A strong selling point with three large homes in sought-after south Dublin suburbs is their spacious and secluded gardens, writes Anne Dempsey

Foxrock: €4.5m

Built at the turn of the century, St Joseph's, Brighton Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18 was sold in 1946 for £6,500 and has been in the same family ever since. This means that most original features have been retained but some refurbishment is now necessary.

The large detached house stands on 0.9 acres of secluded south-west facing front gardens. There are two garages and numerous outhouses. The interior, with four reception rooms and eight bedrooms, is redolent of a time when families were larger. Victorian features abound, including original fireplaces, cornices, stained glass and interior panelled doors.

The property is for auction on April 11th through Lisney with an advised minimum value (AMV) of €4.5 million. Brighton Road in old Foxrock, is a short work from Foxrock village.

A canopied entrance porch leads into a good-sized L-shaped hall. To the left is the drawingroom with four windows giving different garden views. The fireplace in oak has an ornate overmantel. The diningroom on the other side of the hall has a white marbled mantelpiece. A large family room has a fireplace with mahogany mantelpiece.

A side hall, with exterior access, leads to a study, which has an art nouveau cast-iron fireplace. A bathroom in this section boasts its original cast-iron roll top bath and corner basin. There is a separate toilet.

The kitchen has a four-oven Aga, an inner kitchen, shelved pantry with Belfast sink and original red tile floor, and a further utility area.

There are three bedrooms and a walk-in hot press on the first floor return, with scope for converting one of the bedrooms into a family bathroom. The first floor has three further bedrooms and a large family bathroom. There are two further rooms on the top floor.

Outside the south-west facing front garden stretching away from the house is laid out in lawns, fringed by box hedging, bisected with paths. A well tended leylandii hedge forms a central arch. The boundary is fringed by mature trees including silver birch and pine. There is ample parking outside the house. To the rear is a small patio, and two-storey lofted stable.

Killiney: €3.8m

Evergreen, Church Road, Killiney, Co Dublin is a detached home on just under an acre. Built in the 1920s, the owners have upgraded over the years while enhancing original features.

The house is for auction with Douglas Newman Good on April 12th with an advised minimum value (AMV) of €3.8 million. With 278sq m (2,800sq ft), this is a substantial home. The site also has development potential subject to planning permission.

A reception hall with polished timber floor has an inner arch. To the right is a double drawingroom with doors folded back so that the room spans the length of the house. A polished timber floor is complemented by a pale marble fireplace and hearth.

A large family room has a picture window overlooking the rear garden and a fine marble fireplace. A door opens to a small conservatory while the diningroom catches the evening sun. An adjoining study has a large bow window looking out to cherry blossom in the garden. The garage has been upgraded and centrally heated.

The kitchen has floor and wall units and adjoining it is a utility, scullery, larder and door to a rear yard with outhouses. There are five first floor bedrooms. The main bedroom has a door to large flat-roofed area which could provide an en suite. A front drive opens out to generous parking space. The front garden is in lawn with a rockery and water feature. A rear patio opens onto a tiered lawn bounded by apple trees and daffodils.

Foxrock: €2.5m

An architect-designed bungalow achieves a sense of quiet beauty thanks to a co-ordinated design between home and garden. There is a variety of views from every window/patio door which adds to the charms of this property.

Lispopple, Gordon Avenue, Foxrock, Dublin 18 will be auctioned by Douglas Newman Good on April 12th with an advised minimum value (AMV) of €2.5 million.

Its 278sq m 2,800sq ft of space comes with 0.33 acres of imaginative gardens.

The split-level living / diningroom is divided by a central brick fireplace with marble hearth. Floored in maple, the room has floor-to-ceiling windows with an atrium adding further light.

A family room has twin Velux windows and sliding doors to a sun-filled patio. The kitchen / breakfastroom by Danish Design has a Siemens double oven, Smeg hob, central island breakfast bar, granite worktops and porcelain tiled floor. Double doors open to a rear patio and another lovely aspect. There is a separate utility room.

An internal door opens off the hall to a stairs down to garden level, which comprises a large hall, two bedrooms, roomy games den and snug study.

Back on ground floor, there are three further bedrooms. The main en suite bedroom opens on to a patio with magnolia tree and bird table. The main bathroom has a white suite.

Electric gates open to a short drive and wide parking area. The gardens wrap around the house.