What Dublin's embassies are worth...
THE US: Phoenix Park
Across the road from Áras an Uachtaráin, the American ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park is an impressive Georgian residence on 62 acres within the Phoenix Park.
The first US envoy, the Honourable Frederick A Sterling, arrived in 1927 and took a lease on the property from the Board of Works with the rent set at a penny per year. This rent was renewed for 99 years in 1949. The ground floor of the residence comprises a ballroom, reception and diningroom, library, office, kitchen, pantry, staff room and laundry. Six suites plus a sittingroom are located on the upper floor. A valuation of what some consider the top address in the country is very difficult, but given that Farmleigh, the Guinness mansion on 78 acres on the edge of the park, sold for a cool €29 million in 1999, the ambassador's residence is estimated to be worth at least double and maybe triple that.
Value: around €60m to €90m
ITALY: Lucan
Since 1948, Lucan House has been the home to successive Italian ambassadors. The Palladian villa was built in the late 1770s on the site of Patrick Sarsfield's castle. The residence is set on 40 acres of gardens and parkland.
The circular ground floor diningroom is said to have been an inspiration for the Oval Office of the White House and the house is renowned for its stucco work and marble fireplaces. The house and land are estimated to be be worth anything from €30 million to €50 million. €2-million plus an acre could be fetched for sections of the land if it could be developed.
Value: around €30m to €50m
FRANCE: Ailesbury Road
On a road with some of the most expensive houses in the capital, the French ambassador's residence at 53 Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge is the ultimate trophy home. It was built in 1885 by the children of George Bustard, who made his fortune in the construction industry in Australia. The house officially became Hôtel de la Légation de France in 1930 and the French colours were deployed there for the first time in 1931.The impressive two-storey over basement house on 1.5 acres of gardens has five reception rooms. Valuation is difficult but estimates range from €40 million up to €50 million.
Value: around €40m to €50m
SPAIN: Merrion Road
The Spanish ambassador's residence on the corner of Merrion Road and Ailesbury Road was built between 1876 and 1869 and was owned by the Pembroke estate.
The impressive Georgian house was acquired by the Spanish government in 1935. It has two lavish reception rooms and five bedrooms upstairs.
The residence is completely private, sitting on a prime corner site in Dublin 4 surrounded by around two acres of mature grounds.
Value: around €40 million-plus
