Maeve McCarthy

Mix of people seeking to buy a factor in rate at which market is moving, say auctioneers

‘Houses are like hens’ teeth here’ – house prices outside Dublin continue to rise

With foreign travel almost impossible, Irish holiday homes have become hugely valuable

Skibbereen residents helped businesses as water flowed down Bridge Street in the town

Town & Country: Fixer-upper in north city centre and country home near lakes

If your plan is to rent a holiday home to cover running costs, do the sums first

‘We’ve had tenants call us to say they’ve left the country and we’re not sure if they are coming back’

Launching earlier in the year or at off-peak times ensures competition is less intense

Stone Hall on Glandore Harbour, once left to decay, has been restored to its former glory

Period home to a family of artists has played a starring role in Sing Street

The characters Rennick paints are deluded but she refuses to ridicule them; and exhibitions by Julie Merriman and Maeve McCarthy have plenty to recommend them

Against the odds, the RHA is still around, with this year’s exhibition one of its best. And despite our changing tastes, portrait painting has survived the advent of the selfie

Land of Lyre is set on three acres and has been refurbished extensively

Some of our best artists have created uninspiring portraits of former leaders