Swords is definitely one of the fastest-growing towns in the country. From a population of 400 in the 1950s, the town now has around 35,000 residents and this number rises with each new housing estate coming up for sale. In the new development plan for Swords launched last November by Fingal County Council, it was predicted that the population will have reached 50,000 in the next 10 years.
The property fever that grips the rest of the Dublin area was late coming to Swords, despite the fact that it is a mere eight miles from O'Connell Street. Last season you could buy a three-bedroom semi in one of the newer estates for around £115,000. Prices for the first new housing schemes this year have risen dramatically, however. Buyers queued overnight for starter homes at Swords Demesne two weeks ago and these were a sell-out at prices from £152,500 to £160,000.
A walk down the town's Main Street is enough to see how this once-rural village is changing. What townspeople claim is the second-widest main street in the country has been given the "village" treatment with a narrower traffic thoroughfare, wider pavements and plenty of flower tubs. Locals have mixed feelings about the revamp, saying it is causing traffic hold-ups and parking problems for visitors. Protests about the lack of a bleeper pedestrian crossing are ongoing.
Much of the expansion is industry-driven, with the influx of major multinational corporations to the Swords area growing at a faster rate than private housing. Motorola, Hertz and Gateway 2000 are among the largest employers and long-resident Amdahl is expected to move into the new Airside Business Park under construction at Nevistown.
A proposal for a seven-building development at Swords Business Park has recently been lodged with Fingal County Council by Humbolt Ltd. To introduce smaller businesses to the advantages of new technology, the local Chamber of Commerce is running Internet awareness courses at its offices opposite the Lord Mayor's pub.
A major new shopping and multiplex cinema complex, the Pavilion, behind Superquinn, will have four major department store chains (C&A is rumoured to be one) with Dunnes Stores as one of the anchor tenants. Superquinn will move in too and plans to develop its existing site for other uses.
The proximity of the airport is a huge boost to property in Swords. The opening of Collinstown airport in the 1940s created a need for housing and in the following decade, Seatown Villas, Longlands and St Columba's estates were built. Seatown Villas residents last year held a 50th celebration.
Side by side with all this expansion, the Swords Heritage Centre keeps a watchful eye on historic sites in the town from its museum headquarters on the top floor of the Carnegie Library on North Street. Colmcille settled here in 560 and founded a holy well from which Swords (meaning pure water) derived its name. Later, the Normans built a castle which is currently being restored by the County Council.
An old keep and round tower still stand on Colmcille's monastery site, although a manorial corn mill was demolished to make way for the Castle shopping centre. Local historian Bernadette Marks hopes to preserve the Boro school, which was designed by Francis Johnston, architect of the GPO.
Fingal County Council's new ultra-modern headquarters, due to open in the summer, towers over Main Street like a monolith, and has been the subject of local protest, particularly over the fate of the tall Dutch Elm trees bordering the site. On the plus side, over 400 office staff will be relocating to the town.
There is a wide selection of modern three and four-bedroom semis within the town's boundaries, which stretch from the airport side of the Dublin Road to Balheary in the north, east towards Kinsealy and to the Naul Road in the west. The most recent developments are taking place on the west and south of the town, where zoning is residential. The green belt between Swords and Malahide will prevent such wide-scale housing in the near future on this side of town, and the coastal strip will undoubtedly be protected. Conservationists are worried at the effect the new motorway bypass will have on wildlife at Swords estuary, particularly the swans.
Several agents in the town share the booming property market and there seems to be enough business to go around. The more settled estates closer to the town centre are the choicest areas, especially Highfields and Carlton Court, which are within walking distance of the Main Street. These are among the most expensive semis in town.
GWD Estates sold a four-bed semi at Carlton Court late last year for £190,000 and a four-bed detached house on Highfield Green for £250,000. Sherry FitzGerald sold a four-bed detached on Highfield Downs last year for £255,000 which would fetch £280,000 at today's values. Of the newer estates, Glen Ellan and Swords Manor are popular - a three-bed semi at Glen Ellan will cost around £160,000 and £140,000 at Swords Manor. There are still plenty of modestly-priced second-hand houses around at prices considerably below those on brand new schemes. Currently on the market are a three-bed semi at Forest Walk with Flynn & Associates for in excess of £130,000, another three-bed semi is for sale at River Valley Drive for £140,000 with Morton & Flanagan and Kevin Flanigan is selling another three-bed semi at Forest Fields Road for £135,000.
There are some attractive mature bungalows in Swords which fetch premium prices, although less than in similar areas south of the city. Flynn is selling a pretty bungalow on half an acre off the Malahide Road with an asking price of £235,000.
Apartments are just coming into vogue here and are relatively scarce. Morton & Flanagan is currently advertising a two-bed unit at Cooldriona Court for £160,000. The new Plaza development is already sold out at £130,000 for a one-bed apartment. And there is a new scheme currently under construction next to the Carnegie Library on North Street.
According to one agent, some owners of ground floor apartments have applied for change of use to offices. Two-bed apartments are renting for up to £700 per month to multinational employees.
Even thinner on the ground are period properties - most of the quaint artisan cottages around the village have already been converted into offices or shops. The few that are still in private ownership have very large back gardens and are worth a king's ransom at today's land prices of up to £400,000 for an acre with full planning permission. The best starter homes are found in former local authority estates, where a three-bed terraced house can be bought for between £105,000 and £120,000 depending on condition. They come on the market with local agents from time to time and are snapped up quickly.
