The stunning family home is being sold and he is heading off to the Far East to become a "trailing spouse". It is obvious he's relishing the thought.

"I could even become a house husband, " he chuckles.

Lynam's equally successful wife Moira is taking up a posting in June with CitiBank in Singapore and they are moving there with their two children, Saoirse, 12, and Cathal, nine, for at least three years. Their very fine redbrick Victorian Dublin home at No 21 Carlisle Street is on the market.

Felicity Fox is offering the 147sq m (1,585sq ft) classically proportioned South Circular Road property for sale by public auction. The guide price is in the region of 1.3m and the auction takes place on 18 May.

"We love living here and over the years have watched the area change from bedsitland back to lovely private homes. I don't think you'd find a bedsit around here now, " says Ger Lynam. "It is a great place to bring up children and for convenience to the city you can't beat it."

Carlisle Street is opposite an old Church of Ireland church that has been converted into apartments. Over 7,000 people turned up to see them when they went on view, Lynam recalls.

Deceptively spacious. the house is on a quiet street between Leonard's Corner and Kelly's Corner. It is within a gentle stroll of Rathmines, Rathgar and Ranelagh as well as being within one and a half miles of St Stephen's Green, Grafton Street and Trinity College.

The area is surrounded by a wealth of local amenities, prime bus routes and a Luas line. Some of Dublin's finest senior and junior schools and the new town centre at Dundrum are nearby.

Exuding elegance and style, the property has been tastefully extended to create a wonderful family home while maintaining the immense character and grandeur of the era.

There is a small front garden which is railed and gravelled and houses a mature shrubbery. The accommodation comprises a beautifully appointed entrance hall, a formal reception room with original timber flooring and cast-iron fireplace, and builtin book shelving and cupboards.

There is a warm inviting livingroom with two sets of double doors leading through a contemporary kitchen/diningroom and an adjoining utilityroom.

The Lynams bought No 21 11 years ago and moved in a year later. It was in seven bedsits, "full of dodgy baths and sinks" and in need of rewiring, new plumbing, ceilings and floors.

That done, they extended and built the spacious modern kitchen at the back.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, all with original timber flooring and cast-iron fireplaces. There is a well fitted shower room . . . the full bathroom is downstairs.

To complete the perfect picture, this property has an all important southwesterly rear garden, perfect for long summer days. The garden is 42 feet long with a paved patio area and rear pedestrian access.

Lynam is happy to move to Singapore and "see how things go". He has sold his two Dublin Budget Hotels, Lynam's and Kelly's, but he has a major project in hand in Westmeath.

He has recently bought Middleton Park in Castletown Gate and is planning a grand restoration. The property was the subject of great controversy in the 1970s when it was publicly raffled by businessman Barney Curley.

Lynam reckons they got the house when it was on its last legs. "It needs to be brought back to its earlier glory. I wouldn't have given it another winter."

When the restoration plans are complete he intends to rent the property for private events. Part of the house is in a large apartment and the family will use that as their Irish base, which is why they are selling their Carlisle Street home.

Price: AMV 1.3m; auction 18 May Agent: Felicity Fox: 01-6334431