Lucan Village vs Drumcondra for kids?

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elainem

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Hi! Just looking for some comments. I know these villages are at opposite sides of the city, but just wondered which people thought best for brining up kids - pre teens. I think there are some problem areas bordering Drumcondra, so while it is close to the city, this puts me off. I would not be happy for my children to walk through these areas late in the evenings, even with friends. For instantance, as I recall there have been a few serious incidents in Fairview Park.

However, Lucan seems very far out, but the village to me seems quite safe to walk around - maybe I am seeing it through rose coloured glasses.

We have the choice - which is nice.
 
Hi Elaine,

Can't make any comments about Lucan, but have been living in Glasnevin/Drumcondra Area for nearly 15 years, more recently with kids. My eldest is 8, then 6 and then nearly 2.

Both the older kids are in school in Drumcondra, and in recent years we have really begun "living" in the area, as in shopping locally, walking, socialising etc.

Drumcondra doesn't really have a village "centre" as such, but there is a buzz to it. Fairview park isn't really drumcondra and the local park would be Griffith Park (running along the tolka and Botanic Avenue). There is also Childvision on the Gracepark road and the Botanic Gardens.

I suppose there are the usual anti-social activities common to any urban area, but there are active community groups and regular Joint Policing Commission meetings organised by Dublin City Council, and attended by the Gardai. There are numerous local schools, sports clubs and social groups. Which i'm sure Lucan also has, but the closeness to town is a real winner.

Let me know if there is anything specific you'd like info on.
 
I live in a part of Lucan. The village itself is ok, garda station, PO, banks, barbers, hairdressers, newsagents, butchers, taxi-rank, chippers, filling station etc, restaurants, pubs. There are some schools closeby. On Maynooth and Leixlip bus routes. I wouldn't like to live in the village itself though, its too retail for me. The traffic is bad at peak times and the triangle around the PO is very busy when social protection payments are paid.
 
I live in one of the newet estates in Lucan. There are some problems with anti social behavior (probably no more than any other urban area) and bullying. On the whole I like living here. There is quite a lot to do for kids (ours are 9, 7 and 5) but school places are at a premium due to the large number of kids.
 
Fairview Park is a dangerous place in the evening but it is not in Drumcondra. It is the equivalent of comparing the proximity of perceived anti social behaviour in Clondalkin which is close to Lucan.

There is a huge difference between the price of similar family homes in Lucan and Drumcondra. If the areas are broadly comparable for your needs you will get much better value in Lucan.

With pre-teen children you are selecting a location that is convenient for secondary schools, sports, extra curricular activities etc. It really depends on what suits your family best.
 
ontour said:
Fairview Park is a dangerous place in the evening but it is not in Drumcondra. It is the equivalent of comparing the proximity of perceived anti social behaviour in Clondalkin which is close to Lucan.
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The above should probably read 'North Clondalkin which is close to South Lucan'. Both villages are miles away from either location.
 
RonanC said:
The above should probably read 'North Clondalkin which is close to South Lucan'. Both villages are miles away from either location.
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Where we live in Lucan (near Foxboro) is technicaly in Clondalkin, but the address is Lucan because it made the houses easier to sell at the time.
 
terrysgirl33 said:
Where we live in Lucan (near Foxboro) is technicaly in Clondalkin, but the address is Lucan because it made the houses easier to sell at the time.
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Rumour has it that land was re-zoned (given new postal address) in the 90's by a very well known TD who is no longer with us in order to achieve greater land prices for housing developments and existing houses...
 
Drumcondra is just another North Side city centre locale - with all the associated crime, traffic, and drug problems. You would be mad to try to raise a family there.
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No surprise that I have to disagree with you on this comment .... but then maybe I'm mad!

There are quite a number of us trying to raise a family in Drumcondra and having grown up in a largish suburbian estate on the southside I don't see any problems here that you don't get anywhere else.

I can easily walk my kids to school and then hop on a bus to work in town, my husband likewise can walk them to school and then home to drive to work in the west of the city. My kids play in the local playground, bird watch in the local park where they have spotted numerous birds as well as otters.

We can walk to the local butchers, have a coffee, visit the library, and walk home from the pub all of which I'm sure you can do if living close to Lucan Village. My kids even happily play curbs and kick the can on the road. Wow what a terrible upbringing :D

I would agree with
With pre-teen children you are selecting a location that is convenient for secondary schools, sports, extra curricular activities etc. It really depends on what suits your family best.
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Its very much down to your individual needs and the house you could buy in either location.
 
Lucan is a nice area to live in with kids! However, I would not walk in any of the public parks around after dark. I don't think there have been any serious incidents, but there have been muggings, and you get gangs of teenagers drinking which has it's own set of problems. I am not in the village, so it's probably quite different there.

As for Drumcondra, I would imagine being close enough to the city centre to walk is a positive thing!
 
celebtastic said:
If you think the parks in Lucan are bad after dark, try walking down Dorset street or O'Connell street after the sun goes down.
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The last time I checked, neither Dorset Street nor O'Connell Street were parks. Also, they're nowhere near as bad as you make them out to be, do you hide in your house the whole time? I've never had any hassle on either street, I lived off Capel Street for 4 years and never had a bother. Really you should stop scare-mongering.
 
celebtastic said:
If you think the parks in Lucan are bad after dark, try walking down Dorset street or O'Connell street after the sun goes down.
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I do not regularly travel on Dorset St, except on a bus, but I lived off O'Connell St for two years, and I still walk down it in the evenings regularly after dark if I have been working late or gone to the cinema. I've never had any trouble.

I'm not saying walking to and from town is ideal, but I have done it on occasion (I was living in Glasnevin at the time) some years ago when it snowed and the busses stopped running, I have also walked into town on occasion in the afternoon. It is an easy walk, and there are 'safer' routes you can take.
 
celebtastic said:
Drumcondra is just another North Side city centre locale - with all the associated crime, traffic, and drug problems.
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People, people, people.

Don’t be feeding the trolls, they’ll only come back for more :p.

My impression of Drumcondra is that the residential areas are quite built up. Many of the older roads have little green space around them. Griffith Park and other green areas are an amenity if your house overlooks them. If you can’t trust your children to get there safely and home again, then they’re not, IMHO, much of an amenity.

The houses are, in general, older than in Lucan, so replacing / upgrading windows, electrical, central heating may be an additional cost to be considered.

PS, should this thread not be in Location, Location, Location ?
 
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TarfHead said:
People, people, people.
Don’t be feeding the trolls, they’ll only come back for more :p.
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celebtastic is an odd sort. She is desperately trying to buy in Drumcondra because it is such a great place. Please support her efforts so that She can live in her dream location. She will counterbalance all current negativity after she secures the house.
 
Drumcondra is just another North Side city centre locale - with all the associated crime, traffic, and drug problems. You would be mad to try to raise a family there.

Couldn't disagree more with this statement. Lived in Drumcondra for years and never had any problems. The areas such as Dorset St. are closer to town and are not family residential areas, so I presume you will have discounted them anyway. One advantage that Lucan will likely have is that, considering that most of the housing there has been built more recently than in Drumcondra, houses will therefore more than likely be better insulated etc. hence reducing heating bills. Obviously this is a generalization and depends on the individual house. As far as I know there are good schools in the area but I have no direct experience of this.
 
johnmurf83 said:
Drumcondra is just another North Side city centre locale - with all the associated crime, traffic, and drug problems. You would be mad to try to raise a family there.

Couldn't disagree more with this statement. Lived in Drumcondra for years and never had any problems.
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I suppose it depends on your individual experience.

My teenage son lives in Drumcondra and just this past week his girlfriend was sexually assaulted by a yob wielding an empty wine bottle, my son was mugged and had his mobile phone stolen and his car has been vandilised not once but twice, and all this in one week in Drumcondra.
 
I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice about some areas in Lucan we're looking at: Foxford (not Foxford Court), Foxborough (near Centra), Foxdene, Hansted and Esker Manor. Thanks a lot.
 
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