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The Heart Of Shopping In Balbriggan Member of Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and Fingal Dublin Chamber
3rd September 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 33 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
North County Performs Well In Property Market If property prices can be interpreted as an indication of a healthy economy, then the North County is well on it’s way to recovering it’s bruised economy. A new study, based on an analysis of the Property Price Register, shows that transactions in the North County area are up by 17 per cent in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period last year. Dublin transactions are up 13 per per cent over the same period This excellent news is somewhat tempered by the lack of supply, which causes sale levels to drop in some areas. The lack of suitable stock is seen as a major obstacle to further growth in the
By Patrick Finnegan area. The County Leader spoke to estate agents in the area, and the air of positivity was refreshing. Edel McGuinness of EMG Properties in Balbriggan, confirmed that property is on the move in the area. “There is a big demand for property that is relatively priced. I’ve noticed a definite increase in the enquiries from potential buyers and there’s a definite, positive movement in the market. We
recently sold a property well in excess of € 30,000 above the guide price, which is a very positive sign. There’s a big demand, with people bidding against each other. Also, there’s a good selection of houses for sale, but buyers are conservative about what they buy and are always looking for the best bargain,” she said. McGuinness also spoke about the situation facing landlords in letting their properties. “Landlords are faced with additional taxes on their investment properties and are now prepared to sell their investment, rather than hold on to
New Chamber Website Launched
Fingal Dublin Chamber launched their brand new website last Wednesday at a Networking Breakfast Event in Movies @ Swords in The Pavilions Shopping Centre. Pictured at the event were Siobhan Moore (President Fingal Dublin Chamber), Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, Tony Lambert (CEO Fingal Dublin Chamber) and Louise Phelan (PayPal). See more pictures from the event on page 4
them for letting purposes, which leads to a reduction in stock for letting purposes,” she concluded. Sean Nolan from Property Team Nolan and Fahy in Donabate was very upbeat about the property upsurge. He told the County Leader, “There has been a good level of enquiries from potential buyers, who had been experiencing difficulties with lending institutions.”
He continued, “Consequently, there is a stronger number of people viewing properties and some have exceeded the asking price in many cases. We’re now in a situation in the prop-
erty market, where anybody who has been watching the market, are now putting their money back into property. Drops of €40-50,000 which previously happened, are now
not the case and the risk factor is now eliminated,” he said. He went on in the same positive vein, by adding, “I can see the market now in a strongest position since the decline and
I can only see it getting stronger. We’ve had downturns and upturns in the past and I am confident that this one looks like it’s coming to an end,” he concluded.
Popular Balbriggan Principal Retires The recent retirement of Balbriggan Community College principal, Pat Halpin is set to leave a large void in school life there. He brought the curtain down on a hugely successful career, when he officially retired last month. Speaking to the County Leader, Pat reminisced about some of his career highlights, during his 10 years at the helm at Balbriggan Community College. He said, There was a considerable change in staff profile during this time and I had a hand in selecting most of the present staff, There have been very positive inspection reports and excellent whole school evaluations in 2006. A real highlight for me was the steady Pat Halpin at Skerries improvement in school exam results. Indeed, we had the highest achiever in the entire county in Andrew Kettle, who achieved a maximum 625 points in his Leaving Certificate. This indicates that the school can deliver in terms of results and stan-
dard of teaching,” he said proudly. “Another significant trend has been the development of Special Needs provision in my time here, as I have a special affinity in this area. Marie Jan Buckley heads up the Special Needs department in the school. A brand new school is in the design stage at the moment, which will cater for 1,000 students and this will be a very exciting development for the school,” he said. Pat, who has been a teacher at the school for the past 34 years paid tribute to school colleagues who have supported him throughout his career. “I want to thank people like Cáit Shirran, his home in my deputy principal Christine Dunne, Fergal McMahon, Michelle Condra and many others who have worked tirelessly for the school,” he said. He also had kind words for a fellow retiree, John Carton, who has retired as a caretaker at the school. “He was always
very popular with students and had a great knowledge of the building. He was always first to arrive in the morning and last out. He will be sadly missed. The corridors of the school are bedecked with collages of pictures he framed.” Pat is a sporting enthusiast, who now has plenty of time to pursue his favourite pastime, cycling. “i am an active member of Swords Cycling Club, where I compete in races and just for leisure. I am also actively involved in the Rás Stage End committee here in Skerries. We’ve been responsible for the Rás coming to Skerries for the past eight years and our committee were awarded as volunteers of the year,” he said. Pat is married to Linda, who is principal of Crannóg Nua Special School in Portrane. They have three children, Sean (28), who is an Environmental Scientist in Sydney, Stephen (24), who is a professional cyclist and Aisling (21), who is studying Food Innovation at DIT. Pat, who is originally from Donabate, moved to Skerries 27 years ago, has proven to be a very popular principal, who is certain to be missed by his colleagues and students alike.