If Laragh House's elegant walls could speak, would they be whispering newsroom gossip about the founding of the Irish Press, or sharing secret recipes for flavoured crisps? Possibly a bit of both.
This graciously large late Victorian mansion has been home both to John Hughes, one of the founders of the Irish Press (he, alongside Éamon de Valera, put a princely £500 in, in 1928), and Joe "Spud" Murphy, who not only established Tayto, but invented the now ubiquitous lunchbox staple and, for your later years, pub snack: cheese and onion crisps.
Murphy was evidently an entrepreneur; as well as making salty snacks more exciting, he was also responsible for bringing Ribena and ball-point pens to our shores. As his success and wealth grew, he embraced luxury in the form of epic numbers of cashmere sweaters and a Rolls Royce, which he renewed every two years.
0 of 10
Just off Killiney Avenue, there’s an acre of gardens around the house now, the wider estate having been sold off years ago for a discrete cul-de-sac of smaller homes. There’s still a sweeping driveway and gravel for a fleet of vehicles, plus terraced lawns and patios, the lowest level laid flat and big enough for croquet, tennis or badminton. There’s also a small summer house, and an adjacent two-bedroom mews in what appears to have been a former coach house. This is inhabitable, but could do with considerable upgrading, and would be perfect for a studio.
Decoration
A couple of retouches here and there notwithstanding, the house itself is in move-in condition, depending on the buyer’s appetite for revision and redecoration. The current owners have lived here for 15 years, and a large family of seven children in all, grew up within Laragh’s walls. “The family got big very quickly,” says the eldest. “We moved out from Ranelagh, thinking it would be miles away, but it suited us down to the ground. It’s really well serviced, you have the Luas, bus and Dart, and Killiney is such a fabulous area.”
“Down to the ground” at that stage included a basement full of rubble, as only the upper two floors had been inhabited for a number of years. “The basement had been a sort of a coal shed, so my parents converted it, and they did a great job.”
That’s very true. There’s now a large Dalkey Design kitchen, plus dining and living spaces, a wine storage area, sauna, bedroom and various storage and utility rooms at this level, which while “below stairs” still benefits from lots of light. “It’s a brilliant hang out spot,” says the owner.
Views
Rowena Quinn, from Hunters, who is selling the house for €2.45 million, agrees.
“It’s a substantial residence, where each and every room is used. It’s a discreet house, and the real surprise is the breathtaking views across to the mountains.”
“It’s very big, so everyone has their own space,” adds the owner. As, at one stage, that included three dogs (plus a litter of puppies) and a parrot, space was a distinct advantage, and at 641sq m (6,900sq ft), Laragh House has plenty.
The ground floor has its full complement of reception rooms, which are currently papered in rich jewel and gold stripes, and are all very gracious, with high ceilings, bay windows and lots of lovely original features. To the right of the hall is a study, a diningroom large enough – should you prefer to eat on the lower level – for a snooker table (it has been used that way in the past), and pantry, while to the left are a pair of beautiful formal rooms, with a music room off.
Upstairs again are five bedrooms, all a good size, the master has a lovely bay window, en suite, and a private balcony terrace. “It was a magical place for us,” says the owner, “because of the size, we had great communal areas, and our own rooms too. It was the perfect place to grow up.”
Anyone in the market for lots of space with entrepreneurial pedigree thrown in, Laragh House is one to consider.
