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3 October 2014

Race to sell as Eddie Irvine drops price of Dublin bachelor pad to £3m

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It’s the ultimate in playboy chic – and now Eddie Irvine’s luxury Dublin bolthole could be yours for a cool £3m.

The former Formula One driver from North Down built the ultra-modern bachelor pad at Sorrento Road in the exclusive village of Dalkey back in the Noughties but only lived in it for a short time before putting it up for sale for €6.5 (£5.1m) in 2003.

Reports in 2004 suggested businessman Dave Cullen had agreed to buy the five-bed plus guest cottage for €5m but the deal never went through, and it was later rented to tenants for about €7,000 (£5.5k) a month.

Now Kilross Lodge has been renamed ‘Ischia’ and it’s back on the market for €4m (£3.1m).
It has it all – outdoor pool linking to an indoor lagoon, party-size Jacuzzi with views over Dublin Bay and its own cinema room.

But what it doesn’t have is a garden of its own, and the property is accessed through a driveway shared with Monte Averno next door, meaning it’s unlikely to appeal to a family.

Northern Ireland’s own playboy millionaire built the 5,500sq ft home after buying a small cottage on the half -cre site from Harry Crosbie for €260,000 in 1993.
 
Now the pool is covered in autumn leaves and the games room inside lies empty except for pendant lights that once illuminated a snooker table.
 
But Irish Times property editor Madeleine Lyons says that in the right light – and state of solvency – it’s a property that is worth loving.
 
“It’s an example of great architectural design. At the time architect Joe Kennedy of Smith & Kennedy expressed surprise that the planning process went so smoothly for a house of such scale on a small site. But he wasn’t complaining and maximised every inch,” she says.
 
“The three-story copper-clad rounded entrance, glass walls and timber decking combine to create a maritime feel and the double-door entrance brings to mind a ship’s prow.
 
“Inside no expense has been spared, from the Italian Elan Tissuant streamlined kitchen to the full-length corner windows and American walnut flooring.”
 
Upstairs, a huge living room takes in the spectacular vista over Killiney Bay to Bray.

The master bedroom features a curved panelled timber wall and glazed floor panels at the foot of the bed with views to the pool, and sliding patio doors lead to a sun deck. The bathroom en suite features a huge Jacuzzi set in a bay window and a Priva-lite turns the glass opaque at the flick of a switch. A spiral staircase leads to a sauna and a plunge pool.
 
Factfile
The exclusive village of Dalkey has become known as Ireland’s answer to Beverley Hills. Famous residents include superstars Bono and The Edge, both of U2, while their neighbours include Van Morrison, former racing driver Damon Hill and film director Neil Jordan. The reclusive singer Enya bought Ayesha Castle in nearby Killiney and Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr has lived in the area for years.

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