Green Park lies at the Churchtown end of Rathgar, which goes to explain its Dublin 14 postcode, rather than the more common Dublin 6 address. While a number of properties along Orwell Road share the Green Park address, it is the eight properties that sit on substantial sites around a crescent green off the main road that are considered to be the most desirable.
Number 16 is bordered to the rear by Milltown Golf Club and on one side by the Russian embassy’s 12-acre grounds; when standing in the rear garden, one would be forgiven for thinking they were in the countryside. There is not a sound except for the rustling of the trees.
The houses here were built by John Kenny in 1934 and designed by architect Rupert Jones – who also designed Buswell's Hotel on Molesworth Street. The original brochure of the Green Park Estate boasted that each house would come complete with electric light and power in addition to an ample supply of hot water, and "no effort will be spared to see that the houses are well built, bright, homely and healthy".
Almost a century later this still holds true. The gardens, which extend to almost 0.7 of an acre, and very substantial by Rathgar standards, are one of the selling points for a family with a large brood. Many of the old trees – a 400-year-oak sits on the border with Milltown Golf Club – have swings, hammocks and play areas.
There are not many houses around here that boast private walks in their grounds – through herbaceous borders, vegetable plots and lawns. And, with a garage, three sheds and a greenhouse laden with tomatoes, this is a veritable dream garden for green-fingered enthusiasts due to its size, southwesterly orientation and private setting.
It would benefit from updating, as would the house, which has reared a family since 1989, and now with a substantial empty nest of 303sq m (3,261sq ft), the owner is downsizing locally.
Internally the property has five bedrooms and three reception rooms, and a conservatory whose walls are still lined with trellis – clematis happily grew in days gone by and are testament to the abundance of internal natural light.
A granny flat was added to the house, giving a further reception room, kitchen and bathroom.
Houses in the vicinity have always sold well. In 2011 number 3 sold for €2.5 million, with the highest price since being number 19, with 650sq m (6,996sq ft) which sold for €2.85 million in 2016, though it appears never to have been on the open market. DNG is seeking €2.5 million for number 16.
