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Help with choosing the right area to buy in

  • 08-12-2024 01:53PM
    #1
    dord94
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭


    Hi everyone!

    After years of saving, we're house hunting in Meath - looking at Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, and Ashbourne, either new build or second hand. We've got a little one starting creche soon, so good schools and childcare are our top priority. We both work near Swords, but figure the commute can't be worse than our current 1-hour each way from Dublin!

    We're not too fussed about nightlife - just want a nice family-friendly area. Here's what we've heard so far:

    - Ratoath: Nice but getting crowded, some water issues, town struggling to keep up with new builds

    - Ashbourne: Good amenities but busy, some water problems, occasional teen hangouts

    - Dunshaughlin: Lovely town but pricey. Heard mixed things about The Willows estate (thin walls, some antisocial issues)

    Any locals able to share insights about these areas? What should we know before making the move? Thanks!



Comments

  • #2
    BK5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭BK5


    Have lived in Ashbourne 23 years and think it's still a really good place to live. It has really built up in that time and traffic can be a little heavy at times and Ashbourne is only going to get bigger. But there is plenty of schools, shops and tons of places to eat, you never have to leave Ashbourne for anything really.

    Also, it's in a good location for getting to Dublin, Navan, Drogheda and the airport fairly handily.



  • #3
    dord94
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭dord94


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122936164#Comment_122936164

    Ah deadly, thanks for that! Ashbourne definitely seems to be the one place that hasn't been absolutely slated. Reading about ratoath and dunshaughlin I've come across some folk with absolutely nothing positive to say, but hasn't been the case with ashbourne.

    A lot of people say there's no parks though, any truth in this?



  • #4
    BK5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭BK5


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122936220#Comment_122936220

    Yes, for a biggish town we have been promised a park for years now.



  • #5
    NiceFella
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 480 ✭✭NiceFella


    Dunshaughlin is probably the best all round imo. Good size town and pretty good public transport into Dublin/blanchardstown etc. Rataoth is way too small a town to handle a big population (only 2 pubs and not much for food either) and has poor public transport into the city too.

    Ashborne is the most developed but would have bigger anti social issues than the others. Look at neighborhood watch Facebook groups. But it does have a cinema and good pubs.

    Long-term, if this Navan to Dublin train gets the green light then dunshaughlin and possibly Rataoth could be served by that which world be a major plus.



  • #6
    ciaran76
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,708 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    I live in Dunshaughlin and the anti-social comment is a bit strange. Go visit the area in the evening time and see for yourself.

    Every place has an "issue" if you ask certain people. Dunshaughlin does lack in doctors if thats a big concern for you.



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  • #7
    dord94
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭dord94


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122939192#Comment_122939192

    Definitely questioned that one myself too, when I visited a few weeks back the town felt very safe.



  • #8
    dord94
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭dord94


    Are there any areas in ashbourne that should be avoided when looking at homes? Everywhere seems pretty friendly at a glance on daft & Google maps



  • #9
    BK5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭BK5


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122941091#Comment_122941091

    Killegland is a large apartment complex in the middle of the town so it would maybe bring it's own issues but never heard of anything serious going on, it's just big and probably has a lot of renters. I've never had any trouble in Ashbourne anyway and even going into pubs for the last twenty have never seen anything even close to trouble in them.

    If you want you could name areas you looked at and I could give my tuppence worth.



  • #10
    wirelessdude01
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,441 ✭✭✭wirelessdude01


    We live further out in Duleek in a new estate. I know of 5/6 houses in here where people moved on out from estates in Ashbourne. Make of that what you want.



  • #11
    Fiona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,359 ✭✭✭Fiona


    I bought an apt in Killegland off the plans and then sold it in 2021 and moved to Navan, awful antisocial behaviour took my chance to get the hell of out of dodge. Lots of rental apts, council have bought some of them and I believe some have gone to Peter McVerry trust, a lot of undesirable tenants that are making life a misery for owner occupiers.

    Sadly a lot of teens hang around in the town centre and the small park at the back of the apartments.

    Ashbourne is good though in terms of everything located in the one area, you can walk from Aldi to Tesco to Dunnes to Lidl to Supervalue within 10 minutes.

    Navan is lovely, the only kicker is the commute to town but thankfully only needs to be done once a week.



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  • #12
    dord94
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭dord94


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122960790#Comment_122960790

    Good to know!

    I believe the areas I'm looking at are more settled than a traditional new build, least I hope they are. I'm looking at the north side of ashbourne, from dunnes stores and above. Can't seem to find much info on the different estates but they seemed relatively settled and hopefully avoid the issues that you may run into with new builds, 10% social housing, no clue how the neighbourhoods will settle etc..



  • #13
    dord94
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭dord94


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122941593#Comment_122941593

    The areas I've been looking at are the north side of the town. If you go to Google maps and find dunnes on the main street and draw a line I'm primarily looking north of that line



  • #14
    BK5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭BK5


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122996378#Comment_122996378

    I take it you mean the Tudor and Racehill areas so? Yes, very nice and long established estates in there, 5 minutes walk from the shops and bus stops and a National School in there also.

    I don't live too far from there myself. I'm from Meath born and raised and I have seen some Dublin people struggle with moving too far from home even as near as Navan, especially if you have to travel to Dublin everyday for work.

    Best of luck in your search.



  • #15
    Dickie10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,067 ✭✭✭Dickie10


    Trim is the golden child of these south meath towns, but can be a bit too far out for 5 day commutes into city. but as far aesthetics and picture postcard, pubs,hotels etc it ticks all boxes but its a tourist town and the prices of houses is massive. naturally then you start to get a very middle class population which in turn leaves very few anti social problems and its like a self fulfilling prophecy then, the school has a very good reputation , scoil mhuire but then its populated by middle class families so these type of towns end up like vicous cycle in a good way!



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