One of the highest-paid executives in Ireland, Icon boss Ciaran Murray, is hoping to demolish his Ballsbridge home. In 2010, Murray and Denise Ronan paid €1.03 million for 126 Merrion Road, a 226sq m (2,432sq ft) two- storey detached home with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, which will be demolished entirely if permission is granted.
The proposed home will be more than triple the size of the existing structure at 760sq m (8,180sq ft), spread across four levels.
The lavish home’s ground floor would feature multiple reception rooms in addition to an expansive kitchen.
The first floor would include four bedrooms, all enjoying en suite bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes, with the main bedroom having no fewer than two en suite bathrooms and dressing rooms.
The top floor would comprise a large guest suite and office.
The proposed basement is particularly impressive, with a large fitted office/library, wine cellar, gym, laundry room, cinema and room for one car thanks to a concealed car lift fitted in the drive.
The car lift will be the first of its kind in the area – and perhaps in Dublin – and is more commonly found in areas such as central London where space is very limited.
It is undoubtedly an expensive novelty given the ample parking available in the home’s driveway.
However, with a reported pay package for 2015 of €11.29 million, Murray isn’t likely to lose any sleep over the cost.
Since the revival of Dublin’s property market, the super-wealthy, who shied away from overt displays of wealth during the recession, wasted no time planning homes bigger and more extravagant than anything envisaged during even the Celtic Tiger.
Less than 200m away from Murray’s house lies what will soon be one of the grandest houses in Dublin, Owen Killian’s under-construction 1,960sq m (21,100sq ft) Shrewsbury Road pile.
In recent weeks, Lissadell, 9 Shrewsbury Road, finally unveiled after years behind hoardings, now stands at 1,096sq m (11,800sq ft).
Larger again will be David Shubotham’s 1,441sq m (15,520sq ft) planned detached house a few doors down, near Denis O’Brien’s Belmont, which is also being expanded to 964sq m (10,376sq ft).
Even the more modest 7 Shrewsbury Road, a 1930s semi-detached house, is set to grow to 883sq m (9,500sq ft) – bigger than any house on the street before the completion of Lissadell.
