The House Sale — Mike O'Sullivan

The House Sale - a romance set in London and Kinsale County Cork in 1989.

Luke O'Brien is a successful 34 year old management consultant operating internationally out of his London base. Originally from Cork he decides he needs a base in Ireland and begins house hunting in Kinsale a fishing village with an up and coming sailing reputation on the south coast 14 miles from Cork City.

He views a rambling stone farmhouse overlooking Kinsale Harbour and succumbs to its atmosphere of brooding sexuality and to that of its middle-aged owner Eileen Murphy a New York heart surgeon with whom he enjoys a one-night-stand. On impulse Luke buys the house and begins refocusing his business to serve the promise of a booming economy in Ireland.

Luke encounters the stunning Niamh, a customer at one of his clients in England and fellow compatriot. He feels he has found a partner to share his business interests and new life in Ireland. Luke reshapes the Kinsale house with Niamh in mind and helps her to work out the direction for her own career as new options open up for her.

It seems everything is falling neatly into place when she moves in with him. However he soon senses that she is being overwhelmed, so, accepting she does not feel comfortable in Kinsale, he puts the house back on the market to please her. Through a series of twists and turns in his new business contacts locally and coincidences with some old friends, his new beginnings in Kinsale take on a new dynamic and the Kinsale house still has its part to play ........