Charming lodge in Dublin 4 for €1.4m

Belmont Avenue in Donnybrook was originally called Coldblow Lane due to the fact that a Colonel Coldblow ran a large estate in the area in the 19th century. In the late 1800s, a police station on the road kept a stretcher for the "fallen" from the nearby raucous Donnybrook Fair.

Ivy Lodge, which is located at number 62 on the Milltown end of the road is thought to be a farmhouse from the original estate, was home to the late Madeline McGrath. Originally from Ballina, Madeline fell for Ivy Lodge as it had a country feel and raised her family here since 1982.

The property has a very symmetrical layout, with two reception rooms at garden level and four bedrooms of exact proportions above.

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An impressive dual-aspect drawingroom on the ground floor opens out onto a rear patio leading to the garden, which stretches to over 46m (150ft).

Original fireplaces

Opposite is the diningroom, which has a serving hatch to the original kitchen. Both rooms have original fireplaces, which now have gas inserts, but could, if new owners wished, be reconfigured to open fires.

The kitchen, situated to the rear, has all appliances in what was the original scullery, and the flue of the fireplace is still in situ should a new Aga be installed. New owners will want to update this space and there is ample room to extend, without compromising the rear garden. On the return, there is a small toilet and adjacent, in what was a fifth bedroom, there is now a spacious bathroom with a cast-iron fireplace.

The two bedrooms on the first floor are a mirror image of the reception rooms below with the master enjoying a dual aspect. Another flight up are two further bedrooms with views to the rear garden.

Ivy Lodge has a charm that only period properties have and, though in need of some updating, has lots of potential.

This four-bedroom 197sq m (2,210sq ft) house will make a fine family home and is for sale through DNG with an asking price of €1.4 million.