About a year ago I was looking to get a new front door - joiner prices were around the 2.5k mark.... I mentioned this in work and a colleague (offered to get a serious mahogany door) complete with glass of my own design and he would fit.
This guy is a perfectionist and did a brilliant job, I supplied the furniture for the door - total material cost was less that €850 and I looked after him seperately. He bought all the materials in Louth where he is from - so teh Dublin rip off factor did not apply.
All you need now is to find a colleague similar to my lad.
Best of luck.
Roy