Opinions on East Wall

havana

I think I will have to expand my search area to find a house within my budget. I have till now been focused on mainly D8 and D12 

Location is what is most important to me and I have always been happy to trade space for the right location. It’s only me and my young child and we don’t need much space. A 2 bed house is perfect. I really do not want to commute and looking at East Wall it could potentially be an option. 

I know little about the area so any thoughts would be appreciated. I have lived in the south inner city for a long time so am no stranger to living in the city - I know it’s not for everyone but I love it. 

Any particular roads to consider? Being within easy access of the 151 or G1/2 buses would be a bonus. What is the area like in terms of cafes and shops etc?

many thanks in advance

o1s1n

How about D7? Right across the Liffey from D8 and still some deals to be had.

Would be looking there long before East Wall.

Ray Palmer

It one thing to put up with a rough area as an adult but another thing to raise a child there. East Wall is rough and your child would be influenced by their peers in the area. So I would suggest not moving there

I have friends from there and worked there for a while. The one story that should turn you off is when a teenager shot a man who stopped them smoking weed in his house. The teenager knew where there was a gun stashed in the area.

COH

My wife and I bought our house in East Wall last year and love it.

It was a rough enough area in the 90s/00s but given its proximity to the silicon docks it is gentrification central. Of all the numerous places we have lived over the years its actually one of the quietest areas we've lived in, We spend quite a lot of time here before we bought, on weekends, evenings, Halloween night etc and there has never been any trouble.

I have friends, family and colleagues who live/have lived here for up to 20 years and none have ever experienced any anti social behaviour. Thats not to say it doesn't exist at all but no more so then any other central location in any major city in the world.

The area suffers from its history/reputation of being rough - but most of the criticism of the area is from people who have either never set foot in the place, or haven't been here in decades. The protests last year painted the area in a negative light despite being orchastrated by people that are nor from here. The 'East Wall' protestors as they became known are now doing the same thing in Ranelagh, Ballsbridge, Ballina etc. yet they are still referred to as the EW protests. Lazy journalism I suppose.

There was a flood in the early 2000s (Tolka River) that many will point to and say you can't get house insuranance with flood cover, but the area was declassified as a flood risk last year and policies are readily available.

Pros:

• Proximity to the city center
• Transport links (bus, luas and rail)
• Amenities (there is a large Lidl, Aldi and newly opened Dunnes Stores)
• East Cafe and the 112 are both great places for a coffee/chat
• Fairview Park and Clontarf Promenade are beautiful and within walking distance
• Community - it is quite a settled area, especially the West Road side.
• There are no roaming gangs of youths terrifying the local.
• Gentrification: They are building more apartments, hotels etc , with that comes further amenities. Marshalls Yard, The Comfort Inn etc are all due for completion over the next 24-36 months
• Walking distance to the Three Arena and Croke Park for events.

Cons:

• There is a lack of greenery around for sure. DCC cut down the trees on West Road and its surrounds a couple of years ago unfortunately.
• There is a younger population, and that scares some people.
• If you are bringing up a familiy like we are you may need to look further afield for schools.
• Sea level rises - could be an issue down the line, but given the proximity to the most expensive real estate in the country they will invariably have to build sea defences, but that will be a global issue not localised to here.
• Like anywhere there are some areas that are preferable to others. Probably avoid Island Key in that regard (not that there aren't nice people there too).

Citizen Six

Some parts of it are fine, and some are awful. There's high enough anti social behaviour, and a lot of illegal dumping in the area, which drives me nuts. Almost bought a house there about ten years ago, but it fell through. Glad it did, looking back.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856017#Comment_121856017

Don't want to take away from the area you are living, but there a chance you might have just 'gotten used to it' to a degree.

I lived in D1 on Gardiner Street for 7 years. By the end of it I was telling everyone it was fine, 'Gentrifying' and so on. All I could see was the new buildings going up, how a few bits and pieces had changed since I'd moved in initially and was hugely optimistic.

Bought in Stoneybatter a couple of years ago (which is IMO a genuine gentrifying area) and now anytime I go back to D1 / D3 I can't believe how rough the areas look.

There's so much social housing that I don't think it will ever truly gentrify as you have generational poverty and social issues just dug in and not going anywhere.

Even the newly developed docklands area with loads of people living in fairly pricey accommodation looks rough.

It's unfortunately as infrastructurally there are some great houses/buildings around the area.

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121855668#Comment_121855668

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't that happen 16 years ago?

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856076#Comment_121856076

I know what you are saying 100% - but we haven't been here long enough to be used to anything really (we are here just over 12 months) and knew what we were getting ourselves into having spoken to residents, DCC, the community officer in Store St (who is very sound) and a few other 'characters' who would be well known enough around.

We did our due diligence, and chose to be here having previously lived in places like Ringsend, Donnybrook, Rathmines, Blackrock and Dundrum/Ballinteer.

I have friends and family who live here now who love it (none are from here originally), our house is great, its quiet and our neighbours are lovely. We are on the quieter 'half' of the area as I mentioned above. but we targeted the exact area based on the feedback of others who basically drew us a map and said here is good, here not so much etc. Our commute is under 10 mins into town, we have off street parking and a back garden.

I am not naiive to think that there is nothing bad going on around, or that nothing bad will ever happen in the area again - but that doesn't frighten me at all really and I suppose that is the trade off for the house/life we wanted.

As an aside the Mrs and I were down here 5 years ago and she remarked at the time that she would never live here when I suggested it ... now she's refusing to entertain the thought of ever moving in the future.

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856086#Comment_121856086

I think it was about 12. Still something to note. There was also the stabbing of a bike thief more recently. Last time I was there I still see they dumping of rubbish there by the locals.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856086#Comment_121856086

Young lad stabbed and killed there a few years back, after his mates attacked a chap who was working in the area.

Edit: I see it's been mentioned above.

Umaro

I bought in East Wall around 18 months ago. I'd be in agreement with COH's post. The area is surprisingly quiet, neighbours are lovely, and you end up located well for public transport, as well as being walking distance to plenty of amenities (I love being able to walk home from the 3arena in 10 mins).

I knew it had a bad rep when I was moving here, but I haven't seen a single instance of trouble. Not that I deny there is trouble, but I thought I'd have seen something by now! Possibly it helps that I am more toward the Spencer Dock Luas stop than main East Wall (which I think of as the area around Lidl). I wouldn't have an issue recommending the area.

My only criticism would be that there's no real village feel to the area. I feel like other places I looked at (Rialto, Stoneybatter, Drumcondra) there's a hub of shops/pubs/eats where you could go out.

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856532#Comment_121856532

There was a fatal stabbing in Dundrum around the same time - are you suggesting that people should be weiry of moving to Dublin 16 🙃

I'm just back from a full loop of EW with the dogs - didn't see any of the illegal dumping you are referring to.

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856981#Comment_121856981

Well I would live in Dundrum before East Wall. The OP is looking for opinions , we differ in views but I have no vested interest like you. It doesn't sound like you are not raising a child in the neighbourhood but you did suggest sending a child to schools outside the area. Why would you do that if everything is fine?

There are plenty of original residents down there with lots of kids who are generational social welfare households. Totally different being an adult there to raising a child. As I said I friends from there and they moved out and never thought about raising their kids there. I worked in the big round glass tower by Church Street and had a great view of the area. Watched the drunks and other addicts on their daily runs. I also lived in North Strand which is much further along the gentrification train, and the train tracks was a big divide.

I believe all the schools are DESI which is an acknowledgment the area is considered to be impoverished and children in the area need additional help. In terms of raising a child that has to be a red flag.

ingo1984

Funny,in the

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121857480#Comment_121857480

Funny that in the 25 years that I lived in various parts of Dublin, the two times I was assaulted and the one time I was stabbed by a group of scumbags was in D16 in the dundrum and rathfarnham area.

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121857480#Comment_121857480

To expand on my comment re: schools there just aren't many (if any) gaelscoil or non-denominational schools in the area as would be our preference, so we will probably have to look further afield in that regard thats all.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121857480#Comment_121857480

Tbf ray you're talking our your arse. I'd a neighbour shot on his doorstep 20 years ago in an affluent area.

Because like many fool hardy middle class guys he decided making big big money was his priority over running his dad's normal functioning business.

Do people remember it.. no. Do people tell others not to live there because a hit happened ? No.

Wasn't the general gunned down in Ranelagh.....

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856532#Comment_121856532

Incorrect, it was as @COH said, 16 years ago, not 12.

OP I'd take what Ray Palmer says with a pinch of salt. He has a history of reviewing areas he's never been to or hasn't been to in years.

havana

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856017#Comment_121856017

Thanks so much for this. Having lived in both Crumlin and Rialto I have heard all the negative comments but I have never felt unsafe in either area. That’s not to say that there are no issues but there are few areas that can claim to have none.

my plan would be to leave him in school where he is (there is a direct bus route that is no further a commute than most of the areas of crumlin I have been looking). But I do need to consider secondary school options.

i am going to do the evening commute one of the days next week and see what it is like.

havana

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856783#Comment_121856783

Thanks. Yes that’s something I like about Rialto, the village has developed really nicely in recent years. To be honest I’m not too bothered by the reputation - having lived in south inner city for a long time I have heard it all. If I don’t want to rub shoulders with the locals I could go live in a gated community out in the suburbs but that’s just not for me. I love the character and liveliness of Dublin 8 and it’s residents and it’s that that I’m looking for when I ask about an area

someone suggested D7 but from what I have seen I am likely priced out of there for the most part, but I am open to looking at all areas close to the city.

havana

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121857480#Comment_121857480

I grew up in Dundrum. If I had the money would I live there now? Probably not! That might surprise some, certainly surprised many of my friends who dream of the 4 bed semi, with room to extend, in the suburbs. That’s never been my dream.

the school issue is an important one, as we are in ET now and that will be a requirement at second level. I’ll have to do some research.

COH

There is an ET in Grace Park which isn't far from East Wall

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121857729#Comment_121857729

Huge difference between a hit and a teenager having access to a gun to shot somebody who stopped letting them smoke weed in their house. If you don't see the difference that is your issue.

I personally wouldn't want my kids going to school or living close to peers who's parent are part of organised crime. Are we going to say Sheriff Street isn't there?

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121858690#Comment_121858690

Just be cognisant that you've come onto a thread asking for advice about an area and honed in on the one person who lives there speaking about it positively, confirming your bias of thinking it's potentially okay to buy there.

Even if it all comes together and you manage to get a house in a nice little enclave of East Wall with nice neighbours, you still have some of the worst parts of the city around you. Sherriff Street and Ballybough are literally on your doorstep. Try wandering around there when the sun goes down too as part of your investigating the area (just be careful)

I'd to commute up through that area every day to get to my apartment on Gardiner Street for the guts of a decade and it would wear you down. It's not all about feeling unsafe per se, it's just having that all around you constantly. Dealing with junkies walking around screaming at each other, the general lack of care and pride for the community around you. Scrote kids wandering about causing trouble.

I don't know why there's this notion as well that the only options seem to be leafy D4 or in the thick of it beside Sherriff street. Dublin is full of nice spots in between.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121859857#Comment_121859857

Ah yes. The person I just said that was shot was not part of organised crime... at all ever... hence they were shot for... nothing.

Point stands you're talking out of it.

People are fleeing rathgar because the general lived and was killed there. Oh he's buried up the road in mount Jerome too. Crazy crime stuff. Makes you think.

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121859930#Comment_121859930

Incorrect - there were two of us who spoke positively about living here, it just so happens that we are the only two people who have contributed to the thread that actually live here, lived here, or have seemingly even spent any time in the area recently. I'm not making slight of the commute you used to make - I drive up Sheriff St to Dorset St and past your old abode on Gardiner St every day myself, from my perspective it gets progressively worse the further i get from the house but that's for another thread :D

Anyway look we'll go back and forth on this forever so I'll bow out. I totally understand and acknowledge your points above and I have enjoyed the conversation.

@Ray Palmer ... man 16 years ago. SIXTEEN. What is wrong with you! If you want to avoid having neighbours involved in organised crime you might want to avoid places like Foxrock too 😉

OP if you have any Qs feel free to PM me and I'll happily answer.

Gary_dunne

Rented on Church Rd for 2 and a half years back from 2018-2020. Really enjoyed my time there, close proximity to Fairview Park, 3 arena, public transport links through bus and Luas and a short cycle into town. I was in my mid 20's at the time and it was ideal for me.

Would I choose to raise a family there? Personally, I wouldn't. There isn't the village feel that the OP was asking about, couple of cafés and a Centra near East Rd but that's pretty much it from what I remember.

As for the safety aspect, I never felt unsafe as a mid 20's male but my partner said she never liked even walking from the carpark to my apartment during the day. There are some nicer areas but I can understand why some felt unsafe around where I lived, always seems to be groups of young lads hanging around that I know some people find intimidating.

I'd happily live there again myself if I wasn't planning on having a family but it would be down the list if I was planning on buying near the city.

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121860242#Comment_121860242

Are there still armed police on Sheriff Street? How many years were they there and how long ago?

Areas don't change that quickly so 16 years is valid.

You like the area and I own a property relatively close so down there very regularly. The addicts are still there.

One of they guys I worked with was nearly hit by a car in East Wall and he flipped them off. Gardai pulled him over to warn him it not a good idea as you don't know who was driving and there are so many dangerous people there. It was 14 years ago and these people still live there.

Claw Hammer

The best people to ask are the deliveroo cyclists. Ask them where they like to avoid when making deliveries. They have up to the minute information on rough, tough and unsafe areas.

AngryLips

Live in EW after living across various places in D8 for over a decade. I would say it is much quieter here than almost everywhere in D8 apart from maybe Islandbridge. It's definitely far less scaldy than Rialto when I lived there but I've heard Rialto is coming up in the world so maybe it's different now.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121860242#Comment_121860242

As long as it's getting worse the further you move away from your house you're doing alright 😁

When I was looking for a new place a couple of years ago there was a gorgeous ground floor Georgian apartment with its own front door going on Mountjoy Square for a reasonable price (I think it ended up selling for north of 400k in the end) that I was incredibly interested in and was nearly going to stay in the area if I could nab it, but was told on no uncertain terms by the wife that she was leaving D1 with our without me. 😁

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-to-market/georgian-living-in-the-heart-of-dublin-for-295-000-1.4577905

havana

@o1s1n I won’t comment on your use of scrotes or junkie and instead thank you for your time in replying to my thread.

I didn’t hone in on one person and replied to as many as I could. My son will most likely grow up in an inner city area or somewhere close by. For a couple of reason - but mainly because that is where I want us to live. I am not naive and am well aware of the negatives of living in an inner city area but I have happily done so for almost 30 years.

@COH thank you for your offer - I might just take you up on that as I am going to view a house at the weekend. I am concerned about secondary options for my son so that might that rule the area out.

havana

@Gary_dunne I have never felt any more unsafe in Rialto that anywhere else but I do understand why some do. It has its fair share of antisocial behaviour and I had to call the gardai many times but it was never enough to cause me to regret buying a property or living there for many years.

SharkMX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121855668#Comment_121855668

Cant be stressed enough how the single most important place in picking a general area to settle down in and live is how you would feel raising your kids in that area, whether you have them now or not.

Fred Cryton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121856017#Comment_121856017

Having also lived near Sheriff street i can say the idea that East Wall is "quiet" is BS. Are you excluding the numerous times times multiple garda cars and helicopters have chased drug gangs through the area? Are you excluding the fireworks happening on regular basis, often fired horizontally at cars? Are you excluding the gangs of feral youths on bikes engaged in all sorts of criminality? Yeah other than that, a quiet upstanding community.

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121864268#Comment_121864268

Since living here I have not seen nor heard of any garda chases through or in East Wall.

I have encountered no roaming gangs of feral/criminal youths. I have met some young people on Church Road - they petted my dog. Terrifying stuff.

There were lots of fireworks on Halloween. They were targetting the sky from what I could see.

I'm not on Sheriff St - I know all about Sheriff St, I've lived in the city center most of my adult life I'm not a fool, I am fully aware what goes on in the areas surrounding here - I'm telling you about where I am, literally right now and have been since Nov 2022. If you want to call that BS then thats fair enough I don't know what to tell you man

COH

As an aside - and not at the risk of pointing out the obvious... Sheriff St and East Wall are not the same place despite the geographical proximity. This isn't a thread about Sheriff St.

And even at that, there is a marked difference between the five lamps > luke kelly side of Sherrif St (we can all agree thats not a great place to be) and from the bridge > Dublin port side which is primarily expensive apartments populated mostly be tech/finance workers.

That expanse of redevelopment, combined with the train tracks do form a significant filter from what happens 'up there' and 'down here' for the most part.

Now, I have not once said that East Wall is perfect, that there aren't any mad heads living here or that there arent parts of it that are nicer/safer then others. Nor have I said that nothing has ever happened here or that nothing will again. But the same can be said for many areas.

We all have our own perspectives on life. my wife for example grew up in what would be considered to be an underpriveledged sh*t hole (Jobstown!) but you wouldn't know it to meet her or her siblings because they were raised well. I don't know if we will live in East Wall forever - but we certainly have no fear of raising children down here the same way we were raised ourselves.

Of the three houses on our road here that have sold in the past 24 months two have young children and we have one on the way. The parents all work and are lovely so I guess we aren't the only ones with the same idea , even if we are all blow ins 😄

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121865273#Comment_121865273

You seem to ignore the people who have a much longer experiences of East Wall than you. If your child went to school in the area they would be at school with other children from Sheriff Street. You aren't fully aware of what goes on in East Wall and the surrounding areas after 1.3 years. I doubt you know the names of families to be avoided at all costs, these aren't in the newspapers. They still live there and have been there a long time. It is quite funny that you have been there so little and keep saying others are wrong who know the area decades. You have some things to see yet

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121864268#Comment_121864268

you're one of these "omg the city is out of control o'connell st is a no go zone!" types though. east wall is in the city centre almost so the garda will have to deal with stuff there sometimes of course.

i live in north strand OP, but a few mins walk from lidl and aldi in east wall. it's a great area. lots of different nationalities, people walking around everywhere all the time so that always gave me a feeling of security in places, not that i'm one to worry about safety anywhere in dublin though.

the only noisy thing at night for me is trains going past. parts of east wall are pretty secluded too and very quiet. you can nip over to clontarf in about 5 minutes on a bike, town is on your doorstep, and fairview park is lovely when the weather's nice.

i absolutely love living in the area and can't recommend it enough.

@Ray Palmer i went to school in fairview with people from east wall and sheriff street who were absolutely sound and am still friends with some of them today, you know nothing of the area it seems.

COH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121866097#Comment_121866097

I know their names - and I know the roads they live on.

As I said in my original post I have friends who have been living here 20+ years, I own a local business not far from here of whom we have many clients who live here now far longer than me, my cousin lives around the corner. I spoke to all of them at length before moving here.

Its the opinions of people who THINK they know the area because they passed by a decade ago or that have never actually lived here (and by here I mean in EW) that I'd disregard, along with the obvious snobs.

spurious

I have to laugh when people see a DEIS school as a negative.

Extra resources, more staff, smaller classes, different ways into (alternative requirements for) college courses - all sorts of positives.

All the better surely if your child is not from a 'typical' DEIS household, but can avail of all the options for those who are?

I live in North Strand and have done for coming up on 40 years. Would not hesitate to live in East Wall.

I also taught second level in the area and we got lovely children from the East Wall primaries.

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121866302#Comment_121866302

It is an indicator of incomes in the area. It is a great program

I lived in North Strand at the same time as you and loved it but I am not blind. A lot of NS has now been bought by wealthier people and has vastly improved from when I lived there. Before it was rough enough but better than EW.

C3PO

OP - what are your alternatives? Personally, I would much prefer to live in East Wall than lots of other areas in Dublin but equally there are lots of areas that I would prefer over East Wall. Living in the city centre would appeal to me more than some distant suburb. My big worry would be schools for your child.

havana

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121867281#Comment_121867281

Dublin 12, preferably Crumlin, or Dublin 8 but I’m finding myself priced out, even for total doer uppers.

My preference would be for an ET secondary school but they are few and far between anyways!

SharkMX

My main worry would be where are your kids and who are they hanging out with when they are 14, 15 or 16.

Im sure the majority of kids will be fine, but it is dangerous for some and best not to put them in that situation.

Consider that when you are looking to buy in any area.

Have a walk around the surrounding areas at night and see how you feel about it. Do it a few times. Ask your wife, daughter or girlfriend if they would be comfortable walking home at night on their own around there.

passenger72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121858690#Comment_121858690

Mount Temple secondary school is a great school close to the area. St.Vincents, Marino is also good. Then Fairview……educate together on Drumcondra Rd etc……all of them are either walking or a short cycling distance.

passenger72

@Havana……did you get the house in the end? I hope you enjoy the area if you did

havana

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122338600#Comment_122338600

sorry, only seeing this now! I ended up buying in Lwr Ballyfermot, the commute to school was just too far!