Two grand Georgian houses on North Great George's Street, Dublin 1 are for sale by private treaty.

Lisney is asking €4.5 million for the adjoining houses at 41 and 42 which were owned by the Loreto Sisters for many years and are run as the Mount Eccles Court hostel. The facilities include self-catering apartments.

The houses are among the largest and finest on the street and still have their double bay entrance hallways, exquisite plasterwork and other period features. They have a combined floor area of 1,487sq m (16,000sq ft) and, according to Lisney, have been "substantially refurbished".

The agent suggests that the two houses could be used to accommodate tourists or for educational, offices or medical facilities provided the planners approve a change of use.

The sale will include four underground car-parking spaces on Hill Street.

It is rare for two adjoining houses to go for sale on North Great George's Street, one of the last remaining Georgian enclaves in the city centre. Many of the houses have been tastefully refurbished in recent years, including the James Joyce Centre.