Made to measure in Rathmichael for €1.65m

It’s hard to say what is most immediately striking about Aysgarth. There’s its size – a vast 400sq ft (4,300sq m), then the extensive lawns wrapping around the house including a putting green, and the sculptured topiary boundary hedging (a labour of love for the owner, who does it himself a couple of times a year) all take the eye.

Once inside, you might be struck by the soaring atrium, with a teak gallery landing leading to the four large bedrooms; but the Waterford Crystal chandeliers and sconces that refract rainbows around the walls are conversation pieces too – if they do take your fancy along with the house, the owners are “willing to talk”.

Lavish

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The house, which is for sale with Sherry FitzGerald for €1.65 million, was built in the 1990s, the current owners buying the site and working with the builders to tweak the plans to get exactly the house they wanted. This includes a very sunny kitchen that leads on to a den/TV room; a lavishly large living room with two bay windows and French windows to the patio and on to the gardens; plus dining room, family room and large conservatory.

The bedrooms are all of a good size – there isn’t a mean room in the house. The bathrooms are done to boutique hotel standard – one in a medley of black marble tiles, and the master en suite in paler shades. The first floor is in the eaves, and good use has been made of these sloping spaces for extra storage. Outside, there’s a garage and a separate apartment, currently used as an office, “yes, that’s my morning commute” the owner says. This includes a shower room and kitchenette as well as a living/ bedroom space.

Convenient

It’s incredibly peaceful. Not overlooked, but convenient to the Dart in Shankill, and the Luas at Cherrywood. There’s horse riding, golf at Old Conna, walks and handy access to the M50 and N11. “We love being at home here because we love the house,” the owners say, though having recently celebrated their daughter’s marriage in the back garden, it’s time to regretfully move to something smaller. “It’s a great house for lots of people – year-round.”

Rathmichael Dales is a semi-private enclave, just off Ferndale Road. Earlier this year, the slightly smaller Aughras at No 5 sold for €1.24 million.