Property developer Phil Monahan is selling about 137 acres of land with planning permission for a hotel and golf course beside his Castleknock home in west Dublin. Agents Harrington Bannon expect to secure in excess of £8 million for the property, which goes to tender on October 15th.

Fingal County Council recently granted approval for an 181-bedroom hotel and an 18-hole golf course on the site on the land at Somerton, overlooking the Liffey Valley.

Harrington Bannon suggests that the `B' zoning for the lands in the 1998 Fingal County Council draft development plan would also permit up to 15 private houses, subject to planning permission.

The agents say that all necessary services are in place to service the proposed hotel and golf course.

The property is situated a short distance from Luttrellstown Castle and golf course and borders the Strawberry Beds on its southern side.

There is 1.16 kilometres of road frontage. The land is immediately adjacent to the M50 motorway and national primary routes, affording easy access to the airport and the ferry port at Dun Laoghaire.

While the potential residential development permitted under the current zoning is minimal, 15 very large houses adjoining a golf course in the Castleknock area could retail at a premium, according to Patrick Curran of Harrington Bannon. Mr Monahan confirmed he will remain in Somerton, a 19th century house on 15 acres of secluded gardens.

His company, Monarch Properties, has recenty sold land near Dublin Airport to the Dunloe Ewart Group.

Interest so far in the Castleknock site has come from local developers and the leisure industry, both in Ireland and Britain.