Walkers' paradise - and lots for children to do

Walks, winebars, friends – and a great place for families: ROSE DOYLEtalks to two couples about why they moved to Malahide

MAEVE Deere, just six years living in Malahide, thinks it “fabulous, a great place to live. We won’t ever leave, even when the children are grown. We’ll get a nice little apartment in the marina.”

She’s an exuberant person, happily speaking for husband Paul and children Josh (10), Rachel (7) and Zach (5). She was brought up in Clontarf, Paul comes from Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.

“We lived in Donabate when we first married, then moved to Malahide when Josh was three.”

They now live in a three-bed semi in Seabury, a development that is about 25 years old. “It’s perfect for us. I can walk to the village, or take a bus if I have to.”

Two of the children go to St Sylvester’s Infant School, while her first-born, Josh, goes to Pope John Paul II NS.

“They’re great schools. St Sylvester’s is only one of eight junior schools in the country. Having all small children together is a great way to introduce them to school.

“There are loads of child-directed activities in Malahide, not expensive activities either. Malahide Castle runs children’s tennis coaching, for instance, that’s really, really good.

“Everyone goes down to the estuary. Malahide and the estuary are a walker’s paradise. I walk the estuary and the Coast Road and Malahide Castle gardens myself. We’re so lucky in the walks we have around here.”

Malahide also has “a fabulous choice of wine bars and restaurants. There’s always something to do. The yearly Malahide festival has live bands and is a huge family affair. There’s lots of art stuff going on too, and many local artists. At Christmastime, Santa arrives on a designated day and that’s very big. There are family days in Malahide Castle and we’ve a very alert Facebook going on too. It’s all very family and community orientated but definitely not in your ear!”

Malahide, she says, is a good place to live “whatever your age.”

It’s got all the right road and rail links too. Husband Paul works on the other side of the city, in Deansgrange.

“He leaves at 7.45 in the morning and gets there in 45 minutes on the M50. It takes him about 45 minutes to get home in the evenings too. If we need to do a lot of shopping, it’s a five minute drive to the Pavilions in Swords.

“Malahide is such a safe place for children too. Josh walks home from school every day. We’ve made so many friends, they’ll have to take me out of here in a box!”