A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

KILLESTER: €315,000

GARNISH, a three-bedroom semi close to Killester village is a house that need refurbishment but has the benefit of a good-sized and sunny back garden. The house is at number 6 Killester Avenue, just off Collins Avenue in Dublin 5, within walking distance of the Dart and the shops. It’s got 102sq m (1,100sq ft) with a small livingroom to the front of the house and a diningroom to the rear, leading into the long kitchen. upstairs, two double bedrooms and a single share a family bathroom. The back garden has a garage with rear access.

WATERFORD: €780,000

THE Grange, John’s Hill, Waterford is an attractive Georgian house on around half an acre of grounds within walking distance of the centre of Waterford city. For sale through Purcell Properties at €780,000, the three-storey over basement house has a spacious 325sq m (3,500sq ft) of living space in very good decorative order and with many of its original features intact. Three reception rooms and a conservatory-style breakfastroom as well as a large kitchen lead off the main hallway, with five bedrooms upstairs. The basement serves as a storage area. Most of the grounds are behind the house and include an old cobbled courtyard.

Rapid fire response to gloom

BORD na Móna was thwarted by the Green Party earlier this week when it launched its new Fire Magic product just after the Greens went on air to demand a general election. The launch took place at number 10 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, one of a very few public venues in Dublin where real fires are allowed. The product being launched? An eco-friendly alternative to the kerosene-soaked firelighter. Called Fire Magic, and looking a bit like an egg box, it’s made from recycled materials and promises to light a fire, and keep it lit until the coal or sticks take hold. Bord Na Móna hopes it will replace both firelighters and the firelog in time.