A dilapidated cottage on a site of half an acre at Howth Road, Howth, Co Dublin, which was expected to sell for around £250,000 at a Sherry FitzGerald auction last week, was sold to a builder at £600,000. There were three bidders at the Sherry FitzGerald auction and though the property was declared on the market at £280,000 two parties chased it all the way up to £600,000. Susan Murray of Sherry FitzGerald said the price was a surprise because the planners were not terribly enthusiastic about the prospects of redeveloping the site.