What will €795,000 buy?

A four-bed in Stillorgan or a Georgian pile in Co Offaly

Address: 1 Lawnswood Park, Stillorgan, Co Dublin

Agent: Savills South Dublin

On a tree-lined cul de sac with parking to the front, this house has four bedrooms and runs to 154sq m (1,657sq ft). The ground floor has a livingroom leading into the sittingroom and on into the kitchen. There is a separate family room to the front. The four bedrooms are upstairs, with a bathroom and a terrace on the roof of the family room. The back garden, with patio and lawn, is bordered by mature trees. A Luas stop is nearby. BER: D2.

Plus: The kitchen, diningroom and livingroom flow nicely into each other on the ground floor (if some of the units were moved, downstairs could be more open).

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Minus: The bathroom is a bit small for the size of the house and the decor needs a refresh.

Address: Busherstown House, Moneygall, Co Offaly

Agent: Ganly Walters

If you are interested in this seven-bedroom Georgian pile it might be a good idea to nab it before the Obamas retire and consider going back to Barack’s roots in Moneygall. The house sits on a tree-lined avenue through some of the estate’s 10 acres of park and woods. The main house joins with a two-storey studio, converted coachouse, outhouses and stables to create a courtyard. There’s also a walled garden, tennis court and paddocks. The main house was built in 1815, and other parts have been added since, including the 19th century Gothic-revival front with towers and parapet.

Plus: Lovely proportions, period details intact – decorative plasterwork, fireplaces, sash windows and fanlight over the front door – and beautiful grounds.

Minus: With two bathrooms another bedroom could have made an extra bathroom.

Emma Cullinan

Emma Cullinan

Emma Cullinan, a contributor to The Irish Times, specialises in architecture, design and property