Top house sales of 2015

DUBLIN

1. Sorrento House, Dalkey: €10.5 million, Sherry
FitzGerald and Lisney

2. Strathmore House, Killiney: €7.5 million, Sherry FitzGerald

3. Carnalea, Howth: €5 million Gallagher Quigley

4. Mugnano, 7 Shrewsbury Road: €4.8 million, Colliers

5. 47 Sandford Road, Ranelagh: €4.35 million Sherry FitzGerald

COUNTRY

1. Castlemartin Stud, Kilcullen, Co Kildare: €26.5 million, Knight Frank & Jordan Estates

2. Courtown Demesne, Kilcock, Co Kildare: €10 million, Knight Frank

3. Tulira Castle, Ardrahan, Co Galway: €5.8 million, Sherry FitzGerald & Ganly Walters

4. Roundwood Park, Co Wicklow: region €5 million, Ganly Walters

5. Capard House, Co Laois: region €4.75 million, Savills Country Homes

This was the year when number 1 Sorrento Terrace – Dublin's most expensive house – finally found a buyer. The Dalkey property came on at €12million in 2013 and sold to a US buyer in July.

Nearby in Killiney, Strathmore the former Canadian embassy site in Killiney on a massive nine acres sold in February to entrepreneur Dr Joe Elias.

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Country top sales 2015: 1. Castlemartin Stud, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, €26.5 million. Knight Frank & Jordan Estates

Carnalea in Howth was a surprise sale that came in under the radar in the latter part of the year. It never hit the open market, but the private sale was orchestrated through Conor Gallagher of northside agents, Gallagher Quigley, between the property investor owners and a "local buyer" looking to upgrade.

In April Mugnano, the former home of Priory Hall developer Larry O'Mahoney, was reported to have sold to Gus Kelly, chief executive of Dutch plane-leasing company AerCap Holdings. Meanwhile, 47 Sandford Road was a low-key sale on one of Dublin's loveliest secluded roads to an Irish family.

Worth a mention also was a substantial €5.5million sale of four properties through Sherry FitzGerald on one very large corner site in Dublin 4. The property price register shows the individual sales of four properties on April 24th at 78 and 80 Merrion Road for €1.315 million each, and to the rear 1 and 2 Spafield Terrace for €1.435 million each. A site in such a popular Dublin 4 location would have strong development potential.

Country

In country the top seller was Castlemartin Estate, the high profile bank sale of the former family home of Sir Anthony O'Reilly. It was purchased in January by Irish-American billionaire and owner of Humewood House in Co Wicklow John Malone.

Courtown Demesne was picked up by developer Luke Comer, who with his brother have been steadily growing their substantial land banks around the State. Tulira in Galway was purchased by CarTrawler founder Niall Turley as a holiday home.

Roundwood Park is the 373-acre estate bought for development for €17million in 2005 by a subsidiary of the Johnny Ronan and Richard Barrett-owned Treasury Holdings. It is understood to have been bought by a buyer from the Middle East.

Capard House, the former home on 100 acres in Dublin owned by businessman John Farrington, sold in the summer to a US-based buyer.