Cappagh, Curraghroe, Co. Roscommon, F42 CD99

Three bedrooms. Two bathrooms. Half an acre. And a serious amount of work already done.

This detached home at Curraghroe has been completely renovated and refurbished, giving an older country house a very practical new lease of life.

The big jobs haven't been ignored. There's a new roof, upgraded insulation and a new septic tank, while inside the layout has been reworked to make much better use of the space. Extra windows and Velux rooflights bring in plenty of natural light and the result is a bright, comfortable home that feels much more modern than you might expect from the outside.

Downstairs, the entrance porch opens directly into a large open-plan kitchen and dining area, with the living room just off it. There is also a ground-floor bedroom, bathroom and rear porch a useful layout whether you need a third bedroom, home office or a room that avoids the stairs altogether.

Upstairs are two generous double bedrooms and a second bathroom. The bedrooms are particularly bright, with rooflights adding extra light and giving the first floor a lovely open feel.

Outside, the house sits on approximately 0.5 acres, with plenty of space around it, a large lawn and good parking. Block walls and entrance piers have been added to the front and side, with post-and-rail fencing completing the boundaries and keeping the country setting open rather than boxed in.

And the location works. You're tucked away on a quiet country road without being miles from everything approximately 5km from Lanesboro and 12km from Roscommon Town. Lanesboro and the River Shannon are only a short drive away, while Roscommon gives you the larger shops, schools, services and transport connections.

This isn't a house being sold on what somebody could do with it. A lot of the expensive, unglamorous work has already been tackled.

New roof. New septic tank. Upgraded insulation. Three bedrooms. Two bathrooms. Half an acre. Country setting. Lanesboro just down the road.

A very solid option for a first-time buyer, young family, someone moving back to the area or anyone who wants country living without taking on a renovation project.