“We were indeed fortunate to swap homes with Siobhan and Paul. Their place is a gem with beautiful fixtures and finishes and a thoughtful, elegant design sensibility. Behind the walls and gated drive, the house is an oasis only a short drive from central Dublin. It is minutes from Malahide Castle and Gardens: a family residence until the 1970’s. The Gardens are breathtaking. Similarly, the nearby seaside town of Malahide is lovely, with convenient shopping, pubs and services. The house is a contemporary expansion of a stone cottage with a spacious ground floor including a formal dining room, en suite second master bedroom, large kitchen and family room, along with a parlor from the original structure. It is bright and cheery, with multiple skylights and excellent infrastructure (appliances, electrical, plumbing, Internet connectivity). The neighborhood and the home are tranquil and quiet. There’s a nice garden for your morning coffee. Given the relative proximity to Dublin Airport, one might think aircraft noise would be an issue. The airport traffic patterns are well clear of the neighborhood, however. In the two weeks that we visited, we didn’t hear a single airplane. Siobhan and Paul were very gracious hosts, providing excellent household documentation and area orientation materials. I truly hope, when our travels bring us back to Ireland, that we have an opportunity to return to this home.”