From Red Hugh O’Donnell’s escapes to the 1922 transfer of power to Michael Collins, marking the end of British rule in 1922, to the repeal of the 8th amendment in 2018, this two-bedroom apartment overlooking Dublin Castle is an oriel window onto centuries of Irish history.
Framing a view of the Cork Hill gate of Dublin Castle, a fortress established on a former Viking site in 1204 by order of King John of England, number 1 Parliament Buildings is a small, but strategically positioned, two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment.
The castle served as the epicentre of historical power in Ireland for over 700 years.
Address: 1 Parliament Buildings, 5 Cork Hill, Dame Street, Dublin 2, D02P952
Asking price: €395,000
Agent: Owen Reilly
In 1587, to prevent a powerful alliance in Ulster between the O’Donnell and the O’Neill clans, Red Hugh O’Donnell was taken to the castle, having been lured aboard a ship at Rathmullen, Co Donegal and kidnapped.
He spent more than four years in captivity before his first escape attempt in 1591.
It was here too that, in 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government, marking the end of British rule.
And in 2018, it was in its Lower Castle Yard that crowds gathered to watch the final count and celebrate the official results showing the repeal of the 8th Amendment.
Housed within a turn-of-the-20th-century redbrick building on Cork Hill, number 1 is one of 20 apartments set over the second, third and fourth floors, which has lift access to all floors.
The ground and first floors are commercial, with offices on the first floor, so you have no nighttime neighbours below.
Set on a corner, its two double bedrooms are to the right of the entrance hall, accessed via a couple of steps.
The main feature of the open plan living room is its oriel window, which frames the historic view.
You can even see a peek of the Bedford Tower, which crowns the upper castle yard.
The window is south-facing and gets afternoon light.
The next owner might consider investing in a more low-slung sofa to make the most of this period feature.
It and all the other large, round-headed windows are timber and single-glazed.
The kitchen is new, as is the bathroom. Compact, it is well laid-out and hived off the main space.
The principal bedroom is a good-sized double and has built-in wardrobes.
The second bedroom currently features a single bed, but is just about big enough to fit a double bed. That said, this is a peach of a room, and it would seem a shame to condemn such a light-filled space to slumber.
It could offer a couple sharing a second space to go to, so one could work or watch the game while not interrupting the other’s downtime.
The area is lively, as they say in estate agent-speak. But that, surely, is the point here, that you want to be in the heart of the action?
There is no outside space with the property, but you have the gorgeous grounds and gardens of Dublin Castle to almost call your own.
Extending to 45 square metres, agents Owen Reilly is seeking €395,000 for the D1 Ber-rated residence.
