Apartments in grounds of historic abbey

Another 40 apartments in a popular Rathfarnham scheme are being launched this week. Fiona Tyrrell reports

A further 40 apartments in the grounds of the former Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham are being released for sale today.

Selling agent Hooke & McDonald is opening three show apartments in the final block of one of the more impressive developments in south Dublin.

Over 150 apartments have already been sold in the first phase of this 260-unit development on the 12-care site around the former abbey, close to Rathfarnham village.

The first phase of apartments is now complete and new owners have moved in. Apartments for sale this week are expected to be completed for occupancy by the end of next month.

The apartments now going on sale are all one and two-bedroom units, with prices starting at €320,000 for a 46 sq m (500 sq ft) one-bed apartment. The two-bed apartments start at €380,000 for a unit with 74 sq m (750 sq ft) of living space. There are 10 one-bed and 30 two-bed apartments available to buy this weekend.

The nine apartment blocks in the development have been designed to form a backdrop to the beautiful abbey buildings, which include a magnificent Victorian chapel, a Georgian house, a Victorian concert hall and late Victorian dormitory blocks.

Most of the blocks are arranged around the perimeter of the site to maximise the open space in the scheme. The final block, which goes on release today, is in the centre of the site and looks on to the back of these historic buildings across a substantial green area.

The first floor, two-bed show apartment in this block has an en suite main bedroom, large living/diningroom leading to a modern kitchen, bathroom and utility room.

Features that are standard to all apartments include solid ash doors with walnut inlay, granite worktop and chrome extractor fans and sockets in the kitchen, wall tiling in the bathroom and kitchen, fitted wardrobes, gas-fired central heating and recessed lightning in the kitchen and bathroom.

The living/diningroom in the show apartment has a dual aspect with ceiling-to-floor windows as well as a glass door out to the balcony. An arch leads into the modern kitchen with fitted units for an integrated fridge-freezer and dishwasher.

Substantial windows and built-in wardrobes in the main bedroom make the room seem very spacious. Designed with owner-occupiers in mind, most of the en suites are very spacious and feature a bath, granite-topped vanity units and recessed lighting.

The other bathroom has a large free-standing shower unit. The apartment also has a separate hot press and compact utility room, plumbed for washer/drier.

Most apartments are dual aspect and have substantial sit-out balconies.

Outside, the grounds are being beautifully landscaped with shrubs, grass and semi-mature trees complementing the already historic and mature setting of the abbey grounds.

With easy access to the M50 and a 10-minute walk from Rathfarnham village, the development has proved popular with people from the locality seeking to downsize or young people keen to stay in the area, according to David Cantwell from Hooke & MacDonald.

Loreto Abbey is being developed by Liam Carroll's Danninger and John Fleming Architects has designed the scheme.

It is expected that the listed abbey buildings will be converted into a nursing home.

The show apartments will be open today, tomorrow and over the weekend.