Eglinton Road, one of Donnybrook’s most desirable addresses, has such a mixture of house styles from vast three-storey piles, to relatively more modest built houses from just before and after the World Wars, that to use the Property Price Register to seek comparisons is a bit of a minefield.
Take Number 9, for example. It was when sold in 2017 for €1.4m, a four-bedroom semi-detached post-war house, with 182sq m of space in need of upgrading as the Ber was F. Errigal House, on the other hand, which achieved €2.8m in 2012, was actually a block of 20 apartments, while the recently sale-agreed Eglinton Manor, which was seeking €4.75 through Sherry FitzGerald, is a standalone eight-bedroom Victorian pile in pristine condition.
Eltham, number 79, has just been launched on the market. It is one of the old grand dames on the road and retains a wealth of period details. One of the interesting facets is the positioning of the front door to the side, rather than the centre of the building, as it allows for a square hallway off which a big bay windowed drawing room overlooks the front garden. A fine-sized dining room lies perpendicular, overlooking the colourful rear garden.
A kitchen lies adjacent to the dining room which has steps down to the garden.
For flax sake: why is the idea of a new flag for Northern Ireland so controversial?
The secret loves of property writers: Our top 10 favourite homes of 2024
Peter Pan review: Gaiety panto takes off with dizzying ensemble numbers and breathtaking effects
Sally Rooney: When are we going to have the courage to stop the climate crisis?
Given current trends, new owners may want to locate the kitchen in one of the larger rooms downstairs. This level has a large living room, small kitchenette and two bedrooms. It also has a hallway that measures 25sq m, which could be given over for better use of space.
The fact that the house is listed as having seven bedrooms means the entire home is actually a moveable feast than can be tailored to new owners’ needs. It is in good condition, but the Ber of F is telling that the property could do with an insulation upgrade.
The gardens are a real selling point of the 310sq m (3,336sq ft) house, with the space divided evenly between the front, side and back. The front benefits from generous off-street parking with mature trees and lawn, while the rear is totally private with a laburnum tree taking centre stage, from which a number of patios are dotted around to catch the path of the daily sun.
The location of number 79 is also a plus, due to its convenience in terms of schools, proximity to the villages of Ranelagh and Donnybrook, and a host of clubs and amenities.
The property was last for sale in 2006, when it was seeking €4.5 million. It was withdrawn from the market and has now been launched through Sherry FitzGerald seeking €3 million.