A house with a view. Never was a description more accurate, rarely has a view so blatantly flaunted the delights of Dublin Bay. Oidunno has sea views from nearly every room, and from all of the bedrooms, with the most sweeping of all vistas from a sun/viewing room to the front of the house. On a windy day under a fitful sun the scene was of a couple of ferries crossing a grey/green bay, a relaxed Howth beyond them and, down below and in between, the village of Dalkey.
The owner, who is downsizing for practical reasons but with many a tug at her heart, says the family decided to live on the middle floor (of three) because it allowed for maximum exposure to the views. “It is especially fantastic at night,” she says. A roomy 2,500 sq ft (232sq m) with five/six bedrooms (one currently a study) agent Lisney is selling Oidunno for €1.75 million, a far cry from the £37,500 (punts) paid by the owner 37 years ago.
Granite worktops
The odd-sounding name, which pre-dates the vendor's occupancy, is simply O I Dunno. Built in 1948, the vendor and family, the house's third owner, extended the kitchen, added TV and utility rooms and created a large, en suite bedroom in the attic.
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The sitting/diningroom, on the middle floor, is a comfortable area with a mahogany gas-fired fireplace, hatch to the kitchen and patio door that opens to a viewing balcony. There are views of Dalkey Castle from the kitchen/breakfast room, which is also on this floor. The cooker is by Rangemaster, a velux window throws light onto polished granite worktops and there is a range of wall and floor fitted units.
Three bedrooms, a study, bathroom, utility and TV room with a distinctive, white marble gas-fired fireplace take up the remainder of the middle floor. Overhead, on the third floor, the ensuite attic bedroom has three velux windows giving views from the Pigeon House to the far horizon.
There are two bedrooms and a family bathroom on the ground, entrance floor as well as a cement-floored garage. In good condition, a new owner may want to redecorate and somewhat modernise Oidunno. Surrounded by a third of an acre of hillside garden planted with evergreens, heathers and a rockery, there is steep, off-street parking to the front.
