i know this sounds daft but walk around on a saturday afternoon and strike up a conversation with the locals you see.
I live in Drimnagh, bought over a year ago, there are always people out and about round there chatting away to neighbours.
People will talk to you if you tell them you're thinking of buying one of the houses. You'll find it hard to stop them talking once they start....salt of the earth dubs. Great neck of the woods.
you could also call into the local parish priest and ask. Be not afraid!
Kilworth Road is quite a long road.
The area, like any other, is home to some unsavoury fella's who are involved in the drug trade and has seen the odd shooting over the years, but then again so has Clontarf and Stillorgan! You'd pay 30% more for a house in Walkinstown and there have been at least 5 shootings there in the last year!!!