Latest news with #MarkMonaghan
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Classic Portobello Victorian imbued with modern style and efficiency for €1.595m
Address : 32 Heytesbury Street, Portobello, Dublin 8 Price : €1,595,000 Agent : DNG View this property on Achieving an A energy rating on a Victorian home is no mean feat, so it's not surprising that the owners of 32 Heytesbury Street in Portobello were tempted to pop a bottle of Champagne when they received the news. The renovation of the Dublin 8 villa-style property took place over a two-year period, from 2017 to 2019, with a huge focus on making it as efficient as possible. The work was extensive and laborious, and involved wheelbarrow loads of spoil coming through the house as floors were dug out to make room for insulation and a new concrete screed to be poured. Walls were stripped right back and insulated with IQ Therm, a type of specialist insulation board used in older houses to allow them to 'breathe'. Extra care was taken to protect the original features such as the coving, with a thicker board installed up to the picture rails and a tapered board to the coving. There were no original windows remaining in the house, so the owners upgraded what was there with air-tight sash windows, and the practically nonexistent heating system was replaced with a state-of-the art Nibe air-to-water heat pump. The architect on the project, Mark Monaghan, who specialises in protected structures, managed to beautifully marry the original Victorian charm of the property with the newer contemporary extension to the rear. READ MORE [ Donegal five-bed with beach access on shore of Lough Swilly for €1.75m Opens in new window ] Hall Entrance hall Reception room Diningroom/home office Open-plan extension Living area in extension Kitchen The fully renovated three-bed house, now with a floor area of 170sq m (1,830sqft), is on the market through DNG with an asking price of €1.595 million. It is difficult to imagine a property that is more turnkey than number 32, which has been restored and refurbished from front to back. The granite steps take you up to the front door of the one-storey-over-basement house. In the hallway, the original floorboards have been restored and varnished, and the plasterwork and stained-glass window on the back wall pay homage to the house's origin in the 1840s. There were two bedrooms to the left of the hall when the owners bought it, but they have transformed these rooms into one large reception room, with the more formal living space at the front of the house, and a casual diningroom-cum-home office at the back. There is an en-suite bedroom on the return with high ceilings and a 12-pane sash window looking down over the courtyard below. The contemporary design is more evident at garden level. The layout was completely reworked to fit two bedrooms and a bathroom in the original footprint of the house. An extension was added at the back with a 3.3m (10.8ft) ceiling. In contrast to the Victorian design on the first floor, this space is framed with black in the form of windows and dramatic floor-to-ceiling doors that had to be custom-made to a commercial spec by Irish company Vindr VS. Inner courtyard Main bedroom Garden A cedar-clad internal courtyard links the main bedroom to the new part of the house. In keeping with the frames around the build, the kitchen is fitted with black units and has a large waterfall quartz island at the centre. Nice added extras come in the form of a bespoke wine rack, a Quooker tap and a pantry for extra storage. Beyond the kitchen is a living area that is large enough for two sofas. There is also a utility room at the other end of the house under the front steps in what would have been the coal room in the house originally. The owners continued to dig deep when it came to the rear garden. Six truckloads of soil were taken out to lower the level, so it is no longer overlooked at the back. The west-facing garden also has a new patio with porcelain tiles and steps up to a well-kept lawn with border planting. There is a gate out to a communal laneway, which was handy when it came to the delivery of the oversized glazed back doors. The owners describe it as the 'ultimate 15-minute city address': a 15-minute walk from Dublin city centre, Ranelagh and Rathmines. They love that it feels like it's part of the city, but also is the beginning of the inner suburbs. The convenience of number 32 is definitely something they will miss as they plan a move out of the city to be closer to family.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Northamptonshire dads cycle 900 miles to visit rugby grounds
Three dads finished a nine-day bike ride around the country to raise money for a brain tumour charity. The trio, who are local to Northampton, cycled about 900 miles (1400km) to every premiership rugby ground in honour of their friend Mark Monaghan, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour last Nicholson, his brother Duncan and Derek Middlemiss took on the challenge and arrived at the Northampton Saints' final home game on said: "We are doing it for the whole brain tumour community in Mark's name." The trio started their journey at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Ground, finishing at Northampton Saints Rugby to watch the match with Mr Saints beat Saracens 28-24 and remain eighth in the Premiership after the who organised the bike ride, said they wanted to do something for Mr Monaghan, who was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in April 2024."We thought about the London marathon originally, and my eldest daughter said to me, 'you are not running, you are too old, but you like to do things on a bike and rugby'."So, I came up with this crazy scheme, and Duncan and Dereck both said yes, and it came from there." He set up 'Mark's Mission' and decided to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity. About £20,000 has been donated through their JustGiving page so far. "Mark's mission has morphed into more than just a bike ride," Andrew added."So, we have set ourselves a target over a load of events."Mr Monaghan said it was an "unbelievable feeling" seeing his friends complete the bike ride. "I am so emotional [about] what they have put in, and why they put in," he said. His wife, Debbie Monaghan, said: "It's a horrible disease, it changes everything. We want to make awareness of what happens with a brain tumour."We are so proud of their achievements - It is amazing really."She added: "It is just three normal lads doing their bit, it is absolutely amazing." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
