For the first time in Ireland, new houses costing more than a million pounds go on sale.
The most expensive new homes ever to go on sale in Ireland are in the Dublin suburb of Carrickmines.
Carrickmines Wood on the Brennanstown Road is built by Park Developments. The development includes 16 houses at Carrickmines Oaks. Each property carries a £1.2 million price tag.
Estate agents Hamilton Osborne King (HOK) expect the luxury homes to be sold before the development is open for public viewing.
Ronan O'Driscoll of HOK explains how the highly desirable homes include high-end features such as Italian tiles and American oak staircases. Each comes with a large mature, southwest-facing garden.
It's exactly what people are looking for.
Ronan O'Driscoll has noticed that buyers interested in the homes are younger. They tend to be professional, businesspeople, working in industries such as software.
One of them was bought by a first-time buyer yesterday.
Also attracting first-time buyers is Ashbourne in County Meath, where a Saltan Properties development of 156 new homes costing from £87 - £120,000 all sold within 8 hours of going on sale.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 April 1999. The reporter is George Lee.
