If a large Victorian villa once lived in by the noted architect, Sir Thomas Deane, on three acres in one of the most desirable suburbs of Cork and complete with the shaky ruin of the only true castle still remaining in the city, sounds like the house of your dreams - Dundanion House is made for you.
Situated in Blackrock, Cork, the house retains intact all the elegant features of the graceful home it was once. Since 1964, it has been the unusually stylish location of a Telecom Eireann training school for technicians from Ireland and abroad.
It is now on the market. Auctioneer Maurice Cohalan, of Cohalan Downing, is quoting a guide price of about £1.5 million. It last changed hands more than 30 years ago. Built in 1832, Dundanion House has wonderful period features. It is south facing towards Blackrock Road and most of the garden, which is private, is to the front. The front, ground-floor windows are to floor level. There is a very spacious square hallway with an unusually fine Connemara marble fireplace. The plasterwork throughout the house was applied with a light touch. The salon, dining-room, drawing-room, morning room and the six main bedrooms, now used as lecture rooms and laboratories, have all been preserved intact. The large bay in the centre of the building to the rear lends grace to some of the main rooms. The main staircase is a marvel and paint-work and plasterwork throughout the house are in good condition.
Dundanion was designed by the Morrisons, Cork architects early in the last century and built under the supervision of Sir Thomas Deane, who lived here. It was the residence subsequently of various wealthy families, the Wyses, Thorntons, MacNamaras and Hennessys.
By the time the engineering school of the then Department of Posts and Telegraphs took it over in 1964, Dundanion was showing signs of wear and tear and the gardens were badly overgrown. It was refurbished in 1991, under the direction of architect Billy Rattray.
The basement was re-planned and there was complete restoration of the two main floors. The old limestone stables, which would readily convert to mews residences, were redesigned and rebuilt.
Dundanion Castle, built on a large rock overlooking the marina in the late 16th century by the Gallways, is an historic ruin in the grounds. Tradition has it that William Penn sailed from Dundanion to America, where he founded Pennsylvania. Between the castle and the house, there is a bridge over the old Cork, Blackrock and Passage railway, now a popular public walkway.
