A launch of three-bedroom holiday homes (1,400-1,506 sq ft) on Druids Glen golf course, Newtown Mount Kennedy. Each house has a white oak fitted kitchen, underfloor bathroom heating, central vacuum system and Siemens built-in appliances. They also each have a balcony and outdoor decking area. Buyers are entitled to life membership of Druids Glen, winner of last year’s International Association of Golf Tour Operators European golf course of the year award
Agent: Hamilton Osborne King, 01 618 1300, www.hok.ie
They say: Ample car parking
We say: Although new, these are just large enough to attract stamp duty
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Commute: A 10-minute drive from Greystones, 40km from Dublin
Co Dublin from €425,000
The Grange launched late last year amid enough hype to prompt a Ross O’Carroll-Kelly skit about its claims to exclusivity. Whether the “select living” line worked, or sheer demand for new apartments in south Dublin kicked in, the apartments were snapped up faster than the filo prawns at a D4 party. The main draws were the southside location, the sleek fit-out and a full-time concierge service. More units at the development are now up for grabs. One-bedroom apartments range in price from €425,000 to €495,000, two-beds from €605,000 to €725,000, three-beds start at €710,000 and three-bedroom penthouses are priced from €1.1m
Agent: Hamilton Osborne King, 01 618 1300, www.thegrange.ie
They say: The scheme brings a sense of international city style to Ireland, and the shops of Blackrock and Stillorgan are close by
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We say: Don’t expect miracles from the concierge — you’ll pay extra for exceptional demands
Commute: 10km from the city centre
Co Dublin from €354,000
This weekend sees the release of the remaining 50 units in Block 20 at Beaupark, part of the envisaged 15,000-unit Capital North development. When completed next spring, Block 20 will consist of 124 one-, two- and three-bed homes. The one-beds have all sold out, but there are still two-beds (655 sq ft) available, priced from €354,000, three-beds (925 sq ft) from €410,000 and three-bed town houses (1,170 sq ft) from €450,000. Two-bed penthouses (925 sq ft) start at €470,000. Underground car parking is included, and each unit has at least one balcony. For sale off-plan at the agent’s offices, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald, 01 667 1888, www.capitalnorth.ie
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They say: A new train station should be in operation by 2008
We say: An estimated 40,000 people will eventually call Capital North home, so fingers crossed that those public transport plans come good
Commute: 9km from city centre
Co Leitrim from €375,000
Ancestral home of the earls of Leitrim, the Lough Rynn Estate is two centuries old. Today, the estate has a 58-room hotel and a batch of new houses. Thirty-one houses in four different designs have just been released. The detached houses are kitted out with gas-fired heating, granite worktops, stone fireplace, alarm, central vacuum system, spa bath, walk-in master wardrobe and all kitchen appliances. They span between 1,510 sq ft and 1,775 sq ft, and cost from €559,000.
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Three-bedroom town houses measuring 1,190 sq ft, start at €375,000. Nick Faldo designed Lough Rynn’s golf course, while celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin had a hand in the gardens. A showhouse is open today from 2pm to 5pm
Agent: Hooke & MacDonald, 01 631 8402 and Property Partners Lloyd, 071 963 1066; www.loughrynn.ie
They say: Ideal for investment or holiday use
We say: The golf club fee is waived for buyers but you’ll have to meet their qualifying criteria
Commute: 8km from the N4, just over two hours from Dublin and an hour from Sligo
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Co Sligo from €299,000
Croí Na Gréine is a development of eight energy-efficient houses and the first private scheme in the country to meet Sustainable Energy Ireland’s 40% reduction in energy requirements and therefore qualify for SEI’s House of Tomorrow programme at the top level. Its energy-friendly features include a wood pellet stove, active solar water-heating system, high levels of insulation, energy-efficient glazing and solar gain from an abundance of south-facing windows.
All houses, either semi-detached or detached, face due south, which is said to save about 95% on CO2 emissions when compared with a standard house. Prices start at €299,000
Agent: Property Partners Garrett Loftus, 096 22466
They say: The solar water-heating system will provide over 60% of domestic water heating free
We say: Hardly the prettiest homes on the market, but could entice those chilled by oil and gas hikes
Commute: 52km from Sligo, 10km from Ballina