The actor’s mews: Former home of Gabriel Byrne on Herbert Lane for €1.65m

From their lowly origins to provide a space for a horse and carriage, and where a young ostler might nap upstairs, mews properties have been a big hit since the back lanes of Dublin 2 and 4 proved viable options for the conversion of old equine sheds. Though their location is the real selling point, one of the traditional issues with mews properties was that sites were narrow and properties were dark.

This is certainly not the case at 57 Herbert Lane. Not only is the property bright and airy, it has four bedrooms and measures 213sq m (2,293sq ft), which equates to almost double the size of an average home in Ireland.

The property was purchased by the current owner from actor Gabriel Byrne, who developed the four-bedroom property in the 1990s.

Its location at Herbert Lane – which is just off Baggot Street Lower, or opposite the part of the canal where Angelina’s restaurant sits, as the crow flies – will be a major selling point, as new owners will be able to walk to town and avail of great transport links.

But for those with a car the property also has a garage behind electric doors, so parking and indeed security need never be an issue.

On the ground floor lies an L-shaped living and dining room, warmed by an Adam’s-style marble fireplace bearing the Byrne coat of arms “Certavi et Vici”, which translates as “I have fought and conquered”.

This space opens to the rear garden through French doors and, thanks to a fanlight and two almost floor-length leaded sash windows, the room is remarkably bright as light flows in from the south-facing rear garden. From the dining room and hall there is access to the country-style kitchen which has a four ring gas Aga companion.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, one of which is used as an office. From here, a further flight of stairs leads to a roof terrace which is the size of the footprint of the property and a great space for sundowners while viewing the Grand Canal.

The real selling point, besides its location, roof terrace and size, is the rear garden. It’s a complete gem and totally unexpected in a property so close to St Stephen’s Green. It extends to almost 40 ft and is laid out in Italianate style, with neat box hedging framing silver birch trees, and it also has a fine patio for dining. “It is a great space for entertaining, and we have seven rose bushes that give colour all summer – and get so many apples that we have to give them away,” says the owner.

There are not many homes in Dublin 2 that offer two distinct outdoor areas; then again, there are not many mews properties that have four bedrooms and are of this size. With a young family, the owners are trading up and say they will really miss their neighbours: “When I first moved here, the lane was all offices and garages, but now it’s full with families and couples and there is a great sense of community.”

Number 57 Herbert Lane, which has a Ber of C3, is now on the market through Knight Frank seeking €1.65 million.