Donaghmede (Priory Hall)

Hi,
I will be moving to Dublin from the UK within the next few months and am looking for some advice on buying in the Donaghmede area. Priory Hall is a new development here and it's second phase apartments are about to be released which look quite attractive. No prices have been indicated although the first phase last year sold out fairly quickly. I just wondered if anyone had any experience of the area in general in terms of affordability etc. Any comments most welcome.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

I would avoid this development if it is the one by Coalport Building Company. From experience they are extremely difficult to deal with. Completion deadlines move by years not months.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

I looked at Priory Hall initially but the lack of public transport(only a couple of bus routes) and general upkeep of the surrounding areas put me off.

This is just my opinion but it put me off. If you don't mind being a little further out have a look in portmarnock instead?

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Donaghmede is ok - but lacks character (large shopping centre, lots of housing estates, few schools)... I wouldnt buy without coming over and having a good looks and feel (day and night)... sometimes it can get a lil rough.

Trying looking in Raheny or Killester instead (has Dart train and better bus routes)

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

bettyboo said:

I would avoid this development if it is the one by Coalport Building Company. From experience they are extremely difficult to deal with. Completion deadlines move by years not months.

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what's your experience of coalport betty, i've bought on the first phase of priory hall. In my experience i rarely heard of apartments being finished on time - completion dates for priory hall were april/may originally - looking at around August/Sept at the moment.

For what its worth a new dart station will be built less than 10mins walk away in beaupark by Spring 2007 and the council are spending millions redesigning fr collins park directly opposite so the outlook for the area isn't that bad

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Thanks guys. As you'll have gathered, I don't have much experience of the Dublin property market so this advice is invaluable ! I would be looking for somewhere new, ideally a two bedroom apartment with a price under 400k euros, it looked as if Portmarnock / Raheny areas were more expensive ?

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Shaunsy said:

Thanks guys. As you'll have gathered, I don't have much experience of the Dublin property market so this advice is invaluable ! I would be looking for somewhere new, ideally a two bedroom apartment with a price under 400k euros, it looked as if Portmarnock / Raheny areas were more expensive ?

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i think you'll be ok with 400k to find a two bed, my two bed in priory hall cost about 250k last year, so can't see it going over 300k for the next phase

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

As someone who grew up in the area it certainly isn't rough. There are one or two pockets that wouldn't be the best (but its the same as everywhere else) but on a whole the area is fine.

There are plenty of schools in the area. Two large primary schools in the vicinity of the shopping centre. There are two secondary schools in the area and also plenty of other primary & secondary within a short bus trip. There are also quite a few of soccer and GAA clubs.

The dart at Howth junction is about 20 minutes walk away and as mentioned the new station is due to be built in the Beaupark development within the year. There are two bus services into town the 29A and the 27.

As mentioned there is Donaghmede shopping centre and also Clare Hall on the Malahide road.

There is a large gym on the Malahide road- Total Fitness.

The only thing the area really lacks is a few decent pubs but there are a couple in Raheny/Killester which aren't too bad.

There is a lot of development going on in the area and this is due to continue for the next 9/10 years or so. While the develpoment will bring a lot of houses/apartments it is also due to bring a lot of amenities( according to the developers plans). Its a popular area and houses tend to sell fairly quickly. On the whole its well settled but your always going to get the odd bit of trouble re teenagers hanging around etc.

Good luck with your decision but I'd recommed you try and visit the area before buying to have a feel for it.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Shaunsy said:

it looked as if Portmarnock / Raheny areas were more expensive ?

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They are! But that’s because of good transport links and what people perceive to be “better areas” (although I do think Portmarnock is quiote far out distance wise). Check out myhome.ie & enter ‘Dublin North’ for a search of all the latest properties available.

It’s also worthwhile getting a map and seeing where areas are in relation to each other – what one person describes as “Raheny” may in fact be “Killbarack” or “Edenmore”(& there’s a big difference!) or even part of Donaghmede again. Other areas you might want to consider are Fairview, Marino, Clontarf, Swords (Luas due to open up there in the next few years but buses a nightmare at mo)

Definitely draw up a list of what you want – near: city, transport (do you drive or do you need public transport), beach, schools etc… Then you can narrow your search & come over here and have a look. Or if you cant do that come over and rent for a bit to get the feel of the place.

Two things worth remembering:

• Generally you’ll get far less for your money over here than England
• House prices are ridiculously high over here!

Good luck with the search & let us know if you need any info on areas you see/ like.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Signed to buy house in late 2002 ( first viewed show house summer 2002 summer)they said completion May/June 2003. Kept putting dates back. Finally moved in late 2004. Tarmacing only recently completed in estate. Landscaping on estate (much was made of this in brochure) still not started.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

bettyboo said:

Signed to buy house in late 2002 ( first viewed show house summer 2002 summer)they said completion May/June 2003. Kept putting dates back. Finally moved in late 2004. Tarmacing only recently completed in estate. Landscaping on estate (much was made of this in brochure) still not started.

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seems to be a common problem with lots of builders nowadays, its a sellers market - but thanks for the heads up. Aside from the delays, were the houses well built/finished?

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Our house was fine. I know some people had problems with plumbing and other issues but as we were not affected i really cannot comment. We are happy with the house. A problem on this estate is that it is quite small and I think the builders priorities were on other developments. Months passed without seeing a workman on the site. Then there would be a lot of activity only for them all to disappear again for weeks. There were several foremen over the history of the development - not sure where they disappeared to but every few months there was a change! The girls in the office told you what they thought you wanted to hear ie. your house was nearly ready when the roof was not even on.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

woodseb said:

i think you'll be ok with 400k to find a two bed, my two bed in priory hall cost about 250k last year, so can't see it going over 300k for the next phase

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The new phase went on sale during the week. 345 for a 2 bed!

For anyone is has bought in this development, have you moved in yet? I'm thinking of buying but there is no show apt, its all off the plans so its very difficult to get a good sense of what you're buying!

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

bigchicken said:

The new phase went on sale during the week. 345 for a 2 bed!

For anyone is has bought in this development, have you moved in yet? I'm thinking of buying but there is no show apt, its all off the plans so its very difficult to get a good sense of what you're buying!

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fairly chuffed about that price alright, nobody's moved in yet - completions are from Aug/Sept apparently. They had a prefab show apartment for the first phase but that's been demolished since

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Yeh i drove around at the weekend to have a look - its still a building site so i figured no-one was living there.

I'm a little worried about the lighting in them. An initial look at the plans shows two decent balconies but it actually looks like they aren't proper balconies, they seem to be enclosed. Could you get a look at these in the prefab showapt? I had thought that patio doors would help with light but if these are only going out to an enclosed space then i'm not so sure!

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

that's the one negative about the apartments, the balconies are recessed into the room so i don't think they'll become great suntraps. It was hard to tell in the showhouse as it was a bright summers day and lights were probably on too.....glad I haven't moved in yet as my balcony is overlooking a murder scene today

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

yeah it's a bit crazy in donaghmede at the mo with all the shootings,

been living in donaghmede for 24 years and honest to god the last murder here was about 6-7 years ago and then all of a sudden there's been 3-4 in the immediate area, wtf????

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

Does anyone know anything about the problem with the builders here? There was an article in the paper the other day saying building work has been suspended because the health and safety authority closed down the site. Just wondernig how long its going to be stalled for.

Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

where was this article? first i've heard of this? edit: found the article

bloody hell...
[broken link removed]
[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dublin building site closed over safety breaches [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]From:ireland.com
Tuesday, 27th June, 2006 [/FONT][broken link removed]
[broken link removed] [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]A building site in north Dublin has been temporarily closed by the High Court after complaints by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) of "systemic" breaches of regulations.
<IMGSRC="http://ads.eircom.net/accipiter/nserver/key=/site=eircom/area=news/aamsz=250x250/pos=14">The court heard a safety inspector had described the site at Donaghmede as "one of the most unsafe" he had ever inspected.
The Authority also alleged there have been two near fatal accidents relating to the operation of the site, including one where a woman had to be cut out of her car after a large quantity of mesh fell on it.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy made the order prohibiting Coalport Building Co Ltd, which is building an apartment complex, from using the site until measures have been taken in relation to alleged breaches of health and safety regulations.
The order in relation to the site at Priory Hall, Hole In the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin is to stay in place until next Monday.
Declan McGrath BL, for the HSA, earlier told the court there have been problems on the site going back to June 2004.
He said of particular concern was two near fatal accidents.
He referred to the incident in March 2005 in which mesh weighing one ton fell on a car which was driving past.
And last week, a part of the scaffolding board fell on a passing car which was being driven by an elderly lady. In both cases the drivers were shocked but not injured.
Counsel said the problems with safety on the site are so systemic the HSA was compelled to make the application to the court for a closure order.
In an affidavit, a health and safety officer, Mr David O'Connell, who inspected the site last week after the accident with the scaffolding, said it was only good fortune that the driver of the passing car was not seriously injured.
He said the site was one of the most unsafe sites he had ever inspected and its use as a place of work should be immediately prohibited.
Mr McGrath said the HSA would normally seek to agree the voluntary closure of the site but it has no faith that such a closure would bring about the desired changes.
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Re: Buying in Donaghmede area (Priory Hall)

what i don't understand is that they have only been building on that site since May 2005 at the latest - i drive past it every day.......but this article refers back to june 2004

hopefully they'll be back working on it from monday, and safely