Victorian by the sea in Greystones

When Colm and Marie Molloy first came to view their house just off the seafront in Greystones, 40 years ago, the auctioneer had to persuade them in. “It looked small from the outside,” remembers Marie, “but he said ‘don’t say you won’t come in, you’ll be surprised’ – and I wasn’t just surprised I was smitten.”

Fintan Mara is one of two pairs of Victorian semi-detached houses on Kimberley Road, one step back from the sea. With deep bay windows on both ground- and first-floor levels, plus a pretty balcony with space for a small bench, so you can soak up views across the marina to Bray Head, Sorrento Terrace and Howth beyond, it is a super spot. Local legend has it that Michael Collins hid out in the neighbouring house when he was on the run. He could definitely have watched the boats coming and going from the front window.

The house itself, which is for sale with Sherry FitzGerald for €735,000, was built in 1892. It had been modernised by previous owners, who replaced the maid’s room at the back with a den, added a galley kitchen and put on a bedroom above, bringing the living space to 169sq m (1,818sq ft) with four bedrooms. The Molloys have kept it all in good order. There is a sweet back garden with mature planting, patio, lawn and deck that catches the sun all day and evening long.

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Inside, they put stained glass into the front door and its glass surround. “It’s one of the best things,” says Marie, who clearly loves her house and will find it a wrench to move. “I adore it in the mornings when I come downstairs to see the sun shining through and in the evening, coming home with the lights on inside, it glows.”

Off the hallway, the livingroom gets the bay window and is a pleasant spot to relax with the newspapers, while the den to the rear means that there is room for two televisions and no arguments about who watches which sport and when. There is also a diningroom and utility room at this level. “We have such good friends around here,” says Colm over coffee in the breakfast room. “Greystones has everything for everybody.”

This includes Dart access to Dublin, plus shops, schools and golf clubs – the couple are passionate about golf and Colm was the local club president. They raised their three children at the house, and now despite having 11 grandchildren, who frequently visit, they are moving to something possibly smaller, on a single level.

Nevertheless, they want to stay in the area. One grandchild is doing a sailing course at the end of the road. With the former La Touche hotel finally being redeveloped and the Marina nearing completion, this part of Greystones will once again come into its own.