Haughey’s pride and joy Abbeville hits the market for €7.5m, but the price is relative

Abbeville and its grounds, which were the site of the home of former taoiseach Charles J Haughey, are up for sale for an asking price of €7.5m.

That looks like a bit of a snip in comparison with the €45m paid for it in 2003. But then the price is relative.

The house, which was designed by the renowned architect James Gandon — whose more famous works included the Customs House and Four Courts in Dublin — served briefly as a summer residence for the Lords Lieutenant of Ireland during the late 18th century, before the purchase of the Vice Regal Lodge, now Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park in 1784.