ReligiousLandExpensive new homes are planned for Dartry House, once the home of William Martin Murphy, writes Jack Fagan

One of the last remaining sites in the Dartry area of Dublin 6 has been sold for an expensive development of houses and apartments.

Dartry House, a large period house owned by the Mill Hill Missionaries and the adjoining 3.9 acres at Orwell Park, have been sold to Eugene Renehan of Walthill Properties for around €30 million.

It is planned to refurbish the large period house which is listed for preservation.

The remainder of the site will be redeveloped for a low density scheme of apartments and houses aimed at the top end of the market.

The apartments will have floor areas of at least 102.1sq m (1,100 sq ft) to cater for families and are likely to sell for at least €800,000.

The houses will also appeal mainly to families and have floor areas of around 464.5sq m (5,000sq ft). They are expected to cost over €4 million.

House values in the Dartry area are generally among the highest in Dublin 6. A five-bedroom detached house on Temple Road in Dartry was sold recently to housebuilder Michael Whelan for €9 million.

The Orwell Park site has a southerly orientation and backs on to a large belt of trees which divide it from Dartry Park and the river Dodder.

The property was sold by private tender through the Lisney agency. It is located on the southern side of Orwell Park which links Dartry Road and Orwell Road.

Mr Renehan has been widely acclaimed for his skilled conversion of the 18th century courtyard at Headfort Estate in Kells, Co Meath, into a high value residential area.

His company has also completed a number of top notch apartment schemes in Dublin city in recent years including The Moorings at Portobello Harbour and Rathmines Wood at Lower Rathmines Wood. Mr Renehan is advised by Tony Campbell of GPK.

The Mill Hill Missionaries are to use the proceeds of the sale to maintain priests returning from the missions.

Dartry House is an imposing two-storey over basement mansion with three bays dating from around 1840. Several returns were subsequently added, including a turret, which was built around 1900.

The house was originally owned by a wealthy Huguenot merchant Obadiah Williams. Subsequent owners included William Martin Murphy, a former owner of The Irish Independent.

He was also involved in the Dublin Tramway Company which brought the tram line out to Dartry where it ended at the original entrance to Dartry House.