Georgian house on eight acres in Kilternan for £900,000-plus

An early Georgian house on eight acres at Kilternan, Co Dublin, nine miles from the city centre, should attract house-hunters looking for a large country house within an easy commute.

Ballybetagh House has six bedrooms, a big country kitchen, a bow-ended drawingroom and a stableyard with a range of restored cutstone buildings. An all-weather arena will be an added attraction for families with children into horse riding.

Selling agent Jackson-Stops is guiding in excess of £900,000 prior to the July 4th auction for the house, which has been completely renovated.

Probably the oldest house in the area, remains of the last Great Elks in Ireland were uncovered by archaeologists during 1930s excavations of a boggy area by the stream which runs through the land.

A Ballybetagh elk is currently on display in a museum in The Hague. The property is located half-way between Kilternan and Glencullen villages on an elevated site with panoramic views over Dublin Bay.

There is a long, tree-lined driveway and a gravelled forecourt with parking for several cars. Inside, a cantilever staircase rises off the timber-floored entrance hall.

The drawingroom to the right has bow windows looking out on the side garden and a carved marble fireplace. Across the hall, there is a large diningroom with timber floor, half-panelled walls concealing radiators and an antique timber and cast-iron fireplace.

Double doors lead to a south-west facing family room, also with a fireplace and bookshelves. Two sets of doors lead out to the garden.

The big country-style kitchen is the heart of the house. This has a stone tiled floor, fitted pine units and a low-set panelled ceiling.

An arch goes through to a sun room with French doors to the back garden. A separate utility area is plumbed for laundry use. Upstairs, the gallery landing is fitted with linen cupboards. The main bedroom at the front has fitted pine wardrobes and an en suite bathroom. A second double bedroom is also en suite.

Four more bedrooms all have wardrobes and two with desk units are ideal children's rooms. There are two family bathrooms, one of which has a stylish claw-foot bath and marble-topped vanity unit.

The cut-stone outbuildings are a particular feature at Ballybetagh House. One of these is fitted out as a study with bookshelves, polished timber floors and a Velux roof window. There are six looseboxes in the stableyard, a tack room, garage/workshop with mezzanine roof area and a haystore. A large lawn to the front is surrounded by mature trees.

The land runs down to a sheltered valley to the rear and side, where there is a small stream and a back driveway exiting close to Glencullen village.