ALLSOP SPACE has every reason to be happy with the early response to its planned auction of distressed properties on May 3rd.

Since launching its online catalogue last weekend it has had no fewer than 35,000 enquiries from property buffs in 136 countries. Visitors to the site included 160 from Switzerland, 80 from Saudi Arabia, 39 from Russia, eight from Barbados and one from Papua New Guinea, according to Google Analytics.

Anyone looking for a Dublin apartment will once again have a wide choice in the Liam Carroll-built Castleforbes Square (above) behind the 02 venue in the north docklands. There will be no fewer than 14 units for sale this time, eight two-beds with a reserve price of €140,000 and six three-beds at €185,000. All the apartments are rented mainly to young bankers working in the IFSC. A total of 35 of the Castleforbes homes have been sold at five previous auctions with nine of them ending up with overseas buyers.

Meanwhile, anyone looking for a hideaway holiday home in the Co Kerry resort of Kenmare could possibly pick up a three-bed semi for as little as €40,000. That’s 50 per cent less than the guide at the previous auction when it failed to sell.