Sunnybank on St Martin's Row in Chapelizod is a house with a history. This three-bedroom Georgian property is referenced in James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake and is the birthplace of Lord Northcliffe, founder of the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror.

It boasts one of the best views in Dublin. Fronting onto the River Liffey the 2,000sq ft (186sq m) house has the best water feature this writer has seen.The lawn runs down to the river bank where the soundtrack of the soft running water of the weir will lull you to sleep at night. In a business drowning in superlatives Sunnybank is unique.

Dating from 1846, the front door faces the river. There are two very fine reception rooms, one on either side of the hall, each a mirror image of the other. They have matching white marble fireplaces, three-metre high ceilings, intricate and ornate plaster work and cornicing.

A set of double doors leads from one into the very considered period-style conservatory. It was added 20 years ago and has become the main entrance into the house. Through the vaulted ceiling you can see a plaque commemorating the property's mention on page 264 of Finnegan's Wake in which Joyce writes: 'By this riverside on our own sunnybank'.

The room has glazing on three sides – the fourth wall is formed from the stone boundary that divides the property from the road. The back of the house fronts onto the side of the street.
This new addition to Sunnybank gets the sun all day and is big enough to accommodate a dining table and a seated area. If you're lucky one of the resident swans or ducks will glide by.

An open doorway leads from the dining area into the country-style kitchen. There is also a large utility room and a guest toilet. Upstairs on the first floor return is a family bathroom with a step in shower. Two steps lead up to the first of the thr