As the season gets into full swing, what are the desirable addresses that should be top of every house hunters' viewing list? ALANNA GALLAGHERgoes hunting
A HANDFUL OF streets with D4 and D6 postcodes make the headlines, but there are more modest addresses that fly under the radar of many home hunters. These include some slightly off the beaten track, certain roads, streets and avenues in cul-de-sacs or others overlooking a green space. Some have a sense of community that most of us thought had all but disappeared.
Houses in these areas rarely come up for sale and when they do they’re usually snapped up – often by savvy buyers who tell agents the streets they are interested in so they can be the first to know when a new property comes to market.
GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Everyone is crying out for a sense of belonging and a sense of neighbourhood, says Geralyn Byrne of Sherry FitzGerald’s Terenure office. If that’s what you’re looking for she suggests South Hill in Dartry, a cul-de-sac off the Milltown Road where the residents hold an annual sports day. Another is Moyne Road in Ranelagh where the residents hold summer street parties.
On Eaton Square in Dublin 6W there’s an incredible sense of community says nearby Hannaville Park resident, Peter Kenny of Colliers. “The residents hold a barbecue every summer and the kids are in and out of each others’ houses all the time.”
Clontarf Park, off Vernon Avenue, is Dublin 3’s equivalent to Sandymount Green, says Conor Gallagher of Gallagher Quigley. “They have a residents committee that organises an annual barbecue in their communal green. Local shopkeepers get involved by donating food to the event.” Its amenities include an allotment for the kids to grow vegetables as well as a playground that was part-funded by residents.
In Dublin 15, College Grove is a small development of detached homes built in the 1970s. Adjacent to Castleknock College, its residents host barbecues every summer on its green. It has a fantastic sense of community, says Andrew Rafter of Flynn and Associates.
GORGEOUS GREEN SPACES
The streets around Herbert Park are home to some of Dublin 4’s best trophy homes but it is Home Villas, a triangle of tiny terraced redbricks that get to call Herbert Park their back garden. They may be small in size but their proximity to one of the capital’s best-loved green spaces is second to none.
Another hidden gem is Ailesbury Gardens near Sydney Parade, says Owen Reilly. This cul-de-sac has houses on one side only, because of the Dart. “The houses have lovely gardens front and rear.”
Foxe’s Lane in Dublin 5 is just 50 yards off the busy Howth Road yet feels blissfully quiet says Martin Hanrahan of Flynn and Associates. He also recommends the older Raheny estates; Ennafort and Foxfield, both off the Howth Road and Betty Glen and Maywood are low-key addresses that have privacy and proximity to the village.
In Phibsboro, Dublin 7, Ronan O’Driscoll of Savills loves Royal Canal Bank and Goldsmith Street that runs parallel to it. Great Western Square is another little oasis of period redbricks surrounded by a big green. The Basin in Broadstone is a low-key warren of streets with access to the walled basin – a secret garden beloved by residents.
In Terenure, Dublin 6W Wainsfort Grove and Wainsfort Park share a large green space that has entertained kids and teenagers for generations, says Geralyn Byrne. Westbourne Road, a cul-de-sac just off the Rathfarnham Road which backs onto the River Dodder is another D6W road worth noting.
Where Ferguson Road and Walsh Road meet at Griffith Park in Dublin 9 is a lovely place to live says Darren Chambers of Lisney. “It’s right beside the park. Iona Villas, on the other side of Griffith Park, is another large cul-de-sac with a central green.” Home Farm Park is also rated.
In Booterstown, Co Dublin, there’s Merrion Woods, situated at the end of a country-type lane. Entrance to the apartment block is just before the Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel. The setting is really private, says Owen Reilly. The apartments look onto very mature trees.
Silchester Park in Glenageary has a sports pitch to which every resident has a key, says Michelle Kealy of Lisney, Dún Laoghaire. “It’s a development that dates back to the 1950s and the majority of sales are executor sales.”
BLISSFULLY QUIET
In Clontarf, Dublin 3, Conor Gallagher of Gallagher Quigley lists Baymount Park, a small cul-de-sac of 30 houses off Mount Prospect Avenue, the road that runs along one side of St Anne’s Park. The road backs onto Manresa House, a retreat house. He recently sold a four-bedroom semi off-market for €850,000.
Carlisle Avenue, just off Marlborough Road in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, comes with its own private square. Its charming period homes are equidistant from the villages of Donnybrook and Ranelagh. DNG recently sold number seven, a four-bedroom 132sq m terraced property. It had an asking price of €925,000.
Sandford Terrace, home to Helen Dillon’s secret garden, is another address listed by David Bewley of Lisney. Situated parallel to the busy Sandford Road, he recently sold a period house that was guiding €1.5 million.
De Courcey Square is one of Glasnevin’s most desirable addresses. Houses here rarely come up for sale, says Conor Gallagher.
Claremont Road in Sutton, Dublin 13, is a prestigious address that also feels private, says Ronan O’Driscoll of Savills. In Howth, the road known locally as Danesfort Avenue is so low-key it would put your Sat Nav to the test, says Joe Kelly of JB Kelly Property Partners. He recently agreed the sale of Danesrock. The four-bedroom property had an asking price of €2.5 million.
In Dundrum, Dublin 14, Frankfort Park just off Dundrum Road is one of the great quiet addresses in Dublin 14. Taney Park, off Taney Road and Highfield Park are the two others.
There are two rows of houses parallel to each other in Monkstown, Co Dublin; Tobernea Terrace and Adrenza Terrace. Both are hidden from view, says Ronan O’Hara of Savills. “The only noise there is the ebb and flow of the tide below.”
Glenvar Park, off Cross Avenue is Blackrock’s secret address, says David Bewley of Lisney. Peter Kenny of Colliers also rates Woodlands Park.
Secreted off Harbour Road in Dalkey is Rocklands, a small number of detached houses with sea views, Kenny adds.
Ronan O’Hara believe the lanes off Westminister Road and Torquay Roads in Foxrock, Dublin 18 fit the secret description. “There’s Golf Lane, Mart Lane and The Pines. Some don’t even have a name.”
In Killiney, Co Dublin, it’s the high-end homes on Shanganagh Terrace off Killiney Road and Marino Avenue East and West that fit the super quiet bill, Ronan continues. He lists Eirene, a five-bedroom detached house on half a hectare on Marino Avenue East, that recently went sale agreed. It had an asking price of €1.75 million. The cut-stone coastal homes on Victoria Road which skirt what is locally known as the Metal Man is a hidden-from-view location rated by Daphne Kaye of Daphne Kaye and Associates.
