THE panic of a “what have I done?” moment when fitting out or doing up a home is something Fiona O’Rourke Bennett has never had to contend with, thanks to the many handymen in her family who could unwind any missteps in jig time.
Cute half front door at No 8
Fortunately, her own impeccable taste meant her handymen were put to better use, carrying out regular improvements and upgrades, so that her very large home in Tower looks nowhere near its 30-odd years.
One of those handymen was Aubie O’Rourke, of Aubie O’Rourke Fitted Furniture, a specialist supplier of bespoke kitchens, who happens to be her dad. She reckons he’s fitted “three or four” kitchens at Minerva, her home in Towering Heights, including the current tasty model, which includes quartz countertops and a Belfast sink.
The stylish herringbone flooring that runs throughout this open-plan kitchen/dining/living area and into the utility room was laid by her handyman husband Trevor, of Trevor Bennett Flooring, who also laid the solid oak floor in the hallway and family room, where the wall panelling is his handiwork too.
Solid oak floor hallway
Wall panelling in the living room
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The couple first met while visiting Blarney Castle to kiss the iconic slab of rock, so in a way you could say they were romancing the stone. “Neither of us was from the area, but we kept ending up there on dates,” Fiona says.
When a scheme of about 20 serviced sites came up for sale in the nearby village of Tower in the 1990s, they landed one and set about building their ‘forever’ home. On almost 0.7a, the site was more than a suitable match for the generous, 2,205sq ft property.
Thirty years later, that scheme of serviced sites is a three-tier enclave of bespoke, detached homes with large, south-facing gardens, aptly named Towering Heights, as it looms high over the village, with views across the valley, towards the mound of Garvagh Hill. On a ridge to the rear is the russet woodland of Blarney Estate. It’s a bucolic setting, yet just a quick commute from Cork City and even quicker to Apple HQ in Hollyhill (by car, 10 minutes).
The couple opted for a large home from the get-go, future-proofing against the need for extensions, when two became five. Their three daughters were a godsend when it came to helping their dad out in the garden. On a challenging, sloping site, it’s been very well landscaped and tamed, divided into banks of shrubbery, lawn, patio, sweeping driveway, and parking area.
Fiona says privacy is at a premium, especially in the rear patio/garden area, which is fully enclosed “and safe for children and animals”, she says. It’s reached via French doors from the kitchen/dining/living room and is an ideal continuation of the dining/entertainment space.
The couple called their home Minerva, after the Roman goddess of wisdom, and lover of the arts — the name resonated with Fiona, who owns the Cork Drama Studio.
“It’s No 8 within the estate and according to Chinese astrology, eight is the luckiest number,” she says.
New owners will certainly feel fortunate that a 30-year-old home comes with a B2 energy rating (ergo, green mortgage rates) following a series of upgrades. They’ll also appreciate new carpets in the five bedrooms, which are spread over two levels, as well as a new en suite in the main bedroom.
After putting heart and soul into their family home, and making some great friends in the community, they’re on the move west as Trevor has a job opportunity.
“I’m so delighted we were here for our girls starting out. It was a great start for a family. They made so many friends at Cloghroe national school, I couldn’t have asked for more.
“And we’ve had great neighbours. It was my neighbour who told me about the site way back, when myself and Trevor were starting out,” says Fiona.
Homes in this mature collection of one-offs are rare enough to market. Selling this one is Tirza Hourihane of Sherry FitzGerald and she says Minerva is “a rare opportunity to acquire a stunning family home in a peaceful yet extremely convenient location”.
“On the doorstep you have O’Leary SuperValu, bars and restaurants, a medical centre, playground, and excellent schools, as well as the No 215 bus service,” Ms Hourihane says.
Moreover the estate is just a five-minute drive from Blarney Village, 15 minutes from Cork City, and 20 minutes from Cork airport. The guide price for Minerva is €775,000.
VERDICT: Bright, stylish, trade-up family home with quality finishes, on a commanding site. Could fit the bill for families trading up in the area, particularly those working at Apple in Hollyhill, or even EMC in Ovens.
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