Prized Harty’s Quay address in spacious surroundings

IT will cost about €475,000 to drop anchor at 16 The Moorings, a penthouse apartment of over 900 sq ft, with a bit of extra cubic space on top thanks to soaring, high ceilings.

Thrown into the buying equation is the main living room ceilings rise to a full five metres, so a new owner gets extra volume for their square footage: what they do with it is down to decorative detailing, though some have installed mezzanines to max out on floor areas.

Estate agent Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald is selling no 16 in the very popular Rochestown Harty’s Quay development, where the first few established blocks are being added to by new neighbours, also by McCarthy Developments.

The scheme has been massively successful, thanks to factors like the cachet of Rochestown address, a setting with estuary views, and the existence of a bracing waterside walk, one utilising an old rail line that leads down the harbour to Passage West in one direction, and back to Blackrock village and castle in the other. Truly, there’s no need to be anything other than fit with a location like this.

However, the comforts of No 16 might encourage indolence, particularly in this gusty, gale-driven month when the rain seems to come in horizontal sheets. The blessing is the 915 sq ft of space, and sense of space, this size is a remove from the 550 and 600 sq ft two-bed apartments of the meaner 1980s and much of the ‘90s. However, buyers at this size level have to pay for their creature comforts, and prices are well up on standard two-bed units.

There’s been a flurry of re-sales and sales offering as some investors sought to cash in this year, and a similar penthouse unit came up for sale in summer at €550,000, since withdrawn unsold, while a 1,000 sq ft duplex was priced at around €580,000.

No 16’s €475,000 price guide is a realistic one, stresses Ms O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald, and while it has been an investor property, the condition is excellent, with good solid wooden floors and other touches, she adds.

Both bedrooms have built-ins and one is en suite. The kitchen has integrated appliances and is open plan, to the dining and living area, and the whole apartment is bright thanks to its floor to five-metre high ceiling glazing. Heating is via gas, and the Harty’s Quay development has decked underground car parking with landscaped open spaces.