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Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
End-of-terrace coastal home from golden age of ‘Irish Brighton' offers B2 BER, four doubles and garden with fire pit
Asking price: €1.15m Agent: Sherry Fitzgerald (01) 286 6630 Bray in Co Wicklow was once dubbed the 'Brighton of Ireland'. Like the famous English seaside town, it has its own promenade, the well known Esplanade, which was built in Victorian times to attract tourists and home buyers seeking a life of leisure by the sea. The similarities were intentional, as Brighton offered inspiration to the man responsible for Bray's design as a seaside resort town. William Dargan, the son of a tenant farmer from Co Laois, was one of the most prominent Irish engineers of the 19th century. Known best for his work on railways, Dargan also designed and oversaw the building of Ireland's first railway line from Dublin to Dun Laoghaire in 1834, and later worked to establish many of the lines around the country. An extension of the line to Bray was added from Dublin in 1854, and had an almost instant effect on the town. With the improvement in access from Dublin, more people found it possible to live or holiday in Bray and in the 20 years after it opened, the population increased from 4,151 to 6,504. It was Dargan who first realised Bray's potential as a tourist destination. In 1859, he obtained a lease for a stretch of the coastline there from the Earl of Meath, and the first inception of the Esplanade seafront promenade was built, after which the later hotel was named. Dargan, alongside John Quin, the owner of Quin's Hotel (now the Royal Hotel), recognised the potential of the town and initiated its development as a seaside resort on a large scale. In 1859, Dargan paid for the first efforts at constructing the Esplanade which, according to an 1860 guide book, was 'open to everyone who chooses to enjoy its delightful expanse'. In 1881, additional work costing £20,000 was invested in improving it further. Just off the waterfront is No4 Warburton Terrace, an end of terrace four-bedroom house which dates from Bray's glory days as a Victorian resort. Today, it's home to Patrick Sammon and his wife Madeline. Patrick is employed as a leasing specialist with WeWork and is originally from Letterkenny, Co Donegal. His wife Madeline, who hails from Queensland Australia, works for Google. They have two children, Isla (three) and Charlie (almost one), with another on the way. The couple bought the 1862-built home five years ago. 'We'd been living in Grand Canal and were attracted by the opportunity to own a period house,' says Sammon. 'It also offered good bang for our buck.' The 2,433 sq ft period home came with most of its original features, and had been previously owned by an interior designer, who'd left her mark. However, Sammon and his wife planned to put their own stamp on it. 'It was, for the most part, in good condition, but the decor was not to our taste,' he says. 'The house was a pandemic purchase as we bought it between lockdowns,' he adds. 'With extra time on our hands, we did the decorating ourselves.' They painted all of the rooms, changing the colour scheme, the furniture and the artwork, and re-sprayed the kitchen, which now has navy blue and white glass-fronted cupboards with a white Ibiza marble counter. There's an island in the centre with a Belfast sink and a brass tap, with a splash back of white subway tiles. Double doors here lead directly to the south-facing back split-level garden. The sitting room is at the front of the house, and here the sash windows, wooden floors, cornicing and the ceiling rose are all original. 'The ceiling there is 10ft-high, which adds to the feeling of space,' says Sammon. There's a white marble fireplace here with a large antique mirror above it. There are seven fireplaces in total, two of which have woodburning stoves. The others have been capped off. 'When she first saw the fireplaces, Madeline fell in love with them because growing up in Queensland; she never had an open fire,' he says. The house has four double bedrooms and an attic room, which can also be used as a bedroom. After moving in, the couple quickly realised that the old utility room, which had a lean-to in bad repair, was in a great position at the back of the house. 'We realised it faced south and got the sun for most of the day, so we set about making it into another reception room,' says Sammon. 'We put down new hardwood flooring and added floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that open to the patio outside.' Unlike the rest of the house, this room is thoroughly modern. The beige walls and cream carpet provide a feeling of warmth, and a photograph of an old camper van and palm trees, reminiscent of backpacking Australia, takes up most of one wall. 'It's an amazing space for entertaining; especially in the summer as we open up the glass doors and the guests spill into the back garden. We've held many a barbecue in the back.' The garden has a fire pit and dining area. Here, they've added plants and some colourful cushions. 'It's our little oasis. We spend a lot of time out there in the summer when the weather is good,' he says. They replaced the roof four years ago, increasing the energy rating from a C1 to a B2. 'A potential buyer could achieve an A rating if they were to upgrade the windows in the house,' he adds. Bray's beach is 150 metres away, so the Sammons have taken up sea swimming since moving in. 'We also installed an outdoor shower in the back and have our paddle boards hanging on the wall,' says Sammon. 'There's a laneway at the side of the building which we use to access the back garden when we come in from the sea. 'There are a number of trendy coffee shops in the area and also a new wine bar called Conlon's, which my wife loves, just 50 metres from the house,' he adds. 'There's also a roof top sauna in Bray now. Living here is really a lifestyle.' It's also on the Dart line, offering easy access to Dublin city centre. The Sammons are selling the house now because an opportunity has arisen to buy a family member's home in Blackrock. 'We'll still be on the Dart line, but living here has been a wonderful experience,' he says. The house is on offer through Sherry FitzGerald for €1.15m.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hull's Royal Hotel has housed asylum seekers for five years - it still divides the city
Take the train to Hull, walk out of the station, and it takes just seconds to arrive at the Royal Hotel. It once hosted royalty - but for the past five years it's been home to hundreds of asylum seekers in the being a place of sanctuary, it became the frontline of last summer's riots, when windows of the hotel were smashed and asylum seekers hid inside. Outside the Royal, there was anger and use of hotels to house people arriving on smalls boats from France represents one of the most divisive issues in Britain today. People have been telling the BBC what the hotel means to them. Last July, Anei was living inside the Royal Hotel as riots took hold outside. He says he was terrified. "Everyone was scared," he adds. He tells us that he and others had to stay inside the hotel fearing that if they went outside "we die".Anei is 27 and arrived in the UK on a small boat three years ago. He says his parents died in South Sudan and that he was given a choice to join a militia and fight, or be killed. He decided to tells us he was beaten up in Hull and abused on the day of the riots. "They don't like the asylum seekers, they hit me in the back and I fell down," he says. He tells us one person shouted "you've come here and taken our jobs".Why, I ask, does he think some people were angry with him? He says he doesn't know and that nobody has spoken to him about the realities of his life inside the Royal Hotel. He says he has taken no Anei has now been given the right to remain in the UK, he says he wants to work and pay back the UK for the help he's already received. Home Office figures released on Thursday tell one story - that the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels has fallen. But the number is still higher than when Labour came into power last were 32,345 asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels in March 2025, the figures there's also another story. Despite the repeated promises to end asylum hotel accommodation, it remains a defining issue for many people and in many far from the Royal Hotel, we met Gaynor, who is whizzing around on her mobility scooter, wearing large black sunglasses. She's in her 70s now, but says she remembers the good times inside the Royal like it was yesterday. "The hotel was so beautiful," she says. "We used to go in there for drinks and cocktails." Gaynor says it's a shame it has now been taken over and used as accommodation for asylum seekers. "I do feel sorry for them," she says, "I know their countries are at war, but there's other countries they have to go to before they get to England - I don't think it's fair, I don't think it's fair at all."It's an issue that's changed the way she votes. "Yes, I voted for Reform," she says. "I don't mind telling you that, something needs to be done."Gaynor isn't alone in feeling like this, but there are other voices here too. One man who who lives within sight of the hotel, says it is important that asylum seekers are given accommodation while they are processed. Outside the hotel, at a taxi rank in sight of the station, Shane was keen to chat. He works here a lot and showed us the video he filmed earlier this year. He witnessed an asylum seeker trying to kick out the windows of a room in the hotel, while holding what appeared to be a the footage you can hear another taxi driver ask: "Why isn't anyone stopping him?" At the end of the footage Shane says: "So this is what asylum seekers think of a four-star hotel."We don't know what happened to the person inside the hotel, but for Shane the video sums up his feelings of being powerless in his home city. "It's a case of shut up and put up, because you can't do anything about it," he says. "I know one or two armed forces lads who sleep rough on the streets, we're taking in the wrong people, it's so wrong."About a mile or so out of the city we visited Danny Taylor, he set up Adapt Resettlement to provide emergency food and accommodation to people struggling in Hull. He houses around two dozen people, some have been long-term homeless. "It's unfair," says Danny, "we get people through this door who have been homeless for 12 months, but people who come here they get a hotel, they get three meals a day, ours have food parcels - it's impossible to give them three meals a day."Inside Adapt Resettlement, we met Robbie, he'd been long-term homeless and faced drug dependency. He's extremely vulnerable but happily showing off his food parcel of tinned vegetables and rice pudding. "I'm supposed to be on benefits and a 'free ride'," he says, using his hands to make quotation marks. "But the free ride isn't all that. I wish I was an asylum seeker, I'd have free accommodation."Those same questions of fairness are also being asked inside Welcome House, a charity that supports asylum seekers in the city. Its founder, Bashir Siraj - himself a refugee from Pakistan who arrived in the UK 20 years ago - says they had more than 20,000 visitors last year. He tells us he has support from many people in the city and the local council but is left dismayed when asylum seekers are blamed for living in hotels. "Why are they attacking us? Why aren't they blaming the government, the policies?" he asks. The Home Office told us the Labour government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, and says it is beginning to restore order. In a statement it said: "We will be able to end the use of asylum hotels over time and reduce the overall costs to the taxpayer of asylum accommodation. "There are now fewer hotels open than there were before the election, with more due to close by the end of May."
Edinburgh Live
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Football legend regrets ever drinking and infamous night out in Scottish village
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Football legend Duncan Ferguson, who quit drinking at 37, has admitted any time there had been trouble in his life, alcohol has been involved. The 53-year-old has had a few notable scraps during his playing days, including an infamous incident at the Royal Hotel in Anstruther, a quiet fishing village on the Fife coast, The Mirror reports. At aged 21, he was attending a Young Player of the Year event and described himself as: 'Like a big, daft softie, I was too easily led astray.' The Mirror reports the Premier League legend was buying a round when someone with him got into a confrontation with another person. As Ferguson split them up, a "big man" on a stool at the bar got involved. Ferguson said they did not want any trouble but the man replied: ''Well, I'll f***ing give you…" Dunc recalled: 'He never got the word out of his mouth. As he made to get up from his stool, I sensed what was coming and didn't wait. Boom. The fella slid off his stool and all hell broke loose. It was like the Wild West." At 4am police called round where he was staying with officers asking: "Is Duncan Ferguson here?" Looking back, Ferguson says: 'I was there all right. Laid out on the sofa, rotten, stinking drunk, buck naked aside from a pink hat someone had given me earlier that was still on my head. "I had lipstick on, an earring and a silk glove. And nothing else. It was a strange night. 'At some point I'd got into fancy dress. I still don't know when. The police took one look at me and said, 'We'll come back later.' Which they did." Ferguson regrets the stress and anguish he must have put his parents through. And now he admits: "I now know as a parent how worrying it is when the phone goes late at night. My kids can't remember the drinking. I just tell them I never had a drink. "My two lads don't drink. Once I stopped drinking, I stopped the nights out, I stopped putting myself in dangerous positions. I know I've become a better person sober. "But you know what? I've never actually said, 'I've stopped drinking'. I don't count the days since I last had a drink. I'm not in rehab. 'Maybe one day I'll start drinking again. Maybe one day I'll be a great manager and Everton will win the Premiership. "If I'm offered a glass of champagne I might think, 'You know what? I'll have a nice glass of champagne!' Maybe.' Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography by Duncan Ferguson, with Henry Winter, is published on 8th May by Century
Daily Record
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rangers legend Duncan Ferguson regrets ever drinking and infamous Anstruther night
"I've never actually said, 'I've stopped drinking'. I don't count the days since I last had a drink. I'm not in rehab." Rangers legend Duncan Ferguson, who quit drinking at 37, has admitted any time there had been trouble in his life, alcohol has been involved. The now 53-year-old had a few notable scraps during his playing days, including an infamous incident at the Royal Hotel in Anstruther, a quiet fishing village on the Fife coast. Then aged 21, he was attending a Young Player of the Year event and described himself as: 'Like a big, daft softie, I was too easily led astray.' The Mirror reports the Premier League legend was buying a round when someone with him got into a confrontation with another person. As Ferguson split them up, a "big man" on a stool at the bar got involved. Ferguson said they did not want any trouble but the man replied: ''Well, I'll f***ing give you…" Dunc recalled: 'He never got the word out of his mouth. As he made to get up from his stool, I sensed what was coming and didn't wait. Boom. The fella slid off his stool and all hell broke loose. It was like the Wild West." At 4am police called round where he was staying with officers asking: "Is Duncan Ferguson here?" Looking back, Ferguson says: 'I was there all right. Laid out on the sofa, rotten, stinking drunk, buck naked aside from a pink hat someone had given me earlier that was still on my head. "I had lipstick on, an earring and a silk glove. And nothing else. It was a strange night. 'At some point I'd got into fancy dress. I still don't know when. "The police took one look at me and said, 'We'll come back later.' Which they did." Ferguson regrets the stress and anguish he must have put his parents through. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. And now he admits: "I now know as a parent how worrying it is when the phone goes late at night. My kids can't remember the drinking. I just tell them I never had a drink. "My two lads don't drink. Once I stopped drinking, I stopped the nights out, I stopped putting myself in dangerous positions. I know I've become a better person sober. "But you know what? I've never actually said, ' I've stopped drinking '. I don't count the days since I last had a drink. I'm not in rehab. 'Maybe one day I'll start drinking again. Maybe one day I'll be a great manager and Everton will win the Premiership. "If I'm offered a glass of champagne I might think, 'You know what? I'll have a nice glass of champagne!' Maybe.'
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Duncan Ferguson on alcohol, regrets over police run-ins and being 16 years sober
It has been 16 years since Duncan Ferguson last touched a drop of alcohol, having given up booze at the age of 37 - he admits 'once I stopped the nights out, I stopped putting myself in dangerous positions' Duncan Ferguson, who stopped drinking at 37, says any time there had been trouble in his life, booze had been involved. He had been in a few scraps before an infamous incident at the Royal Hotel in Anstruther, a quiet fishing village on the Fife coast, when he was 21, having gone to a Young Player of the Year event. Now 53, he says: 'Like a big, daft softie, I was too easily led astray.' The Premier League legend was buying a round when a lad with them got into a confrontation with another boy. As Ferguson split them up, a big man on a stool at the bar got involved. Ferguson said they did not want any trouble but the man replied: ''Well, I'll f***ing give you… 'He never got the word out of his mouth. As he made to get up from his stool, I sensed what was coming and didn't wait. Boom. The fella slid off his stool and all hell broke loose. It was like the Wild West.' At 4am police called round where Ferguson was staying asking: "Is Duncan Ferguson here?" 'I was there all right. Laid out on the sofa, rotten, stinking drunk, buck naked aside from a pink hat someone had given me earlier that was still on my head. I had lipstick on, an earring and a silk glove. And nothing else. It was a strange night. 'At some point I'd got into fancy dress. I still don't know when. "The police took one look at me and said, 'We'll come back later.' Which they did." Ferguson regrets the stress and anguish he must have put his parents through. And now he admits: "I now know as a parent how worrying it is when the phone goes late at night. My kids can't remember the drinking. I just tell them I never had a drink. My two lads don't drink. Once I stopped drinking, I stopped the nights out, I stopped putting myself in dangerous positions. "But you know what? I've never actually said, 'I've stopped drinking.' I don't count the days since I last had a drink. I'm not in rehab. 'Maybe one day I'll start drinking again. Maybe one day I'll be a great manager and Everton will win the Premiership. If I'm offered a glass of champagne I might think, 'You know what? I'll have a nice glass of champagne!' Maybe.' Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography by Duncan Ferguson, with Henry Winter, is published on 8th May by Century
