IN...ASHBOURNE: Meath's second largest town has yet to find its feet in terms of retail and social offerings, but its sports facilities are great, says Paul O'Doherty

IN RECENT times, Ashbourne, Meath's second largest town, has moulded itself as a surrogate rural suburb in the Dublin commuter-belt off the free-flowing N2.

However, despite all this and the arrival of the Dubs, British and Eastern Europeans spread over the old, new and disparate development schemes and town centres, Ashbourne's latest identity has yet to fully emerge.

In the meantime, now, post-bypass and everything else, it's settling down as a minor retail hub with plenty of living and car-park spaces that await the arrival of the high-street dressers and shoppers and some really decent attractions to match the representation of the supermarket, household and retail chains.

How's the market?

Prices are down as much as 30 per cent in places with value on the up and sales due in the post-budget shuffle. Grimes Auctioneers' Dermot Grimes says: "It is tough and challenging," although he expects "a spurt, particularly below the €400,000 threshold, before Christmas with great value in the 2009 market".

While Sherry FitzGerald Geraghty sees it as "slow" with Tormey Lee's Conor Tormey agreeing and noting that "we're achieving way below what we're looking for. Although if the banks were more lenient, we'd sell more."

One-bed apartments in the Cluan Rí­ development are yo-yoing between €250,000 and €215,000 with a first floor two-bed apartment at the Crescent, in a Continental-style curved cul-de-sac that's missing the buzz of out-living, bars and restaurants, reasonable at €255,000. While, a mid-terrace two-bed home with a narrow mature rear garden at Brindley Park Square is €280,000, down €40,000 from what it would have achieved in 2007.

A three-bed semi at Rath Lodge with mature garden, that would have once fetched €460,000, is now hungry at €405,000 (down 12 per cent). Similarly, three-bed duplexes at Cluain Rí­ are now selling for €270,000, down €70,000 (over 20 per cent) with a detached bungalow at Huntsgrove just off the main street, attractive at €385,000.

Four-bed semis with west-facing gardens at The Briars are bright, minimalist and going for €400,000, down €80,000 (over 16 per cent), while a four-bed semi-detached characterless creation at Brindley Park, facing a large green, is well-priced at €360,000.

Meanwhile, for the Scandinavian-style detached living experience-set, there are four-beds on three-quarters of an acre of well-kept gardens with an indoor heated-swimming pool and electric gates at Baltrasna, ideal for the Royal County's Sven and Ulrika. Or, Nancy or Faria.

A spacious four-bed detached house at Archerstown Wood, a short walk to the village, is down €150,000 to €800,000 (down 15 per cent), while a smaller five-bed house in the same scheme is down €70,000 to €730,000 (down nearly 9 per cent).

And to rent?

According to Tormey Lee's Conor Tormey: "The market has been good for a number of months" with Coldwell Banker's Donnacha Lloyd saying "there's a high level of demand". While Grimes Auctioneers' Sorcha Holton says "it's strong, but has softened by €100 to €150. And, presentation is definitely the key with landlords having to up their game in their selection of mod-cons and accessories like plasma television screens".

A one-bed ground-floor apartment close to everything at Cluain Rí­ is looking for €850 a month, while two bedrooms in the Killegland town development vary from €900 to €1,150 a month depending on floor, parking space and view. A spacious three-bed duplex at Kilderry Hall with a large balcony is value at €1,050 a month and a four-bed detached family home at Johnswood Drive with large rear garden pricey at €1,500 a month.

Going out?

Among the older generation pubs like Kelly's, the Ashbourne House, The Stag's Head and the club bars are all popular, as are restaurants like Eatzen or La Bucca and many others. However, for the under-25s, with the exception of the recently opened Music Factory, and for anyone with a gourmet bone in their body, it's as lively as the heartbeat in a microscopic roundworm.

Price of a pint

€4.10 in the Ashbourne House.

Good for families?

Crèche places are like hen's teeth with one facility due to close next month. And, it's quite a distance to the children's hospital, proposed or otherwise.

While there was a problem with school places in the past, according to St Mary's primary school principal John Barrett - who acknowledges that his own school has a waiting list for the next two years - "now, with the provisions that are being made to extend one of the local schools, there shouldn't be a problem in the future". Barrett also maintains that "90 to 95 cent of pupils go to the local community secondary school", where there are places, the rest making a choice to go elsewhere.

What's to do?

Sport certainly on the up with very impressive facilities including all-weather pitches and astro-turfs at the GAA and rugby clubs. There's also a gym, golf course and community centre and, since the bypass, it's a safer place for walking and cycling. And, a new six-screen cinema complex to due to open in early 2009.

Locals say

"It's a very cosy, well-connected town with everything, and it's a lovely place to live" (Tanya Gordetska, originally from Ukraine).

"The bypass has taken away its soul, man. Dee you know what I mean, dee yeh?" (James Fogarty. I think).

"The GAA and rugby club facilities are as good as anywhere in the country" (Tom Doyle).

"There's no atmosphere around here and there's nothing to do" (Michael Brothwood).

"It doesn't have a great nightlife" (Darach Coonagh).