Hi Guys,
Just to add my 2 cents, we bought in Dun Emer, Lusk in '03 and i've got to say we find it excellent. At the time we thought ballbriggin a bit too far, as had lived in city center for previous 8 years; but to be honest, in retrospect ANYWHERE in noth dublin, on the train line, is a short hop to town (25 min for lusk-connelly). we looked about rush, swords, skerries, donabate (and clonsilla); and decided that the Dun Emer estate offered by far the better value.
I should add i travel a fair bit, and so don't really use the 'village' to its extend. I agree that lusk is not as advanced as Balbriggin, but surely that stands to reason.
That said some things i'd disagree with:
1. Dun Emer is not dull and depressing. I think it was the better 'looking' house of all we looked at (a taste thing i know), and the size @ 1,178 sq.ft for a 3-bed is the best around by far. All the road meandar, so not many straight lines about the place (a nice change); theres great space front and back; no maintenace to speak of so far; cobble lock et al. Unforunately Chapel Farm has now been extended right into the front yards of the original Dun Emer residents, and it has pushed some to sell up. (i'm told that C Farm are well laid out inside, but god love us they are not easy on the eye).
2. I commute to town (tara st) every morning. It takes me 50min door to door. Its a mind-less/stressless commute - drive,park,train,5min walk. that said, its Irish Rail, who knows when the whells will come off in a big way. I work with a fella from cabinteely who takes longer than this on the bus in.
All that said, the Lusk train station is a COMPETE nightmare. If your not in there by 7.20, forget getting a space. even though its in the middle of the country, surrounded by green fields; you'd think land could be CPO'ed. 2 acres would future-proof the place for years.
its a 25 min walk from my hse to train platform. i'm about in the middle of the estate.
we've got good neighbours, and that helps GREATLY. in all our years in dublin center we never knew a soul next door
)
bottom-line: we're happy in lusk; and anywhere in Nth county dublin on the train line is excellent to commute from; car or train. (town very close to lusk. 25 min at night from o connell st, maybe twice that in work hours). Night link is handy, and its on the meter for the taxi's. 30 eur from city center. Dun emer now has 2 creches, and a mini market of its own (latter 2 being fitted out as a type). that should help.
I'm told that Lusk is at the end of the house development cycle for now there will be a 5 year 'break' (once D Emer, Lusk Vvillage andChapel Farm estates are finished), and now the new school, amenietes etc will be supposedly build. Usual story, its anybody's guess
thats my piecie, thanks for reading.