I bring my kids to Thomas Carroll in Dundrum.
An eye test is €35 (This was what I paid for each of the kids, dont know if adults are different) and this is great value, given the service we got. A lot of time spent on the test, and the optician was very informative, explaining to me and the kids what was happening during the tests that she ran and explaining the results.
The glasses are not cheap, but glasses aren't cheap.
They are very good about helping you pick frames and no problem about saying up front that you have a budget and ask for the cheaper frames only.
The value that a place like this offers, is the after sales service is top class.
If you need your glasses adjusted at all time you can drop in and have it done for free on the spot.
They have a full repair service which is very fast if you are stuck.
Like the OP, my experience of specsavers was poor. The glasses might have been cheaper at the time, but not in the long run.