I got a neighbour to manage one..and a tenant who is a relative to manage the other. Cheaper than the agent..more reliable.paying them 6.5%. Agents are looking for 8% to do the same job badly.
I did the advertising and sourcing the tenants, signing the leases myself...one vacancy since filled by tenant/relative/agent.
There is an active landlord forum on daft.ie ...nothing pretty to say about agents.
My system working very well 6 months in. Have had alot of problems in the house with relative/tenant and she's sorted it very well.