Singer Mundy has a single coming out, a baby on the way – and he’s leaving bohemian Blackpitts behind
MUSICIAN MUNDY, whose real name is Edmund Enright, is trading up. The singer-songwriter, best known for his version of Steve Earle’s
Galway Girl
, and his wife Sarah Deeny have put their three-bedroom home on the market.
The 102sq m (1,098sq ft) terraced property is for sale for €595,000 through agent Sherry FitzGerald.
Their home, 50 Raymond Street, Dublin 8, is off the South Circular Road on the periphery of Blackpitts, an area of old Dublin that is home to many other musicians and theatre people.
He moved into the house – which belonged to Sarah – about two years ago. The couple are only married three months and still very much in their honeymoon phase.
Mundy’s feelings for the house reflect this life stage. The move from apartment life to number 50 was a really big step up in the world for me, he says, adding “I’ve had plenty of good dreams in this house and no nightmares.
"My next single, Head Over Heels, released at the end of this month, has been inspired by my time here."
At entrance level the terraced house has original floors and doors. Both have been stained a dark oak.
The sittingroom has a smart cast-iron fireplace and there are bookshelves built into the alcoves on either side of the chimneybreast.
Double doors lead from it into the diningroom, which also has a cast-iron fireplace. A skylight brings a second light source into the space. This is Mundy’s music and recording room. But even musicians have to conform when putting a house up for sale. “There were gold discs hanging on the walls but we’ve had to clear away all the clutter.”
The musician first came to attention when his song To You I Bestowfeatured on the 1996 soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann's film of Romeo and Juliet. It sold 11 million copies. Mundy works in the room at night. He wears headphones so he doesn't disturb his daughter Eden Alice. "That way everyone still gets sleep," he explains. Eden, who turns one on April 1st, sleeps in the adjacent single room.
The music room doubles as a spare room. “I’m a nocturnal creature,” the singer admits. “If I’m doing a gig and don’t get home until 3.30am or 4am, it makes sense to sleep in the spare room. I call it the kennel. It’s the nicest dog house ever.” As a third bedroom, it’s a good size double.
With a second child due in October, the family is in expansive mode. “We need more space,” says Mundy. “And a lot of my equipment is in storage. I need it to be on hand when I get those flashes of inspiration.”
Family life has expanded Mundy’s set list too. As well as his own hits he is learning to play nursery rhymes. “Eden seems to prefer my live versions to the offerings on cheap nursery CDs,” he says. “I strum the rhymes on my Spanish guitar and I have a baby ukulele that she’s learning to play.”
A panelled staircase leads down to the garden level. The main bedroom is to the front of the house and there’s a good-size utility room built under the stairs. It extends out under the granite front steps adding valuable drying and storage space to the house. The family bathroom has a bath and separate shower.
The all-white kitchen has wood countertops and opens onto the back garden, which is decked and has raised grass beds. The rear of the house overlooks a builder’s supply yard.
The garden has played host to several barbecues and jamming sessions with other musician friends such as Dubliner Paddy Casey and Galway man Steve Wall. And yes, the singer admits: "On occasion there have been extended celebrations of the success of Galway Girl."
50 Raymond Street, Dublin 8
Terraced three-bedroom home off South Circular Road has original features
Agent:Sherry FitzGerald
