Best places to live in Dublin for a family

[thegamebird]

OK. So here I am considering brining my family over to Dublin to live, an apart from working in the city for 6 months a few years ago, plus the obligatory hen / stag weekends have no idea of the best places to put down roots.

I'm applying to RCSI as my first choice and UCD as my second. We are a family with one son, who will be 4 next summer. We're looking for family friendly parts of Dublin, fairly central, maybe areas that are considered well-heeled (sounds snobby, and we probably can't afford them - but it's worth looking and hoping!)

We will probably rent, but may consider buying for am amazing house.

Thanks for your help!

[MentalNote]

These are the two best sites for checking rental and purchasing options in Ireland.

MyHome

DAFT

In case you are wondering the postal code system for Dublin works like this. Simply all the odd numbers are northside (north of the liffey) e.g. Dublin 1,3,5,7
with the lower the number the more central. The even numbers are all southside e.g. Dublin 2, 4, 6/6W, 8. If you are looking for fairly central I wouldn't consider going farther out than postcodes I have quoted here.

On the other hand you have to consider where you will be in college too. UCD campus is located on the outskirts of Dublin 4 which in general is very nice and expensive! RCSI is (after the first year) based in Dublin 15, some parts of which like Castleknock are very nice, other parts aren't great. RCSI is based in Sandyford Dublin 18 in first year.

[louglee]

there is a very nice place beside Connolly hospital called waterville its also got a good bus service to town and the blanchardstown SC, the communte from there to sandyford by car is about 20-30mins or about 40-50mins by bus and luas. the rent for places there is quite reasonable at about 900 a month for a large 2 bed, if you wanted to you could buy an apartment or duplex for about 210,000-230,000, the mortgage works out at less than the monthy rent I think its about 750-850. Castleknock is more expensive and is further away from connolly. some people live down in sandyford for the first year and then move for the second. stillorgan is also quite close to UCD it about 10-15mins by car from sandyford industrial estate,

I'm assuming that your son will be attending school while your at college here are links to where you can find nearby schools

Dublin 4
Dublin 4: Primary Schools
Dublin 14
Dublin 14: Primary Schools
Dublin 16
Dublin 16: Primary Schools
Dublin 18
Dublin 18: Primary Schools

Dublin 15 - Castleknock/ Blanchardstown
Dublin 15: Primary Schools

Map of UCD
http://www.ucd.ie/euiteniba/pdf/Dubl...20Location.jpg
(You'll see that stillorgan is to the south)

Map UCD - RCSI sandyford
map sandyford industrial estate UCD - Google Maps

[thegamebird]

MentalNote and Louglee - Thanks so much for the great information. Really useful.