Glenageary garden with lots of space to grow

Large back gardens are a luxury seldom available in a new house. But it is still possible to buy a modest house with a wonderful garden in one of Dublin's older suburbs for a relatively reasonable price. A huge back garden is one of the principal attractions of 24 St Catherine's Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin, a three-bed semi detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac.

The property will be auctioned though Corry McMahon Auctioneers on February 17th, and has a guide of £285,000. But it could well sell for substantially over £300,000, given its location - and that garden.

St Catherine's Park is off St Catherine's Road, a short stretch of road linking Castlepark Road and Albert Road in Glenageary. Number 24 is one of the houses at the curve of the cul-de-sac and faces a circular green space. It is a five minute walk to the Glenageary DART station, about 10 minutes from the centre of Dalkey, and is in easy walking distance of a number of primary and secondary schools.

Both the house, built around 50 years ago, and its location are ideal for families with young children. A comfortable home for the same family for the past 42 years, it is in good condition, although needing modernisation - and it has many possibilities for expansion.

Downstairs, there are two reception rooms to the right of the entrance hall linked by a sliding double door. These open into a breakfast-room and kitchen at the back of the house, overlooking the garden. The kitchen is next to a utility room accessed from outside the house, at the back of the garage. There is a good-sized lavatory in the downstairs hall, and a handy under stairs cupboard off the breakfast-room.

A large window at the turn of the stairs gives light to the upstairs landing. There are two double bedrooms, both with built-in wardrobes, one at the back and one at the front of the house. There is also a single bedroom at the back. There is a good-sized family bathroom at the front, and a large hot press on the landing. The house has gas fired central heating.

The large garden - which is wide as well as long - is mainly in lawn, and has a stand of trees and bushes screening off the bottom end; the garden backs on to the equally long gardens of houses on Barnhill Road. Neighbouring houses have expanded their houses at the rear with large conservatories, and there is more than enough space to do this at number 24 as well.

There is also room in the front garden to create off-street parking for a number of cars.

The cul-de-sac of only 30 houses is very self-contained, and by all accounts, very neighbourly as well - its residents are a mix of new young families, families with teenagers and older families whose children have grown up.