Melanie Morris, editor of fashion magazine dSIDE is one of many young professionals who have moved into the Ringsend/ Irishtown area in recent years.
"I moved to Gordon Street from a flat on Percy Place. My parents live in Monkstown and I always wanted to live closer to the city so it fitted the bill perfectly. I'm 50 yards away from my office on Barrow Street which is fantastic, although I didn't buy the house for that reason. I get to work completely unstressed and if I want to go back in the middle of the day I can. It's a small single-storey house and there wasn't much to do when I moved in. There's a lovely garden at the back you wouldn't expect here. Not too big, but that's a bonus. I've hung a lighting art installation on the shed door, so my house has got its own mark on it now.
The house is painted on the outside and has two bedrooms, but I use one as a diningroom. Gordon Street is very picturesque with windowboxes, and the neighbours are very house-proud. It's one of the most filmed streets in the country. I love the vista of the gasometer as an architectural structure - it's going to be horrendous when it's developed.
It's very quiet at night here and easy to walk in and out of the city. I love walking down by Sandymount Strand on summer mornings before work. In winter, it's very easy to be in the centre of town in the evenings. I go to the dog track down the road every so often. The other great thing is if there is a concert on at Lansdowne Road. It's great to be able to stroll down there and ask people back to the house afterwards.
It's a very safe area because it's settled and everybody knows each other. The bus service is appalling, but when there is a DART, it will be perfect. This is my very first house and I'm very happy here - I'm going to be here till I die."
Plus - Waterside location - Walking distance from City Centre - Good selection of period cottagesMinus - Threat from heavy industry
- Expensive and prices rising
- Poor bus service
