Polished finish and home office potential in Drumcondra for €725k

One of the reasons why Drumcondra – one of Dublin’s oldest residential suburbs – consistently appeals to buyers, is the district’s excellent transport links.

Besides sitting on the main artery from the city centre to Dublin Airport – which also serves the M1 and M50 – there is an excellent bus corridor, in addition to rail links from the local station to Connolly and Pearse Street. The Luas station at Phibsborough is a 15-minute walk and the planned Metro North route will run nearby at Cross Guns Bridge, making commuting around the city a viable prospect.

Many of the roads in the area are named after saints – a nod to much of the area’s previous ownership by the Catholic Church.

St Brigid’s Road Upper, is a popular road due to its convenience to local eateries and amenities. Number 16 is home to actuary Cian O’ Muircheartaigh and his family who have lived here since they purchased the property in 2014 for €555,000.

“We didn’t have to do a lot of work as most of it was undertaken by the previous owner, we did however have the exterior bricks repointed,” says O’Muircheartaigh who is only moving up the road.

The house extends to 130sq m (1,399sq ft) over two floors. In addition the attic has been fully converted and is used as a home office and occasional bedroom for overnight guests. It is quite a substantial space at 19sq m (204sq ft), and would easily work as a full-time office for a buyer who wants to work from home. One caveat though, the headroom at the top of the stairs is rather narrow and requires a bit of manoeuvring.

The house has three bedrooms all of which retain period features such as coving, original flooring and fireplaces. There is a particularly lovely patina on the old flooring upstairs, which is in contrast to the dark stain in the reception rooms and hallway downstairs – but a simple cosmetic undertaking would transform them back to their natural honeyed tones.

One of the selling points of the property – besides its location, good condition and three reception rooms – is the rear garden. Extending to 27m (90 ft) with a westerly orientation, it has mature trees, rambling roses, a sunken patio and dining area. “It really was the garden and the large family bathroom that attracted us to the house, the kids just disappear into the trees and spend hours climbing.”

The property is on the market with an asking price of €725,000 through agent Sherry FitzGerald. Across the street Number 15 is also on the market, seeking €545,000 – but houses on this side are two-beds and gardens don't tend to be nearly as spacious.