Rathcoole, calm and collected

RATHCOOLE House was derelict at the time the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage came to survey it. Heritage officers noted its “fine classical doorcase” and observed that it “still makes a strong contribution to the streetscape”, although its back is turned to what is now the main street of the south Dublin town.

Since that report was compiled, this early 19th century Georgian house has been comprehensively saved from dereliction. It’s had an almost complete refurbishment, and at the same time it’s been encouraged to help support its own upkeep.

The property now consists of the main, four-bedroom house and a twobedroom flat with its own entrance at ground floor level, to bring in a little rental income. As well as that, planning permission was granted for a commercial unit in 2014, so there’s a little time left. Alternatively you could just keep the whole 2,089 sq ft of the place for yourself.

The main house has one reception room at entrance level — a woodfloored living room, 17ft by 22ft, with a marble fireplace. The kitchen is also on this floor and roughly the same size, with a wood floor, an Aga, and two huge, six-over-six pane sash windows with shutters.

There’s a utility room and guest toilet on this f loor, and a splendid curving staircase leads upstairs, where there are four wood-floored bedrooms, all doubles.

The guest apartment in the basement consists of an atmospheric old kitchen and living room measuring

334 sq ft, with flagstone floors and exposed stone and brick walls. There’s also a bathroom and two double bedrooms, one en-suite.

The site is now 0.3 of an acre, having been carved up for the building of other houses, but there’s plenty of parking and a lawned garden.

The agent is Kelly Estates (01) 412

4774 and the asking price is €650,000.