Not everyone realises that Drogheda is less than aqn hour's train journey form Connolly Station, yet prices are a good £30,000 ( €38,092) lower than the outer suburbs. The road network is also improving.

Menolly Homes is launching Highlands, its latest development in the Co Louth town, this weekend. As usual with Menolly, prices are competitively pitched to appeal to first-time buyers.

For £126,995 (161,250) purchasers can get one of 16 standard three-bed semis on offer. Also for sale are four extended three-bed semis from £134,995 (171,410), 10 smaller four-bed semis from £132,995 (168,870) and four very large four-bed Ross McParland.

The Highlands site is on the city side of town off Rathmullen Road, close to the bypass currently under construction, and overlooking the River Boyne.

Across the road is another previous Menolly development, worth a visit to see how the finished scheme will look.

This developer specialises in keenly-priced new homes, risking a degree of uniformity, but almost ready to walk into.

Walls are painted in neutral tones, every bedroom has wardrobes and tongue and groove floors and attractive fireplaces are piped for gas.

The 1.300 sq ft starter semis, from £126,995 (161,250), have a conventional layout, with a good-sized sittingroom and a large kitchen/diningroom at the back. Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms, one en suite, one single bedroom and the family bathroom.

Extended three-bed semis with 1,450 sq ft cost from £134,995 (171,410) - slightly more than the four-bed semis but considerably larger. An extension along the entire side of the house provides a large kitchen/breakfastroom and two spacious rooms off the hall. These will appeal to buyers looking for greater reception space, says Brendan Byrne of Ross McParland.

Ten four-bed semis with 1,300sqft are priced from £132,995 (168,870). In this house style, large utility rooms have been extended to the side, so gardens are wider. The sittingrooms are also wider than average, with 8ft hallways and an airy, spacious feel.

The upstairs landing is centrally placed between the four bedrooms, with a double and a single bedroom on either side, and the family bathroom is at the top of the stairs.

The most expensive houses Highlands are four 1,650sqft four-bed

These have a sittingroom and study on opposite sides of the hall, with a separate diningroom. The alder kitchen runs the width of the house to the rear and has a very large utility room. Off a wide landing are three double bedrooms and one single, with the main room en suite.

The Highlands site has good provision for landscaped open spaces while large back gardens will be levelled and seeded. Some of the houses for sale this weekend will be ready to move into within eight weeks, the rest from September to November of this year. The entire development of 213 houses is expected to be finished by this time next year.