Some well-known names put their homes on the market this year - with mixed results. Fashion designer Pat Crowley sold her Meath stud-farm at auction for £3.35 million (€4.25m). The interest in the 62-acre stud was unexpected, with the agents Jackson Stops and Coonans initially guiding £2 million (€2.53) for the fine Georgian house and stud.

Others were not so successful in the auction rooms. Journalist Terry Keane's Ranelagh home failed to sell at auction - guiding £750,000 (€952,303) - and is still on the market while actress Jeananne Crowley had similar luck with her £1.85 million (€2.34m) Winton Road house attracting only one bid.

Pop singer Ronan Keating's RYK Lodge in Kildare, complete with swimming-pool and piano bar went to auction with a guide of £1 million (€1.27m), failed to sell and now has a sale agreed sign.