I lived on Clanbrassil Terrace for a year about 3 years ago. I thought it was a great location, it so convenient for town and as we weren't right on Clanbrassil st so it was quite enough. A few new shops have opened up in the area too since I was there. We drove to superquinn on Sundrive road for our supermarket shops, but there's Dunnes Stores in Stephens green as well.
We didn't really have any problems with crime. Our bikes nearly got nicked when we left them on the ground floor balcony, unlocked -but that was foolish on our part. A couple of times neighbours called the cars because they saw 'dodgy types' in the private internal courtyard of our building, but I don't know if there were ever any burgalaries.
if you've any specific quetions just ask,
Gnashers