Your own kingdom in Portmarnock
DAL RIADA was the ancient Gaelic realm that existed from around the fifth century and included part of Northern Ireland and Scotland.
More prosaically, it’s also the name of a housing estate in Portmarnock, although admittedly, one that’s surrounded by such a breadth of green landscape as to make vanished Celtic kingdoms reasonably easy to call to mind.
There’s almost nothing out here, except St Helen’s National School and tuition centre, and Portmarnock AFC. Otherwise it’s just fields and hedgerows for miles, and Paddy’s Hill to the north.
Number 24 Dal Riada faces full west and overlooks a common green area where children can play Celtic warrior games.
It’s a detached, two-storey house that’s been extended at the back, giving a total floor area of 1,636 sq ft and creating a combined kitchen and sunroom overlooking the back garden. The kitchen is fitted with hand-painted wooden cabinets and has a centre island with breakfast bar, while the sunroom has four skylights and French doors to the garden.
Also off the kitchen there’s an open-plan living room and dining room connected by an archway, with a marble fireplace (gasfitted) and more patio doors. At the front of the house there’s a TV room or study, separate from the other reception rooms, for when you need peace and privacy.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all with fitted wardrobes, and the master bedroom has an en-suite shower. The main bathroom with bath and shower is also upstairs.
The back garden has both a patio and a raised deck, as well as a small lawn and wooden shed. Portmarnock beach is about a 20-minute walk away.
Number 24 Dal Riada is for sale for €760,000 with Noel Kelly Auctioneers in Portmarnock (01) 846 2752.