Just behind Shankill in Co Dublin there is an area which rivals Dalkey for the number of millionaires to the acre. Rathmichael is still very rural in character, with substantial detached houses and bungalows tucked away down narrow lanes. Balfour, on Ferndale Road, Rathmichael, is a 1970s detached half-brick house with leaded windows and a continental style red-tiled roof on an acre of lawn, trees and shrubs.

Agent Sherry FitzGerald is guiding £600,000 for the property which is scheduled for auction on March 10th. There is a large entrance hall with centre cornice leading to the main rooms. The spacious sittingroom has a marble fireplace with gas fire insert, decorative cornicing and sliding doors to the rear garden. The diningroom is off this room.

A very large kitchen is fitted with oak units. A baywindowed family room has a marble fireplace and doors to the garden. There is also a utility room and a study/bedroom with recessed lighting and a small bathroom. Upstairs there are five bedrooms off a gallery landing, four doubles and one single with the main bedroom en suite. The family bathroom has a bath and shower and tiled floor.