A five-bedroom house named after an Irish Derby winner could be a favourite with buyers looking for a home in the Burnaby. Blairfinde won the Irish Derby in 1894: Irish novelist George Moore, who owned the racehorse, reportedly bought the house out of his winnings.
That's what the previous owner told the family who now live in Blairfinde, an extended 298sq m (3,209sq ft) 1902 Edwardian on Portland Road in the Burnaby, Greystones, Co Wicklow. The house is for sale by private treaty through Sherry FitzGerald for €1.42 million.
The country-in-the-suburbs feeling of the Burnaby is confirmed as you walk in the front gates of Blairfinde on the corner of Portland Road and South Place: two hens patter around the gravelled parking area unperturbed by the family’s large, friendly black dog. The gardens, filled with mature trees, circle the house, with plenty of space for a patio, play equipment, a henhouse – converted from a Wendy house – a pond and a large green lawn.
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The house has lots of reception rooms and is elegant but comfortable. On the left of the front hall is the dual-aspect sittingroom, with two tall windows, one a large bay with a window seat. There’s a TV room on the right, and behind the sittingroom, a formal diningroom with deep purple walls, a study with tartan wallpaper and a downstairs toilet.
Living space
The main living space is down a few steps at the back of the house: the kitchen/diningroom is bright, with room for a large table overlooking the garden. The island unit and counters in the blue-and-white kitchen are topped with attractive pale blue Corian (a solid surface material).
A large familyroom at the back of the house has a wood-burning stove, Velux roof lights and French windows opening on to the garden. There’s also a small utility room off the kitchen.
Upstairs, there are five good-sized bedrooms off a large, bright landing. The main bedroom is dual aspect, with two large windows looking over the front garden and fitted wardrobes. There are a shower room, bathroom and access to a large attic space via a ladder over the stairwell.
There are eight houses on South Place, a cul-de-sac running from the corner with Portland Road: neighbours have a street feast on the road in summer, says the owner. Blairfinde was, she says, “a brilliant place to bring up kids”.
