€4.5m Guinness views on tap
The home of the late Jennifer Guinness is to be placed on the market, writes Mark Keenan
Ceanchor Road, Howth, Co Dublin ASKING PRICE: €4.5m AGENT: Gallagher Quigley (01) 8183000
JENNIFER Guinness, who passed away in 2016 after a battle with cancer, was a passionate advocate who worked on behalf of victims of crime.
Inspired by her own personal kidnap ordeal and abduction by criminals in 1986 which saw her held for eight traumatic days before rescue, Jennifer enlisted to volunteer with Victim Support. As part of a six-year involvement with the campaign group, which she ultimately chaired, Ms Guinness lobbied successfully for a number of improvements in how victims of crime are treated, among these the provision of a separate private room for those testifying in the Four Courts. Today those who stand up to crime no longer have to endure the trauma of being forced to sit alongside the accused in their case while waiting for it to be heard.
Her husband was John Guinness who passed on in 1988, a member of the famous Guinness brewing dynasty and chairman of the Guinness Mahon bank.
Jennifer was a wildlife and sailing enthusiast and was well known by all living around Howth. In her latter years she took the opportunity to build her own dream home at an eagle’s nest site to the rear of the family’s then home base, Censure House at Baily in Howth.
In 2008 she called in the well-known architect Michael Mohan to present him with her brief. Her daughter Gillian recalls: “Mum asked him for a bright and airy and comfortable house, one she could lock up and leave without any worries about upkeep. She wanted it to be eco friendly (the resulting home has an A3 BER) and so it has its solar panels and geo thermal heating which delves down deep into the ground to tap heat from the earth’s core. She wanted a conservatory to sit in the mornings to listen to the sounds of the birds and the wildlife.
“It has that wonderful modern stainless steel staircase and has been perfect for family functions and occasions over the years. That hall has so often been one big party space full of people.”
Throw in east coast sea views and a sunny south west facing disposition and you have Quichon, the double-fronted sea facing home off Ceanchor Road which the Guinness family is preparing to place on the market next week for €4.5m. The house was named after an Argentinian farm and holiday location for the Guinnesses of which they had fond memories. Peering through an ephemeral curtain of trees across Dublin Bay, Quichon is five times the size of an average family abode at 5,300 sq ft, and sits on an elevated 1.5 acre private site. The house has its own integral hydraulic lift to both floors and all the joinery is bespoke throughout.
It has a living-cum-dining hall with closed fire place and folding glazed doors to the large south facing terrace. An open-plan kitchen and breakfast room has bespoke hand-painted kitchen cabinets with large Aga and integrated Miele appliances, marble worktops, and “stable doors”, leading to a rear outside cellar staircase. There’s a boot room and doors to a double garage. Off the living room, double doors lead to Jennifer’s beloved conservatory, bright and airy as stipulated and with a tiled floor and access to the garden.
The drawing room has a natural stone fireplace and double doors lead from here to the westerly terrace off the lower ground floor. The master bedroom suite comes equipped with “his” walkin oak wardrobe, and “her” walk through oak wardrobes as well as a full bathroom ensuite. The latter has a feature corner bath, a separate shower, wc, bidet and twin basins. It is completely tiled from floor to ceiling. For summer morning breakfasts outdoors, the bedroom chamber has double door access to the lower south terrace and its incredible views.
The main guest bedroom also has a tiled shower room ensuite and terrace access while bedroom three and four utilise the main bathroom with its integrated cabinets and a substantial shower.
The laundry is similar in size to most kitchens and comes with linen cabinets.
Down in the cellar you will find the plant room and a substantial amount of additional storage space suitable for sports equipment and suitcases.
Aside from the well known sea views (the famous light house is located along the headland and is within sight) Baily is known for its small number of larger luxury homes all with substantial land holdings attached. Over the years very few have come to market. Indeed on Ceanchor Road itself, the only property listed as changing hands since the property price register began is Winward, which went for €1.8m back in 2012. Neighbours along here include Fergal Quinn of Superquinn fame, Fergal Naughton of Glen Dimplex, the O’Flaherty family of motor industry fame and Christophe Mueller, the airline maestro.
Gallagher Quigley estate agents seeks €4.5m.