Re: 'Reasonable' golf club membership
AFAIK Beaverstown in Donabate has a number of memberships going each year - I can't remember the exact details but I think that it's a fee of €380 per year or something. You do have to register early and they're allocated in December.
It really depends on what you would call reasonable and what you're prepared to do for a membership.
For example I hear that Corrstown around the back of the airport is very popular but you do have to "buy out" members to get yourself enrolled, these can go for as much as €10K (or so i hear).
Best of luck with it - If all else fails Deerpark in Howth is great and the green fees aren't expensive, myself and Mr Mo spent €28 there the other day for the pair of us. Clubs are so expensive these days you might be better of heading over there for a year and see how much you would actually spend before you take the plunge and buy a membership.
If it's a case that you need a handicap for insurance purposes etc, sign yourself up with a golfing association with a club - For example Malahide Bridge Club. Although if you did that - you'd see less of your house and more of the Bridge Club and Golf Clubs, LOL