Clive Rowen and his wife used the multiple lockdowns during the pandemic to transform a seemingly small home into something special. Located at 7 Parochial Avenue, this charming property is now on the market with an asking price of €485,000. Contact Agent Sherry FitzGerald at (01) 8394022 for more information.
Clive Rowen, renowned in the skateboarding world, has had an illustrious career. In the 1970s, he opened the first skateboarding shop in Ireland on Hill Street in Dublin. Young skaters flocked to the shop to purchase boards and test them out on the half pipe that Rowen had built. Rowen, often referred to as the ‘godfather of Irish skateboarding’, revolutionized the sport in Ireland and later went on to establish Skate City in Temple Bar. His dedication to skateboarding led him to campaign for more skate parks across the country. However, the highlight of Rowen’s career came when he successfully brought legendary American skater Tony Hawk to Dublin in the 1990s. Rowen’s persistence and hard work made it possible for over 700 fans to witness Hawk’s incredible tricks at the makeshift skate arena in Dun Laoghaire.
Clive Rowen and his wife Laura took advantage of the Covid-19 lockdowns to make their new residence at 7 Parochial Avenue truly their own. After years of living in Meath, they decided to downsize to this cozy cottage in Baldoyle, as their children had moved out and the previous home was too large. Additionally, Rowen desired a shorter commute to work. They had only been living in the house for seven months when the restrictions were imposed, which gave them the perfect opportunity to personalize their space.
“When we moved into the cottage, it was kind of a blank canvas,” Rowen explains. “All the structural work had been done, but it lacked personality. Therefore, lockdown provided us with an excellent chance to put our own stamp on it.”
Rowen’s wife, Laura, has a passion for interior design and decorating. Together, they transformed the cottage into a unique and inviting home. Despite not being skilled in this area, Rowen implemented Laura’s ideas and the duo became a formidable team. Initially, 7 Parochial Avenue may seem like a small fisherman’s cottage from the front, but the previous owner had expanded the living space, resulting in a floor area of over 1,000 sq ft spread across two storeys. It boasts more rooms than one would expect in a seaside property.
“When we moved in, Laura asked me to build her a balcony,” recalls Rowen. “There was a small back door with a wasted tiled passage underneath, and above that was two storeys of unused space. I saw the opportunity to create a balcony that spans from one wall to the other. As a surprise for Laura, I even added a swing!”
The balcony, accessible from the master bedroom, provides a sunny and tranquil space. It overlooks the tiled courtyard at the back of the house. In the open-plan living room and kitchen, Clive and Laura made additional changes to infuse their personality into the home. They replaced the kitchen with beautiful solid ash units and installed Italian quartz worktops. Laura was determined to find brick slips to match the exposed brick wall in the living room, resulting in a unique backsplash for the kitchen. Their dedication to enhancing the cottage’s ambiance extended to every corner of the house, including installing shutter blinds, adding dimmer light switches, incorporating standout tiling and wallpapering, and implementing a Hive heating control panel.
At the back of the cottage, down a few stairs, the couple transformed what was once the bedroom into a moody dining room. It features dark walls, low-hanging pendants, and windows that look out onto the courtyard. The banister on the staircase was replaced with a cable version to bring more light into the area. Upstairs, two en suite bedrooms await. The master bedroom provides access to the balcony, while the bathroom features a unique pedestal made from a tree trunk gifted by a neighbor.
No7 Parochial Avenue boasts a fantastic location just a two-minute walk from the seafront and a 10-minute walk to Sutton Dart Station. It is also in close proximity to several schools, including St Laurence National School, Pobalscoil Neasáin, St Mary’s, and Sutton Park School.
“The house is now perfect, and I absolutely love it,” Rowen confirms. “However, we’ve come to the point where everything is done, and I’m starting to get a bit bored. That’s why we have decided to move to a larger house in Wexford, where our daughter and her fiancé may join us. We’re looking forward to the adventure we will have there.”
Despite contemplating retirement due to his age, Rowen is not ready to give up his passion for skateboarding just yet. Managing the shop for 45 years has kept him busy and engaged. He plans to strike a balance between his new house and the shop. Rowen believes there is still plenty of adventure left in his life.
No7 Parochial Avenue in Baldoyle is now available for sale through Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €485,000. Contact Sherry FitzGerald at (01) 8394022 for more details.
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