Ashurst, the private home of the former Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid, is to be offered for letting at £16,000 per month - the highest rent sought for a Dublin house. The seven-bedroom Victorian Gothic-style mansion on four acres off Military Road, Killiney, is owned by businessman Liam Smith who bought it in poor condition four years ago for just over £1 million.
He has since refurbished the 9,000 sq ft house to a luxurious standard, installing a large gym in what was once an oratory and converting three downstairs rooms to a bar. Mr Smith, a retailer with a large property portfolio, is now seeking a corporate or diplomatic client to lease the house for up to five years.
Letting agents Lisney will show the house by appointment only. However, a virtual tour of will be posted on the agency's Web site. Ashurst could appeal to a multinational company seeking an exclusive, long-term home for one of its executives in Dublin. Alternatively, it would be suitable as an embassy residence or as a base for a showbusiness star looking for tax shelter.
The annual rent of £200,000 puts a value of about £3 million on the property. However, agency sources say that the house is now worth at least £5 million. It is a very private property with high, electronically controlled entrance gates screening the house and its gate lodge from the road.
A long, tree-lined drive opens into a sweep in front of the house. The high double front door leads into a panelled hallway, which in turn opens into a superb inner hall with three fine reception rooms leading off it.
All three - a diningroom, drawing room and family room - have superb cornicing and ceiling roses and large period fireplaces.
Beyond the family room, yet another hall opens into the kitchen - with its hand-painted timber units and monumental granite-topped island unit.
This room is warmed by an old double Aga cooker that survives from the archbishop's time.
Beyond the kitchen is the double-height gym, which has a spiral staircase leading to a sauna room, and to the bar.
The main bedroom is a magnificent room with a wide bay window looking towards Killiney Bay. Its en suite bathroom also offers glimpses of the sea from the raised, marble panelled bath.
A sophisticated security surveillance system operates from most rooms via monitors. Decorated in rich Victorian colours throughout, it's a surprisingly comfortable house for its size.
Ashurst was built in the early 1860s for the MP William Dobbs. Its grand proportions and austere wood panelled interior must have appealed to its later, more famous owner, Archbishop McQuaid. He moved into the house in the 1950s, preferring it to the Archbishop's House in Drumcondra. The house was renamed Notre Dame des Bois and a classical pillared shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built at the end of the south-facing sloping lawn, where it could be seen from the drawingroom window. The shrine has recently be cleaned and repainted by the present owners for their daughter's wedding celebrations.
Some reminders of the archbishop's time remains, like the lift that was installed to take him to the top of the watch tower where he liked to look at the stars.
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