Re the local area.
Positives: They're in a quiet location just off the main route into town, with little passing pedestrian or car traffic. They're just beside Ringsend Village, which has pubs, shops, doctors, library, etc. There's a nice walk up down the dodder into Ballsbridge, and Lansdowne Road and the Dart station is 10 minutes away. The area is improving, with lots of new developments - the U2 tower will be across the way.
Negatives: Over the past year, I've observed three cars with broken windows on the street alongside the Dodder in front of the building - don't let guests park there. The small houses to the south were flooded (in 2003, I think, though the council have built a protecting wall since then). There will be plenty of new construction in the area over then next few years, with the attendant dust and traffic.