Fast growing suburb beckons shoppers

IN ... SWORDS:The population of Swords is set to grow from 40,000 to 100,000 - and that's not counting the shoppers, says Paul O'Doherty

WITH A population approaching 40,000, Swords is seemingly the biggest town in the country without a voice. Short-changed on hospitals, institutes of technologies and social amenities, it's now, however, a valuable hub for jobs, a burgeoning shopping experience that includes the planned €500 million extension to the Pavilions and a model for apartment living.

The local area plan, Your Swords: An Emerging City - Strategic Vision 2035, incorporates a futuristic 100,000 residents, a Metro North extension, a cultural quarter and recreational facilities, among many other transformations, but little else to quell the forecast that the old village is destined to become a hyper-shopping-ville for mostly daytrippers.

How's the market?

Like everywhere else, Swords hasn't been immune to the 15 to 20 per cent fall in prices with Alan Redmond, the president of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, acknowledging that "it's slow, but properties are still selling where properly priced" that "from all the right noises, the pending budget will stimulate the market", and thus "2009 will be better".

On the ground, there are a number of one-bedroom ground-floor apartments in Applewood, away from the village available at €220,000. In the middle of the action there's a first-floor apartment with a balcony at Castle Hall, Swords central for €280,000. (Unsold apartments in the newest development close by are still looking for €305,000).

Into the two-bedroom category, it's an investor's bloodbath with Ridgewood, Holywell, Applewood, Carnegie Court and Boroimhe, to name a few developments, hustling for a sale between the €269,000 and €355,000 boundaries. It's worse in the three-bedroom sector although a mid-terrace duplex townhouse at Boroimhe, with a large rear balcony, is reasonably priced at €340,000. For a little more, there's a semi with a decked garden in a quiet cul-de-sac, down €10,000 after four weeks, going for €400,000 at Swords Manor.

Finally, if it's country air and a bit of seclusion close to a main town you're after, there's a four- to five-bedroom house with five reception rooms on 0.65 acres with mature landscaped gardens at Lispopple Cross, in need of modernisation, at €1.2 million.

And to rent?

According to Fingal Letting's Stephen McKinney, the market is "oversaturated" with two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhouses, while Shane Redmond's Niamh Jones says "it's good, and prices are steady" with properties only down around €50 a month at most "as long as they are reasonably priced". Both views are accurate in the sense that properties closer to Swords village are renting faster than those out, say, in huge developments like Holywell.

Typically, one-bedroom apartments close to their own amenities in Applewood are desperate for €1,000, while a wooden chalet, near Airside and a fast-paced 10-minute walk to the village, seems perfect for a retired eco-warrior at €800.

Into the two-bedroom apartment division where there are over a 100 properties, whose owners must be crying into their investments, wondering if there are enough people to go around: prices are competitive, between €1,050 and €1,200. Take your pick between Applewood, Holywell, Walton Hall, Ridgewood and Boroimhe.

Three-bedroom family homes are also in good supply with a semi in secluded Carlton Court, slightly away from the hustle and bustle, ready-to-go at €1,450.

Going out?

A lot of popular pubs along the main strip but, despite OK lunchtime alternatives, still missing quality restaurants.

Price of a pint

€4.70 in the Lord Mayor.

Good for families?

Children's hospital is a bit of a hike although school places don't seem to be a problem. Limited fulltime childcare places for three- to four-year-olds are available at €235 a week at Tigin Montessori School. However, after-school places are like hen's teeth.

What's to do?

Good sporting links in the community with badminton, boxing, golf, judo, karate and GAA clubs, among others. For tourists, Swords Castle, with its constable's tower, is certainly worth a visit (Monday to Friday only), particularly during its ongoing restoration, when tours are free. Other than that, if you don't like shopping, good luck.

Home to . . .

Fingal County Council.

Locals say

"As a self-sufficient town, Swords has everything you'd want." (Fred Booth).

"Since Fingal County Council moved out here a few years ago, it's been a nightmare with their double yellow lines, bus lanes and parking wardens - it's bad for business." (Martin Boland).

"The shops are certainly getting better, and particularly with the planned Pavilions extension you'd have little reason to go into town." (Sami Reynolds).

"The local youths would persecute you with their carry-on, vandalism and graffiti." (Jean Mullins).

"The yellow cops (parking wardens) around here are worse than the Stasi." (Jim Stokes).