Ancient past gives its name to imposing modern house

There is a theme running through the names of some properties on Brennanstown Road in Carrickmines, with many taking the word Druid in the title. It links to the Brennanstown Portal Tomb dating from 2,500-2,000 BC.

Believed to be a Druid's altar, this Neolithic tomb soars to 11 feet in height with the capstone weighing an estimated 45 tonnes. In de La Tocnaye's A Frenchman's Walk through Ireland from 1797, he describes a family with 10 children and a variety of animals living beneath the altar.

Two centuries later, accommodation on this road is comprised of mainly imposing detached residences behind electric gates overlooked only by mature tree canopies.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 5

Druid Hill, on 0.3 of an acre, was constructed in 1995 and sits on an elevated site accessed through a sweeping granite driveway.

The entrance is to the rear, allowing rooms at the front to have uninterrupted views of the mature gardens.

The interior, painted in neutral tones, has a mixture of red oak and polished porcelain flooring throughout, and is in turnkey condition.

There are three reception rooms, all of which face onto the gardens. The dining, drawingroom and kitchen feed into a glass and timber conservatory, which due to its southerly aspect would be a perfect spot for cultivating tropical plants.

A kitchen-cum-breakfastroom runs the entire width of the property and has a large Stanley range at its heart.

Adjacent to it lies a utility room with a separate less formal entrance.

While the property is not yet 20 years old, it exudes a period feelinside – with high ceilings, burly doors and Adams-style fireplaces set on 255sq m (2,750sq ft) of floor space.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, the master of which is large with a walk-through dressing room and brand new en suite bathroom.

The mature gardensroll down to the roadside and feature a 20-foot high jasmine alongside a Chinese wisteria which clings to the old granite walls.

An unusual bonus is a quince bush which new owners could harvest to make delicious membrillo paste.

Druid Hill, which would make a substantial family home, was seeking €2.95 million in 2004 and is for now sale through Finnegan Menton with an asking price of €1.65 million.