History and charm in Phibsboro for €375,000

Named after the 1745 Battle of Fontenoy, history and a sense of place are alive in Fontenoy Street, and in number 45. James Joyce lived next door in Number 44 for a while, James Larkin lived round the corner, Austin Clarke around another corner.

Built, along with its neighbours, in 1870 by Sir John Arnott for the workers in nearby Broadstone, number 45 is a stone's throw from "the Black Church", aka St Mary's Chapel-of-Ease (1830), and a stone's throw in the other direction from the prize-winning Broadstone Community Gardens.

The uniqueness of its origins are preserved inside number 45 too. Owners Emma McIvor and Tim Fletcher, who are moving to accommodate their growing family, have carefully retained the house’s original features.

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Doors, floorboards, cornicing, windows, working shutters, bannisters and the original layout are all intact. So too is the cube-like front livingroom: now, as then, a spacious source of pride and joy with 4m-high ceilings and a long, front-facing sash window.

Bigger than you would think, and full of light, no 45 has 86sq m (925sq ft) of space, with two bedrooms, two receptions, kitchen/breakfastroom and family bathroom.

Lisney, selling by private treaty, is quoting €375,000.

A living space in its own right, the reception hallway is high, wide and bright with a range of bookshelves.

An original washroom is now the kitchen and overlooks a compact, enclosed courtyard, the second reception room is a TV/family room.

Impressive storage

Polished wood stairs lead to a landing with a wall of impressive, floor to ceiling wardrobe/storage. Both bedrooms have high ceilings and one has an original fireplace.