Property with a political past in Blackrock for €1.25m

Ard Cath is a family home with a connection to modern Irish history. The property belongs to the former Fianna Fáil politician David Andrews, who held many ministerial roles including Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The property is asking €1.25 million through agents SherryFitzGerald and is one of three houses for sale in the estate. Number 97 Avoca Park, a four-bedroom house of 169sq m (1,775sq ft) is asking €885,000. Number 68 Avoca Park, a four-bedroom house of 236sq m (2,540sq ft) is asking €1.22 million. Number 72, a five-bedroom property of 215sq m (2,314sq ft) sold last July for €975,000.

Good Friday Agreement
David and his wife, Annette, bought the house which was built by Castlethorn Construction on the site of the former Carysfort College, off plans in 1994. Situated in a quiet cul-de-sac, the house overlooks a green with mature trees and acres of walking and playing space.

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That is the view from David Andrew’s study which is to the front of the detached property. It was here, surrounded by a library of leather tomes, that the former barrister spent many months consulting the documents that were eventually distilled down to form the Good Friday Agreement. While Annette recalls this period as stressful for family life, the view from the window is tranquil.

The formal sittingroom, across the hall, has a marble fireplace and a baby grand piano that Annette likes to play. Art covers most of the walls and includes a piece celebrating the Good Friday Agreement by graphic designer Ciaran O’Gaora. The limited edition print was presented to Andrews and signed by President Mary McAleese.

Double doors lead through to the dining room where there is a large Victorian dining table, with room for all the family, Annette says.

Spacious kitchen
Fold-back doors take you through to the breakfast room, a space the Andrews added when the house was being built. It has since been annexed by the couple's eight grandchildren and is a repository for their toys.

The spacious kitchen is bright and has laminate countertops.

Off the kitchen is a lovely sittingroom that overlooks the west-facing, lawned garden which isn’t huge relative to the size of the house, which is 232sq m (2,500sq ft) but there is so much green space out front that this isn’t a real issue.

Upstairs, the five good-sized bedrooms are set around a large double-height landing with an atrium to illuminate it. It also gives some sense of the size of the attic should buyers wish to colonise it. One of the four bedrooms has a shower en suite bathroom.

From the master bedroom you can see across the green to the Smurfit Business School. There is a roomy en suite bathroom with a his and hers sink, a big bath and a dressing area that connects it to the bay-windowed bedroom.

Two years ago, the Andrews replaced all the windows in the house, upgrading the property to a C2 BER rating.