Address: Louvain, Grove Road, Malahide, CoDublin Agent: O’Farrell Cleere

Less than 200m from the sea is this five-bedroom 464sq m (4,994sq ft) house near the village. It has a double-height hall with fireplace, a livingroom with steps to the dining area, drawingroom and kitchen/ diningroom with doors to the garden. Also on the ground floor is an office, utility and open-plan familyroom with bar and pool table. On the first floor are five bedrooms (one with en suite) and bathroom. There is a separate apartment with a living/kitchen area, bedroom and bathroom. BER: D1

Its location, with views of the sea (over rooftops). The house is in fantastic condition.

Interesting mix of styles within, including Georgian, Victorian, Tudor, contemporary and Mediterranean, which may not be to everyone’s taste .

Address: Marshfield House, Leixlip, Co Kildare Agent: Colliers

Built in the early 1700s, this Queen-Anne house sits by the River Liffey, over which it has fishing rights, and is set in eight acres (3.25 hectares) of land with outbuildings, paddocks, garden, lawn and trees. On the ground floor is an original staircase, cloakroom, drawingroom, diningroom, sun lounge, kitchen/breakfast room with Aga and two conservatories. Upstairs are six bedrooms and two bathrooms. BER exempt.

Substantial house in beautiful condition with lots of land, and an interesting inventory of former residents, including the Tate & Lyle sugar dynasty. Although in a country setting, it is right next to the busy commuter town of Leixlip.