Sitting in the living room of Slieve Donard about 100 years ago, songwriter Percy French was inspired to write. In the distance he could see the Mountains of Mourne sweeping down to the sea . . . or so the story goes.
Interested parties in 1999, however, will have to sing to the tune of £450,000 plus - this is what Douglas Newman Good hopes to get for the property, at 12 Harbour Road, Skerries, when it goes to auction at the start of June.
The five-bedroom 2,500 sq. ft house, which is situated on a peninsula, boasts sea views from both the front and the back.
The north-facing view at the front takes in the Cooley and Mourne mountains, while the back provides a view of Lambay Island to the south, and on clear days, Dublin Bay if you're lucky.
The current owners have restored the semi-detached house. The decor is imaginative but tasteful and the basics - wiring, central heating, flooring (wooden throughout) and roofing - have all been refitted.
Downstairs are three large reception rooms - including one with green painted walls and ceiling and a marble fireplace with tiled inset - an extended kitchen, conservatory/lounge room and small bathroom. The kitchen features Italian slate tiled flooring, a central island unit, as well as patio doors providing another view of the sea.
The back garden, which has a patio, even has a fresh water well.
Upstairs, are four large bedrooms, one smaller one and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi. All of the bedrooms have working fireplaces. Two of the front bedrooms open onto a balcony overlooking Skerries harbour. The loft/attic could be developed as two rooms with dormer windows overlooking the sea.
Skerries has developed from the glory days as a north Co Dublin sleepy seaside day-trippers' paradise to a busy developing commuter town. The town is now bustling with pubs, restaurants and new housing schemes such as Skerries Rock.
The town is well served by the main Dublin-Belfast rail line; the journey to Connolly Station - which links with the DART - takes 20 minutes. Dublin airport is a 20 minute drive and the city centre is no more than 30 minutes away outside of rush-hour.
Auction date: June 3rd.
Agent: Douglas Newman Good.
