Co Meath from €285,000: The last phase of a scheme next to a Meath hotel and spa go on sale this weekend. Kate McMorrow reports

Apartments and houses go on show for the first time this weekend at Dunboyne Castle, Co Meath, a development attached to the 18th century mansion which is now a hotel and spa. Previous phases were sold from plans.

Sherry FitzGerald New Homes will be taking bookings for the final batch of apartments and houses in this scheme, which has proved popular with local buyers.

Dunboyne is surprisingly close to the city, a journey of 10 miles. People upgrading from Clonee and Blanchardstown featured strongly among early buyers. Proximity to the hotel has encouraged existing residents to buy a second property on the estate as an investment. Prices are attractive, pitched towards first-time buyers, young families and investors in equal measure.

A total of 50 one, two and three-bedroom apartments are for sale, priced from €285,000 for a 45sq m (490sq ft) one-bedroom unit. Large two-beds of 70sq m (750sq ft) start at €320,000, while three-bedroom apartments of 95sq m (1,020sq ft) cost from €365,000.

Five three-bedroom mid-terrace and seven four-bedroom end terrace houses are also for sale, priced from €450,000 for a three-bedroom house of 110sq m (1,180sq ft) and €510,000 for a 130sq m (1,400sq ft) four-bedroom end house.

Families will probably go for one of the 14 detached and three-storey townhouses at Dunboyne Castle. Three-storey houses with three bedrooms and 144sq m (1,550sq ft) of space start at €510,000, while detached three-bed-plus-study houses of 139sq m (1,500sq ft) with garages cost from €650,000.

Menolly Homes' specification at Dunboyne Castle is impressive, in keeping with the adjoining hotel, also owned by the developer. A footpath from the estate leads into the hotel grounds and there is a shuttle bus for residents who want to use the hotel's facilities. The hotel has retained two of the three-storey apartment blocks for guests.

The brick-faced apartments are grouped around a beautifully landscaped courtyard garden, with glass-sided balconies looking onto the green space. Living areas are spacious, with wood and marble fireplaces fitted with a gas fire and a dining area. Vanilla gloss kitchen units have granite worktops and a full range of integrated appliances. Appliances are standard in everything for sale in this phase of Dunboyne Castle.

Most of the balconies lead off the two largest bedrooms, which are a good size and include cream-painted wardrobes. Storage cupboards are also included in the larger apartments.

The terraced houses are in groups of three, with a three-bedroom house in the centre, flanked by two four-beds. These are traditional in layout and have front and back gardens. Three-bedroom mid-terrace houses have a front sittingroom and large kitchen/diningroom with a seating area which families will like.

The four-bedroom end houses include separate interlinking sitting and diningrooms and a slightly smaller kitchen/diner.

Three-storey three-bedroom houses have entrances at ground and first floor levels, with a downstairs toilet, family/diningroom and kitchen/breakfastroom with granite worktops on the ground floor. A staircase winds to the main floor, where there is a formal sittingroom and double bedroom with en suite.

At the top of the house are two further double bedrooms - one en suite - and the family bathroom. This house has a private back garden and landscaped front entrance with parking.

Top of the range are three-bedroom L-shaped detached houses with detached garages which will inevitably be converted at some future stage, subject to planning. These homes have an interlinking dining and sittingroom opening to an enclosed rear garden, a downstairs toilet, a kitchen-cum-breakfastroom (with utility room) opening onto the garden and .

Off a galleried landing are two double rooms (one en suite), one single bedroom and a study large enough to be used as a guest bedroom. The family bathroom is also at this level and there is a balcony off the landing.

Most of the houses at Dunboyne Castle are already occupied and planting is beginning to mature. The houses and apartments in this final phase are completed and ready to move into.

Deposits are being taken from today at the Donnybrook offices of Sherry FitzGerald New Homes, with the development open for viewing the weekend.