Rarely do such fine period residences come to the market in Galway city. Forster Street House is one of the finest, its a Victorian residence over three storeys providing extensive quality accommodation laden with original features and full of character and charm.
Built circa 1838, the house has played an important role in the historical, cultural and business development of Galway city. One of its early residents was Mr Charles French Blake-Forster who was High Sheriff of Galway, and he published many important histories and documents on Galway and helped develop it as the commercial centre on Ireland's west coast. It has been in the ownership of the current vendor's family since the mid 1920s and again their family further enhanced Galway’s cultural and commercial credentials.
The building is an imposing two storey over garden level detached residence with steps leading to a fine front entrance door with fan light. There are cast iron ornate railings at front. The front door opens into an impressive hall with high ceiling, original coving and features an open fireplace with marble surround. This leads to an inner hall which leads to the two main reception rooms which are to the rear of the building, facing southeast and overlooking the magnificent gardens. These beautiful bright rooms retain their original character and charm and benefit from high ceiling with coving, ceiling roses, beautiful fireplaces and large picture windows overlooking the gardens. The dining room is also accessed off the inner hall and carries similar attributes to the main reception rooms.
The beautiful stairwell with picture window leads to the first floor and spacious landing. There are five bedrooms on the first floor, four of which are double rooms and one smaller single room. The main bedroom is a dual aspect room overlooking the gardens to the side and rear with en suite bathroom. The main bathroom is also on this first floor level. The high ceiling, picture windows with shutters and ornate coving cornices run throughout this level.
On the lower ground floor there is a variety of rooms, including two large games/play rooms with access to the rear patio/garden, a utility room, three store rooms and a fuel store, and there is also a shower room and toilet.
Forster House has been very well maintained and cared for by the current owners and provides comfortable quality accommodation. Many of the rooms are dual aspect and all have large picture windows which overlook the beautiful gardens to front, sides and rear. The original features of high ceiling, ornate cornice, original doors, architraves and in places flooring and feature fireplaces combine to make it the special property it is.
Location
Forster Street House is accessed via electronic cast iron gates and is surrounded by mature gardens directly off Forster Street, which leads to and is 300 meters from Eyre Square in the heart of Galway city centre.
This central city location means it benefits from close proximity to all the main transport links. Ceannt Station and the main coach station are less than a five-minute walk from the property. While the property has a superb central location its established gardens offer total peace, privacy and a tranquil retreat from city life.
The front garden has a concrete boundary wall to the front, with sandstone pillars and cast iron electronic vehicular and pedestrian entrance gates to a tarmacadam drive leading to the front of house with parking for a number of vehicles. There is natural stone kerbing to the shrub beds and mature birch and sycamore trees. The raised lawn features central and boundary shrub beds. There are two gated side accesses to the rear of the residence, and stone wall boundaries.
The side garden has a cast iron gate, and a natural flag paving stone patio. There is a bin storage area, and raised shrub beds along the natural stone wall boundary. There is a patio area outside the rear garden level of the residence. There is also a second side entrance with vehicular access via cast iron gates, and a garage to the front with loft space overhead.
The very mature established southeast facing rear gardens come with an array of mature trees, lawns, shrubs and flower beds. These offer privacy, shelter and a beautiful tranquil amenity. Paths intersect the gardens with a mix of natural stone and concrete kerbing. There are two lawns, with a mature holly hedge splitting the garden at rear. There is timber fencing for rose bushes with matching pergolas on either side. This is a magnificent mature, private rear garden with views over Lough Atalia and out onto Galway Bay.
Tony Kavanagh of Sherry FitzGerald is the agent and he can be contacted on 091 569123 or email [email protected].
