Don`t Drive!
116 from Ballinteer to dundrum takes 15 minutes. Jump on the luas from there and you are at stephens green in another 15minutes. Driving can take you anything from 60 - 120 minutes.
Moved there last October, luas is as already described but depends on where u are working in the city if it is worthwhile. Work in ifsc and generally drive. If u leave before 8am then journey varies between 35 to 60 mins. For college green area, I would say luas is best. If u drive to dundrum u have to park ur car on the street but balally station is probably closer.
Depending on where in Ballinteer you are moving to, you could end up with 10-15 minute walk of Balally LUAS station. I reckon Dave's estimate of a 15 minute LUAS run into town is slightly optimistic, but only by a couple of minutes. And the frequency is every 5 minutes at peak time. If you really wanted to, you could drive to Balally and park for €4 per day, but I think you'd be crazy to drive.
And you'd be really, really crazy to drive into town.
Moved there last October, luas is as already described but depends on where u are working in the city if it is worthwhile. Work in ifsc and generally drive. If u leave before 8am then journey varies between 35 to 60 mins. For college green area, I would say luas is best. If u drive to dundrum u have to park ur car on the street but balally station is probably closer.
Avoid Harolds Cross at all costs anyway, it is a disaster.
The route we take is Nutgrove, Mount Carmel, Palmerstown, Ranelagh bridge, Stephens Green, Pearse St ..
It still takes 45 mins leaving at 7:45, but it's the best we've found so far.