Arond The Block

As 2013 draws to a close, a couple of recent big house sales would suggest that prices may finally be coming into line with demand.

Mount Kennedy House in Co Wicklow, a classical Georgian mansion on 170 acres, sold to an overseas buyer in the last couple of weeks for just over €3 million. The former home of the late Cecil Quinn, Ireland's honorary consul to Nigeria, came on the market in 2010 asking a whopping €7.75 million. Several reality checks later, it was most recently asking €2.95m through joint agents Ganly Walters and Sherry FitzGerald. It's understood the buyer is Europe-based with no Irish connections, and they plan to run the estate as a family home.

Back in Dublin, the sprawling and somewhat dilapidated Neptune House in Blackrock went sale agreed in recent weeks after it came on the market last March asking €2.5m through Knight Frank (formerly HT Meagher O'Reilly). Tucked away on 2.5 acres behind Temple Crescent and Alma Road, the 13,000sq ft Georgian building and site were bought by developer Bernard McNamara from US philanthropist Chuck Feeney in 2000, for €8 million. It's understood it has now been purchased by developers for €2.9 million. They have plans to build on the site, including luxury apartments in the old house itself.