Lucky, then, is the modern buyer who can get their eager hands on one of these residences where the passing of time has only added to the classic character.

One such owner is Phillip Ryan, who bought No 38 Iona Crescent in l998 and thanked his lucky stars that the place was largely unspoilt in character due to the previous occupant having lived there for over 50 years. The carpets had apparently been there just as long too - but even their worn state didn't dampen Phillip's enthusiasm.

"The wonderful thing about Strain is that he managed to get a level of natural light flowing through the house that you rarely see in modern builds. Almost all of the defining features were in place, such as plaster coving and stained glass door panels, although the insets of two of the marble fireplaces in the formal rooms were gone. We sourced originals in architectural salvage yards and replaced these, as well as undertaking necessary re-wiring and re-plumbing. Other major tasks involved incorporating two of the old outhouses to the rear into a new, glazed roof dining extension, just off the warm kitchen with Stanley range. A common complaint in older properties is that the carpet is an eyesore . . . but here it worked as a protective layer on the hall and reception rooms floors over the decades. All we had to do was sand and polish the original pine boards back to a mellow sheen."

Where possible, authentic materials were salvaged for use elsewhere during the renovation. An example are the original quarry tiles which had been laid directly on the earth in the kitchen . . . as was building practice a century ago.

Phillip replaced these with modern, period-style terracotta tiles, and used the old ones to make a new front path and also a quaint patio to the rear. Some spaces were re-jigged to create more family-friendly rooms: the main bathroom and toilet were originally separate spaces, but amalgamated during the revamp into one large room where the new shower doesn't cramp the style of the big old cast iron tub. From the hall door, surrounded by a mature jasmine climber, to the converted attic with north light flowing down from two new skylights, Phillip and family will miss this beautiful home which they have sympathetically restored.

The period red-brick has lost none of its appeal as a classic family home, and that's something that continues to unite buyers . . .northside and southside.

The lowdown

Address: No 38 Iona Crescent, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Details: 140sq m (1,500sq ft), extended semi-detached red brick property with three bedrooms, interconnecting drawing and dining room, kitchen/dining room, utility, family bathroom, mature landscaped gardens
Highlights: this property has been stylishly restored to combine period features in formal reception rooms with bright, country style kitchen/dining room
Price: 1.3m
For more details: Douglas Newman Good 01-830 0989