Fix it up: Belton out a refurb ditty in Dublin’s Donnycarney

The late Dubliner banjo picker Barney McKenna once lived in Donnycarney, and now a prime buying opportunity has come up in the locality The exterior of 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 The entrance hall at 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 A reception room at 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 A bedroom at 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 What is it? Number 37 Belton Park Road is a three-bedroom semi-detached house set on a mature residential street in Donnycarney, Dublin 9, home turf of the late Dubliners banjo picker Barney McKenna. Tell me more about the place… The house extends to a modest but practical footprint across two floors with just under 970sq ft of living accommodation. The ground floor has an entrance hall, front living room, rear dining room, and kitchen, while upstairs there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom. The interiors are in need of modernisation throughout. The entrance hall at 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 The bad news? It has a lowly BER rating of E1, meaning significant energy-efficiency upgrades will be required. The traditionally compartmentalised lower floor with a small separate kitchen is not reflective of modern family living. The interiors are in need of modernisation throughout. Some carpets look like they’ve been in place since The Dubliners were in the charts, and buyers should expect to undertake a full programme of upgrades including insulation, heating, windows, wiring, and new kitchen and bathroom installations. The ground floor layout, would benefit from reconfiguration to open-plan. A reception room at 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 And the good news? As a semi-detached house, it offers side access and a private rear garden, which opens up the possibility of extending. That outdoor space is key. In particular the 55ft long garden, providing scope to increase the footprint and bring the house in line with modern expectations. There is also a side entrance, which can be a huge advantage when renovating any property. There’s a strong local infrastructure here, with schools, shops, and recreational amenities while larger retail hubs such as Omni Park Shopping Centre and Artane Castle are within reach. Refurbished homes in Donnycarney have been achieving strong prices as families are priced out of Raheny. A bedroom at 37 Belton Park Road, Donnycarney, Dublin 9 How much to buy it? The asking price is €475,000. And to fix it up? A full renovation is likely to cost in the region of €90,000 to €120,000 at a minimum. However, most buyers in this market will look to extend and reconfigure, which could bring the total renovation and extension budget to €250,000 to €320,000, depending on specification. The burden might be eased somewhat by grants available for deep retrofit and energy efficient heating and power generation tech. What will I end up with? A modernised, extended family home in a well-established Dublin 9 neighbourhood, within easy reach of the city centre. Who should I talk to? Dubliner Rachel Cunningham of DNG (01) 833 1802 will sing the praises of No37’s potential.