What’s the pull? It’s Ireland’s second city — many would say its most beautiful — and a place where the modern and traditional sit happily side by side. Hipster coffee bars are springing up like toadstools in the soggy (but mild) Atlantic climate, but the winding streets of the historic centre are as atmospheric as ever, and the pubs are welcoming, hosting plenty of traditional live music.
With the riches of the ocean on one side and fertile farmland on the other, it’s no wonder that it has become Ireland’s food capital. You can pick up delicacies at the delightful English Market and learn to cook them at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School.
But it’s Cork’s property market that is now attracting attention. Prices collapsed dramatically in the recession, but they are bouncing back. According to Catherine McAuliffe, a director of Savills estate agency in the city, they rose by 18%-20% last year (in Dublin they went up by 25% in 2014), but they are still 25% below their 2007 peak. There’s a booming lettings market — with too many renters chasing too few flats — which makes it a promising spot for investors, as well as the traditional returning expats or retirees in search of peace, quiet and a taste of the wild in the surrounding countryside.
Where to live It’s a small city — just 150,000 in the centre, and as many again in the immediate environs, which makes it easy to get around; traffic jams are almost unheard of. The prime suburbs are probably Douglas and Blackrock, both little more than a mile from Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Alternatively, look at one of the nearby market towns, such as Clonakilty (famous for its black pudding) or Kinsale. There are a handful of private schools in the city, and the county has plenty of well-regarded state schools, too.
How much does it cost? For a three-bedroom semi in Douglas, expect to pay from £375,000, while a country pile could start at £750,000. Renting a two-bedroom flat — the area is low-rise — will cost about £950 a month.
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What the locals say What they don’t say is “Mine’s a Guinness.” This is Murphy’s country — though the brewery is now owned by Heineken.
Who to call Savills (00 353 21 427 1371, savills.ie); Sherry FitzGerald (00 353 21 427 3041, sherryfitz.ie).