A restored house near Navan is in an idyllic setting with beautiful gardens running down to the southern banks of the Boyne, writes Jack Fagan
The new selling season gets under way this week with a mixture of both city and country properties, including a restored Georgian house which sits high over the River Boyne in Navan.
Though sales are traditionally slow in the run up to Christmas and the early part of January, agents are confident that the market, which began to pick up slowly after the December budget, will continue to improve now that the holidays are finally over.
The slowdown, accentuated in December, has ushered in a buyer's market with lots of choice because of the large number of homes remaining unsold from the last quarter of 2006. Many buyers are now likely to settle for more realistic prices to allow them to move on with their plans.
Prices in the new homes market are also being fine-tuned to take account of the number of second-hand homes overhanging the market and the fact that there is now a greater choice available to those looking for new properties.
Ed Reilly of Reilly Estates in Navan, Co Meath, is seeking offers around €1.95 million for Athlumney Lodge, a rambling 557sq m (6,000sq ft) five-bedroom house that has been restored over the past few years. It stands on two acres of outstanding gardens running along the southern bank of the Boyne. The idyllic setting gives the house a real badge of individuality and distinction.
Though the Continental owner has clearly spent a small fortune on modernising the three-storey over basement house, his use of PVC windows and richly coloured ornate style fittings may not appeal to everyone. However, a new owner can put their own stamp on the place without too much expense.
There are two particularly fine reception rooms on either side of the entrance hall, both focused on the river as it rushes to the sea at Mornington. The two rooms are particularly spacious and ideal for entertaining on a fairly large scale.
There is a small kitchen at the rear while the main kitchen and breakfastroom are located in the refurbished basement. A good-sized wine cellar and office are also tucked away in the cellar.
All five bedrooms have new en suite bathrooms and views over the river. There are two entrances on to the Boyne Road, one of the best roads in the town.
The grounds include a double garage which could also be converted into residential use. Athlumney Lodge is located within a 10-minute walk of Navan, a bustling, noisy town that grows like Topsy.
