Self-employed 61-year-old, Peter Hegarty first thought of trading down about three years ago after visiting a friend who had just had a stroke. "He said: 'You're comfortable now, do it while you still can'. And I thought to myself, do you want to be a rich 75 year-old but unable to enjoy it or do very much?"
Six months ago, Hegarty finally made the big decision. "I realised my children were reared but they weren't going to leave me, so I had to leave them," he adds jokingly.
Hegarty sold his six-bed home on half an acre in Rathfarnham, bought a four-bed semi down the road from it for his children and a dream home in the country for himself. This five-bed house on three acres with uninterrupted lake views in Cavan.
"It was a dream I didn't dare to have. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the home I wanted. It had everything and I bought the lot, including the furniture."I knew I was always going to need a big house. I'm a hoarder and I've a lifetime's worth of junk to bring with me.
"I won't be lonely and I'm not that far from Dublin. But I don't care about that, the point is I wanted to leave Dublin. There's plenty of room for my children and grandchildren to come and visit. And I'll be lucky if I get a free weekend: all my friends are so impressed with the place."
