Most commuters journeying down Clanbrassil Street from Harold’s Cross to the city centre and back again never give the red and yellow brick houses that sit cheek by jowl with the local shops on that strip a second thought. In the busy traffic flow they can become a mere blur, punctuation points on the journey time.
But they should. Number 59 is a two-bedroom house with an unexpectedly large and sunny back garden that featured in Gerry Daly's Room Outside programme for RTÉ. The secret, secluded and south-facing space is home to several specimen trees including two palms, a specimen Fatsia japonica, an under-lit olive tree, a Mexican orange and hydrangea and rhododendron. Out back the traffic levels seem to dim too.
To its rear is a garage big enough to park three cars. It measures 54sq metres (581sq feet) and could, subject to planning, be turned into a stand-alone mews. The lane to the rear exits onto Longwood Avenue in Portobello.
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The house itself has some lovely features starting with the original cornicing and ceiling rose in the hall. The sitting room has high ceilings with smart coving and a period marble fireplace that is of the era of the house, which was built in the 1840s, but is not original to the property. The room is let down somewhat by the uPVC window which was designed to lessen the noise of the fast flowing traffic out front.
Split-level garden
In the eat-in kitchen there are fitted units by Rationale with granite worktops, plenty of room for a dining table and a lovely period open fireplace.
A door leads outside to a terracotta tiled patio and up steps to the second part of the split-level garden featuring paved and seated areas. Judiciously planted bamboo makes the space feel very private.
The property’s one bathroom is situated to the back of the house and has swish travertine tiles, a wetroom-style shower and a Japanese iClean toilet – a toilet-bidet hybrid that has a heated seat.
Situated to its rear is a sunroom that is used as an office.
The house has two bedrooms, both with laminated floors. One is located on the hall return overlooking the garden. The master is set under the eaves and has roof lights.
The property measures 111sq m (1,194sq ft) and is asking €500,000 through agents Owen Reilly. The property next door, number 58, a three- bedroom terraced house, has just been sale agreed. It was asking €525,000.
