Commuting to Damastown - Where to live?

Aeneas11

Hi everyone,

I am 30 yo, single and will move to Ireland in a few months for a new job. My workplace will be located in Damastown near Dublin.

I am wondering what would be the best location to choose for living. I figured there is a bus 38/ 38a going there. I would like to live as close to Dublin city center as possible, but the commute by bus or bike should not take longer than 30min oneway (I don't want to get a car for now).

Blanchardstown village seems to be good for getting to Damastown but I m wondering how lively/urban that area is?

What area (with shops, pubs, restaurants, gym, easy access to central Dublin) would you recommend to look for a place to live?

And how reliable/fast is that bus 38 for commuting from city center to Damastown in the morning?

It d be great if you could help me!!

Pineapple stu

Its a huge area with Irelands largest shopping centre. I havent used that bus but i would imagine it could take anything from 30 to 60 minutes to get to Damastown from town. Its a fair bit from the nearest train station and morethan 30 minutes from the city by bike unless you are Lance Armstrong . Plenty of pubs, shops and one main Gym.
What i would do is find out what buses will take you there and by what route and then find a suitable place to live along or close enough to that route.
There are new apartments gone up in Damastown but to me they dont look that appealing also i wouldnt recommend the general area of Damastown to anyone new to live there even though im sure the majority of the people around there are good decent people, there are a few dodgey heads there as well. Same goes for the D15 area, decent people , decent area but some dodgey heads and areas as well.
I lived here for 16 years and never had any bother and i wouldnt move anywhere else as we have everything we need here plus the countryside is on our doorstep so to speak.

positron

You could probably look around Carpenterstown area, which is couple of miles closer towards Dublin from Blanch village. It's bike-able distance to both Damaston and Phoenix Park etc.

If you want to live close to Damastown area itself, you can look into the likes of Clonee and/or Tyrrelstown etc, and get bus to City Center for evenings/pubs etc.

schemingbohemia

I'd actually suggest Stoneybatter, some good pubs and near to city centre. Leaves you a bit of a walk to the Navan Road to get on the 38s but it's a nice enough area.

Phibsborough if you can find a decent flat/house would also be an option and a bit easier for the bus.

You'll be going against the traffic in the mornings so I would think 30-40 minutes on the bus should get you to Damastown from there.

Aeneas11

Many thanks for the suggestions!!

I think my 2 options are

1) Carpenterstown or Blanch village near Castleknock station. I could cycle or bus from there and it would 'nt take too long. There seem to be some amenities there.

2) Stoneybatter/ Phibsborough: The areas look quite nice (at least on google streetview ), and are quite close to the center. Commuting may take a bit.

Do you know where to find the time tables for the single bus stops? On the dublinbus site I only found the schedule for the terminus stations and some rough estimates.

Or does anyone have some experience how long it takes by bus 38/ 38a from blanch village to damastown, or by 38b from phibsbourough to damastown in the morning?

MrDerp

Aeneas11 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I am 30 yo, single and will move to Ireland in a few months for a new job. My workplace will be located in Damastown near Dublin.

I am wondering what would be the best location to choose for living. I figured there is a bus 38/ 38a going there. I would like to live as close to Dublin city center as possible, but the commute by bus or bike should not take longer than 30min oneway (I don't want to get a car for now).

Blanchardstown village seems to be good for getting to Damastown but I m wondering how lively/urban that area is?

What area (with shops, pubs, restaurants, gym, easy access to central Dublin) would you recommend to look for a place to live?

And how reliable/fast is that bus 38 for commuting from city center to Damastown in the morning?

It d be great if you could help me!!

I work in Damastown and have lived in a few parts of Dublin so I'm your man.

The 38a is a disaster and the 38 (slightly different route) is worse. It takes 1h - 1hr15min in any kind of peak hour traffic to get between the city centre and its last stop - and it's packed usually. This is because it meanders through every single housing estate in the mulhuddart area. I know some people who cycle from town, but they are serious cyclists and would still drive in bad weather (you're going to see quite a bit of this).

Blanchardstown village I know little about. A lot of our international staff live in Castleknock. You can get the 38 bus from there, and it has some nice pubs with friendly atmospheres - perfect for a quiet drink watching your favourite team in the Champion's League . Castleknock also has a rail link to the city centre which means you can get into town for a few euro each way. However, go past 11.30 or so and you'll be facing a 20 euro taxi. But that's the norm really after a night out in Dublin. I'd certainly take the hit here over living in town and facing that bus daily.

You'd cycle from castleknock in under 20 minutes easily on good days, and the 38 bus should bring you into work in similar or slightly over, depending on the time you start work. The other benefit of being on the 38 is that it brings you to the south part of the city centre (Baggot St) where there's a lot of good pubs and restaurants (the train brings you the north-central city centre). So between train and bus you'd have everything covered for getting out and about in Dublin.

I'm including a google map link for you here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Woodpark&daddr=Castleknock+Rd&geocode=FSqLLgMdtMue_w%3BFa-XLgMdIMSe_w&hl=en&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=16&sll=53.383341,-6.366191&sspn=0.004991,0.021307&ie=UTF8&ll=53.383111,-6.369646&spn=0.004991,0.021307&z=16

I've highlighted a walk between a 38 bus stop and Castleknock train station to get you up and running.

To that end, I'd be searching for a room in Dublin 15, particularly anything around Roselawn Road or Laurel Lodge. When viewing the map location of these houses be warned - the advertiser may place the marker slightly closer to the bus/train than it is. Google map every address. You'll find a room in the area no problem.

I have colleagues living in this area for years (they see no need to move) and it suits all their needs for quiet village nightlife, ease of access to work and the city centre. It's a happy balance for them between everything.

Hope this helps!

January

It travels on the main road through Castlecurragh and onto the Ladyswell Road through Mulhuddart... hardly meandering...

Cookie_Monster

Damastown

(obviously)

January

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Damastown

(obviously)

Ongar would be a good bet, you could cycle to Damastown in about 10/15 minutes.

Aeneas11

Thanks a lot for the hints - especially the great report by MrDerp!

I will definitely be looking for place in Blanchardstown Village near Castleknock station and a 38 bus stop! 20 min by bike or bus to work and easy access to the city center sounds great. 1h by bus oneway for the trip from the city center is way too long...

Thanks for your help!

AgnOtter

Quite useful information since I am in a similar situation now. I will move to Dublin next June together with my girlfriend and we are looking for a house or big apartment close enough to Damastown and to the city center.

Aeneas11 do you mind telling where did you go to live at the end? Any tips now that you are settled ?

Thanks a lot!

lmmoonbeam1976

AgnOtter wrote: »

Quite useful information since I am in a similar situation now. I will move to Dublin next June together with my girlfriend and we are looking for a house or big apartment close enough to Damastown and to the city center.

Aeneas11 do you mind telling where did you go to live at the end? Any tips now that you are settled ?

Thanks a lot!

guys , just an insight to things -- i live in ravenswood - beside ongar --
plenty of people live here that work in damastown and if your cycling it only 15mins to damastwon - ive done it in 10 -15 mins -- also the 39a route is beside us and it brings you to shopping centre and down the dual carraigeway into city centre along the quaays and around by trinity and over by baggot st and over to UCD college

so i think this option of the following areas is something to look into
ravenswood , phibblestown , ongar , allendale, manorfields ,

fletch

Another option would be Ashtown/Phoenix Park Racecourse....it's about half way between Damastown and the city centre. You have the choice of trains or buses into the City Centre. Damastown is still cycleable and on bad days, you could drive/or get the bus and you would be going against commuter traffic.

AgnOtter

Great info folks, thanks a lot!

Checking in daft.ie, I have seen that first, most houses/apartments are furnished and second, the market seems moving quite fast. I havent found anything available starting from July.

Isnt it common for expats to bring their furniture and stuff? When should I expect to find something available from July on ? Mid-May? June?

Thanks!

n97 mini

What's all the attraction to Damastown? Am I missing something?

jack presley

n97 mini wrote: »

What's all the attraction to Damastown? Am I missing something?

Jobs!

Damastown is an industrial estate. IBM are there for starters.

Aeneas11

Hi AgnOtter,

Welcome to Dublin ! To give you an update on my status:


Upon arrival in Dublin I got to know that there is a shuttle bus between Damastown and the city centre:


http://expressbus.ie/coach-hire-dublin-express-bus.php?page=6&section=page&t=874


with two shuttles going from the city centre to Damastown in the morning and two return shuttles from Damastown to the centre in the afternoon. It is a direct service with stops for pick-up and drop-off on the demand. The journey time either way is usually 25-30min.


Thus, I decided to rent an apartment within a few min walking distance to O'Connell Street. From there you can access basically the whole centre and its amenities on foot or bike.


Yes, the market on daft is moving fast and most houses/apartments come furnished. Probably you need to stay in some temporary accommodation / hotel for the first week or two before finding a place. It is worth viewing several places since quality of the apartments and/or the furniture varies... Also, the offers on daft are negotiable - usually you can either get a lower rent than quoted or a shorter term lease (for example 6 instead of 12 months).


Based on my experience of the last months: Most colleagues who relocate to Dublin as single or couple choose to live in the O'Connell Street area or Smithfield, those with kids choose the Castleknock / Carpenterstown / Coolmine / Clonsilla areas.


Let me know if you need more info

AgnOtter

Aeneas11 wrote: »

Hi AgnOtter,

Welcome to Dublin ! To give you an update on my status:


Upon arrival in Dublin I got to know that there is a shuttle bus between Damastown and the city centre:


http://expressbus.ie/coach-hire-dublin-express-bus.php?page=6&section=page&t=874


with two shuttles going from the city centre to Damastown in the morning and two return shuttles from Damastown to the centre in the afternoon. It is a direct service with stops for pick-up and drop-off on the demand. The journey time either way is usually 25-30min.


Thus, I decided to rent an apartment within a few min walking distance to O'Connell Street. From there you can access basically the whole centre and its amenities on foot or bike.


Yes, the market on daft is moving fast and most houses/apartments come furnished. Probably you need to stay in some temporary accommodation / hotel for the first week or two before finding a place. It is worth viewing several places since quality of the apartments and/or the furniture varies... Also, the offers on daft are negotiable - usually you can either get a lower rent than quoted or a shorter term lease (for example 6 instead of 12 months).


Based on my experience of the last months: Most colleagues who relocate to Dublin as single or couple choose to live in the O'Connell Street area or Smithfield, those with kids choose the Castleknock / Carpenterstown / Coolmine / Clonsilla areas.


Let me know if you need more info

Thanks Aeneas11 for this very detailed post. It is very helpful!

I think we will stay in Dublin 7 or 15 areas. It seems doable by bike to Damastown and with good bus links to the city center.

Thanks again!

January

n97 mini wrote: »

What's all the attraction to Damastown? Am I missing something?

Big industrial estate, thousands of people work there.

amtc

I live in Waterville, Dublin 15 - buses to Damastown 10 mins and I can get into town in 25 minutes (there are some quick buses and some that take a long route) - lots of local amenities. My neighbours work in Damastown, and get there on bicycles in less than 10 minutes.