Aillebrack, with its tree and plant-filled gardens, putting green, bunker and tee box, is the home the vendor dreamed of when, in the early 2000s, she gave specifications to architect Peter O'Connell of Sean Dockry Architects.
“We wanted loads of light, a modern design that took advantage of south-facing gardens, plenty of space and an open-plan kitchen,” vendor Joan explains. O’Connell’s design came up with all of this, and more.
"We bought the site, a beautiful Menlo field, in 2002 and moved into the completed house in 2005," Joan says. "The back wraps around the garden with everything, including the kitchen sink, looking on to the courtyard, patio and garden."
Aillebrack is off a quiet, country road lined with similarly detached houses that was the one-time Sean Béthar (Old Road) into Menlo. “It’s an undiscovered spot just outside Galway city,” says Joan, “five minutes from Wood Quay and the city centre.”
Lough Corrib and designated walks are minutes away, as are the ruins of the 16th-century Menlo Castle. Family reared, Joan is downsizing.
On a thoughtfully landscaped 0.28-hectare(0.69-acre) site, Aillebrack has a floor area of 344sq m (3,700sq ft). Two of its six bedrooms are en-suite, there is a large open-plan kitchen/dining/family area, a studio/office, laundry, utility and family bathroom, all with under-floor heating. A rear, detached shed allows for extra storage. Agent Sherry FitzGerald is asking €975,000.
The kitchen/dining area is a high, vaulted space filled with light from its many windows and from patio doors to the gardens. A breakfast bar/island is made of stainless steel. This area leads to the family room, again with vaulted ceilings and patio doors, from where a discreet staircase leads to an office/studio.
Currently in use as a music room, this could equally be put to use as a gym or playroom. The sittingroom too is vaulted, with polished timber floors and, as well as glass patio doors, Velux windows flooding the space with light.
All of the bedrooms have polished, timber floors while floors in the bathrooms, storeroom and laundry are tiled. The bedrooms also have garden views with, in the main bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe and en suite with wet shower. A Stira stairs gives attic access from the family bathroom.
The east- and south-facing gardens, nicely matured since they were planted 12 years ago, have a fine display of trees, shrubs and flowers, water feature and lawns. The putting green measures some 40sq m and has a sand bunker.
