An Irish Fisherman’s Cottage – In Baltimore
HOT HOUSE: Cove Hill, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
Small, 150 year old stone cottage overlooking the harbor in the town of Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland. Two bedrooms, one bath — walk to village: E185,000 ($260, 000)
What: A restored, period fisherman’s cottage with stunning views of Baltimore Harbor and Mt. Gabriel. The house is “well kept up, tight-as-a drum and comfortable” -– easy to maintain and use as a summer holiday home. It has been recently restored and extended, has two decent-sized bedrooms, a large dining room (18’x12’), and a living room with fireplace. Kitchen is small — not fancy, but well-appointed. A pretty stone paved terrace faces west, to take full advantage of beautiful sunsets over the harbor. Town is about a five minute walk.
Where: Baltimore is a picturesque sailing and fishing village on the western coastline of county Cork, one of the most appealing (and sunniest) corners of Ireland, noted for its excellent sailing waters and interesting past. The original Lord Baltimore took his name from here, for reasons that are lost to history. In 1631, the infamous “Sack of Baltimore” saw much of the population carried off by pirates, never to be seen again. The lighthouse at Mizen Head, a deserted village just up the rocky coast, is nicknamed Teardrop Point because it was the last glimpse of home for millions of Irish fleeing the famine, sailing for America. You get the idea…
The house at Cove Hill is a short walk to the center of Baltimore, where good restaurants and bars, a local ferry stop and a well-known sailing school with classes for adults and kids keep things bustling, especially in the summer.
Why: No shopping malls. It’s unspoiled. It’s beautiful. It’s something completely different. And it’s affordable. People are friendly, pubs are great, fishing is superb. There’s a world-class restaurant open three months a year on a tiny island accessible only by boat. Best of all, you’ll still be in Baltimore!
Would Suit: Hardy, seafaring folk. Active vacationers with a sense of adventure and some Irish ancestry. People who can take a long summer break — teachers, authors, telecommuters.
NB: While the drive is breathtaking and the airport is charming, it is, in fairness, a good one and a half hour drive from the Cork airport to Cove Hill. And no direct flights leave for Cork from the U.S. You’ll have to fly to London or Dublin first.
