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Lorraine Keane and her husband, Peter Devlin, have traded a four‑storey Victorian home in Monkstown for a smaller house in Blackrock, saying the move was driven by a wish to ease future financial pressure and free up more time with their family. The couple sold their long‑time family home off‑market in September 2025 for €3.4 million, the broadcaster told RSVP Magazine.
Leaving a long-term family home
The Keanes lived for more than 20 years in the coastal Victorian manor with their two daughters. That property was placed on the market before the pandemic but withdrawn, and later sold privately after being approached by estate agents Lisney.
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Instead of keeping a large house they no longer fully used, Lorraine said the decision was practical: much of the house went unused yet still required the same upkeep and running costs. Selling gave the family more flexibility, she explained.
Planning ahead for retirement
Keane framed the move as a way to avoid being constrained by maintenance and bills later in life. She described wanting to reduce the proportion of income tied up in the home so the couple could travel, support their daughters and enjoy more freedom as they age.
She also noted that many people prefer to “right‑size” in their 60s or 70s, but the couple chose to make the change sooner, while they still had the energy to handle renovating and settling into a new place.
A smaller house — close to the life they love
Their new Blackrock residence is about half the size of the Monkstown house and needs work — Keane says it will be her fifth renovation project. Still, she considers herself fortunate to have moved only a short distance away.
Being nearby allows the family to keep the same local routines: they remain within easy reach of their favourite swimming spots and a familiar neighbourhood of friends and neighbours. That continuity, she said, helped make the decision easier despite the disruption of another renovation.
