Perpetual motion, the giant ball on the M7 at the Naas roundabout which baffles passing motorists, symbolises the unceasing volume of traffic bowling past the town en route for the south. Nas na Riogh means "the assembly place of kings". There was once a line of castles to the south and east of the town, marking its strategic location as the southern stronghold of the Pale. Virtually no trace of the castles remain, apart from vaulted ground floor rooms in St David's Castle and in the house known as Eustace Castle on the Friary Road. As administrative headquarters of Co Kildare, Naas is still the most important town in the region.
The attractions of Naas are obvious the minute you turn into South Main Street. Tall period buildings of different heights, old-style shop fronts and the overall look of a prosperous market town make this one of the most desirable locations within reach of the capital. The number of good restaurants in the town is an indication of its growing prosperity. The drawback, of course, is that it costs money to move here. Houses are as expensive as in Dublin and in very short supply.
The population of Naas was just over 14,000 at the 1996 census. It is considerably more now and expected to reach 22,000 by the year 2003, according to a Development Plan for the town adopted by the Urban Council in May 1999. A new sewage treatment plant to be commissioned at Osberstown early next year is designed to cater for up to 80,000 people.
Naas's expansion plans have caused some local disquiet. There was trenchant opposition when the plan was launched and a petition carrying over 2,000 signatures was presented to the town hall. Most of the 120 acres rezoned for housing either have planning permission or applications under consideration at this stage, according to town clerk Declan Kirrane. Planning has just been granted for the largest block so far, 274 housing units on 35 acres formerly belonging to Major John de Burgh at Oldtown in the Sallins Road area. A new school is to be built on this estate and the gardens are to be opened up to public access.
Other amenity upgrades in the pipeline include a children's playground in the new Monread District Park, a walkway along the old railway line, refurbishment of the town swimming-pool, an indoor sports centre on Caragh Road and new council offices on Newbridge Road. Additional parking is a priority and the council is planning two commercially-run multi-storey car parks at Corbans Lane and Sallins Road. Pay parking is to be introduced in the new year. There are also plans to build a circular ring road around the town - some of this is 80 per cent completed and it is hoped to get funding approval for the remainder within the next year.
Schools are under pressure with the population increase and many are currently operating out of prefab structures. The Sisters of Mercy have extended St Mary's College, the Christian Brothers secondary school has plans to expand and the community school is moving to a new location on Sallins Road. Devoy Barracks has just been acquired by the council to accommodate new offices for Kildare County Council and the VEC. Fourteen acres of the land will be used to build affordable private housing.
This is a town where large numbers commute to the city, so there is no "them and us" situation for newcomers. Once here, people seldom move from the area and it's easy to see why. The 20-mile journey to Dublin is dual carriageway most of the way, the countryside is beautiful, there are excellent sporting facilities within a five mile radius and the shopping is second to none.
Don't venture into any of the boutiques on Main Street or your credit card will take a beating. On the other hand, with two racecourses in the parish, the money will be spent anyway. Do call into Thomas Fletcher's pub on Main Street to admire the authentic interior, almost unaltered in 150 years. Thomas still keeps a drop of Power's Gold Label in the oak casks behind the bar for old times' sake. Prouts haberdashery on North Main Street is also worth a visit.
Keen amateur dramatists and singers will find plenty to occupy them on long winter evenings in Naas. The musical society is currently rehearsing The Gypsy Baron at the Town House Hotel and The Moat Club drama group, which this year won the national three-act play award, is staging Jim Nolan's The Salvage Shop all this week. Major renovations to the Moat club in the spring will extend this venue to a 200-seat theatre.
It's still possible to buy a three-bedroom semi in Naas for around the same price you'd pay in Lucan or Clondalkin, less if you're lucky. Colm McEvoy is selling a fourbedroom semi near the hospital at Lacken View for £137,500 and a four-bedroom semi at Ardconagh for £147,500. A three-bedroom semi with Gunne Residential on Glann Na Riogh Crescent is priced at excess £158,000. New housing developments in Naas tend to favour larger properties more suited to trading up. With the Colm McEvoy agency are four and five-bedroom detached houses at Jigginstown Green starting at £250,000, four-bedroom dormer bungalows at Killashee View from £305,000 and five-bedroom detached houses at Johnstown from £375,000.
Ex-council houses are the best bargains in town, if you can get one. These are snapped up the minute they come on the market by locals in the know. Gunne has just agreed the sale of a two-bedroom mid-terrace on St Michael's Terrace for "excess £120,000" and Colm McEvoy recently sold a three-bedroom end terrace on Sarto Road for £128,000. Two and three-bedroom terraced bungalows at Hazelmere, off Blessington Road, which sell from £125,000 upwards are popular with retired people because of their closeness to the new church and the supermarket.
Period cottages in the centre of town are beyond the reach of most first-time buyers, fetching huge money because of their commercial potential. Large elegant older houses on the Dublin side of town sell for around £400,000.
Opinions differ as to the most soughtafter roads in town. Substantial Foxrocktype houses on the Tipper Road behind Lawlor's Hotel (soon to be revamped) rarely come on the market. Jordan estates sold one of these 1 1/2 acres houses about 18 months ago after auction for well over the withdrawal figure of £640,000. The Monread Road area is popular with Dublin buyers because it's on the city side of town and Mill Lane is a particularly attractive area. The Gallops development next to the racecourse is a favourite with locals trading up. Here, large four-bedroom detached houses fetch in the mid-£300,000s.
Business is booming in the town and prospects are good for further jobs. The newest industrial estate, Millennium Park, should attract tenants for its location alone. The 200-acre site is located on the Grand Canal, with a purpose-built interchange for speedy access to the M7 motorway. Eventual facilities will include housing, a creche, a hotel and conference centre, a multi-ethnic food hall, a leisure centre, multiplex cinema and bowling alley.
To preserve the beautiful canal towpath as an amenity, the council has placed restrictions on building within 90 metres of its banks along most of the canal frontage. "Its designation as a primary growth area will ensure Naas will grow. Housing and industry will come and we have to get all the infrastructure we need to cater for this," says town clerk Declan Kirrane.
