the market for €4,500,000. Meanwhile two similar homes in the Shercock area have been sold recently at €850,000 and €1,100,000.

While the cost may be high for some, the right buyers seem to be biting. A little over two months on the market, there have been no offers on Rathsillan House, as of yet, however an international angler viewing the property that same day showed a keen interest.

Meanwhile, there has also been local interest in the property. Buyers from Dublin, the estate agent shared, believe the home is value for money as a getaway retreat as opposed to a forever home.

If you’re searching for perfection, a little sprucing up is needed here and there but, let’s face it, if you can afford the asking price, it’s likely you will have the cash to put your own stamp on the property.

While this viewer truly enjoyed visiting, the reality is that this splendour is out of reach for most.

That said, this is the first time Rathsillan House has come to the market, and it remains to be seen if the price tag will be realised or even surpassed.