Tipperary worth up to €20 million of taxpayers’ money "has been awarded under circumstances that demand immediate scrutiny,” said independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath (File photo) A Tipperary TD has formally referred the recently announced €20 million contract to house asylum-seekers at Dundrum House Hotel to the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the suitability of the contractor involved entered into by the Department of Children a newly formed private company incorporated in Spain in January of this year WeatherDry and sunny weather to continue well into next week with temperatures set to rise againThe current spell of dry and bright weather is set to continue well into next week with temperatures to rise again later in the week https://www.tipperarylive.ie/section/1235/advertise-with-us Keep up to date with the latest news in Tipperary as it happens with TipperaryLive.ie The latest Tipperary news,sport and business from TipperaryLive.ie National - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news What's on - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news sport and business from Tipperary with the team from TipperaryLive.ie sport and motoring as it happens from TipperaryLive.ie Tipperary Live Met Eireann Weather Forecast Deaths - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Integration and Youth has responded to claims revealed last night that a company with a Spanish woman named as Director has been granted a contract worth roughly €16 to €20 million to operate an IPAS centre from the Dundrum House Hotel Cllr Liam Browne posted to his social media that a company known as Utmasta had signed the contract to operate the centre in the hotel READ MORE: 'Woman in Spain' to benefit from Dundrum House Hotel IPAS centre contract worth up to €20m Utmasta also has a listed address in Sandyford Business Park Cllr Browne raised concerns over the company’s legitimacy citing that it did not exist prior to January 9 of this year and that it has an estimated value of €120 These concerns were echoed by locals through the comments on Cllr Browne’s post the Department stated that all business undertaken was entirely legitimate and legal and was confirmed via their extensive background checks In a statement issued by a spokesperson for the Department they said: “The Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including checks via the Companies Registration Office to ensure compliance with Companies Registration Office (CRO) requirements and tax compliance checks by way of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate “Offers of accommodation can be made by a property owner we confirm if an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority READ MORE: BREAKING: Contract signed to house over 250 asylum seekers in Tipperary hotel “In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities are within legal limits all statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of accommodation are met by the service provider building regulations and other requirements “Contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive.” The Department also commented on their commitment to engaging with the local community stating: "Our Community Engagement Team (CET) have engaged extensively with the local community about this property since May 2024 "On 15 April 2025 the CET sent information on the property and type of accommodation to be provided directly to elected representatives the Local Authority and other relevant groups in advance of the arrival of people seeking international protection in an area "These measures improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into an area They also help the local community understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals The Department also works closely with a number of other government Departments and Non-Governmental Organisations to provide a wide range of supports to help new arrivals to integrate into an area as quickly as possible "Further information on our community engagement process is available online at gov.ie/communityengagement." " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news 5 March at the Halla Na Féile in Cashel In Pictures: Meet the cast of hit play 'The Ferryman' including a 'very well behaved baby' Night of nostalgia at Tipperary Museum with 125 year Clonmel High School reunion Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie The Public are invited to make submissions in relation to a new housing development proposal in the Mount St Submissions can be made via the online portal below blocks ranging in height from two to six stories and includes: Associated site and infrastructural works includes: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 296/2018 European Union (Planning and Development) (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)) Regulations 2018 Appropriate Assessment Screening (AA) under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the European Communities (Bird and Natural Habitats) dlr has carried out screenings and has determined the following: From 4 weeks from the date of this notice you can apply to An Bord Pleanála for an AA & EIA screening determination as to whether the development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment Plans and particulars of the proposal can be viewed from 14th March 2025 to 01st May 2025 at:  Further details and a link to the public consultation are available here Report a problem with the Council E-mail: info@dlrcoco.ie The owners of Dundrum Town Centre have handed over the keys to 15 stand-alone residential units to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for use as social housing as part of a nearby 122 residential unit development. The Dundrum Retail Limited Partnership, a joint venture between UK property group Hammerson and German insurance giant Allianz, is set to complete the construction The Ironworks this year. As part of the development the 15 stand-alone homes in the ‘Foundry’ building located on the eastern side of the shopping centre have been signed over to the local authority on long-term leases, they announced Wednesday. The development, which is managed by Pimco Prime Real Estate and Hammerson, is set to include 107 new apartments – made up of studios, and one and two-bedroom units – alongside 15 social homes. At an event in The Ironworks, Minister for Housing James Browne welcomed the agreement between the council and the developers. “This development is a key milestone in the transformation of Dundrum into a vibrant, multipurpose destination, enhancing both the local community and the wider Dublin housing landscape,” he said. Hammerson managing director of asset management in Ireland Connor Owens said the joint venture was “extremely pleased to contribute to the sustainability of the local community with the long-term leasing of these 15 social homes to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Listen | 46:35“This development forms part of The Ironworks scheme which will benefit from our operation and management of Dundrum Town Centre, and in turn diversify the use and purpose of the wider Dundrum Estate with sustainability at the forefront. “We are also excited to be the first major Irish retail scheme to deliver homes on site.” An Bord Pleanála recently refused a Hammerson subsidiary planning permission for an 881 residential unit development on the site of the old Dundrum shopping centre following a large volume of objections from locals. The project, which is part of a wider €466 million redevelopment of the centre, sought to build 11 apartment blocks mostly comprised of one and two bedroom apartments. A 16 storey “landmark” building at the northernmost point of the site was included in the application. The board said the development would “seriously detract from the architectural character of the area” after local residents variously described the project as “appalling”, “destructive”, and “a visual catastrophe”. Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of Vincent’s University Hospital after a long illness bravely borne Beloved wife of Billy and much-loved mother of Emma and Robert Deeply regretted and missed by her sisters Ann and Karen Removal on Wednesday morning (April 30th) to the Church of the Miraculous Medal followed thereafter to Mount Jerome Crematorium Click here at 12.15pm to view Margaret's committal service. All enquiries to JP Ward & Sons Funeral Home, Sandyford Village Tel (01) 2135905. Cremation / Burial.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Zara and Pull&Bear are planning significant expansions at Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin increasing from 26,300 sq ft to 37,700 sq ft Pull&Bear will move to a new location within the centre tripling its current space from 2,477 sq ft to 8,394 sq ft The revamped Zara store is expected to be completed next year while Pull&Bear’s expanded store is scheduled to open later this year Connor Owens, Managing Director, Asset Management (Ireland), told RTE News "As we look forward there is a promising pipeline for the rest of 2025 which will feature new openings and firsts for Dundrum Town Centre," said Connor Owens It opened on March 3rd 2005 and now around 15 million people on average head through the doors each year There’s more than 160 shops and restaurants along with a cinema and bowling alley across 1.2 million square feet the Luas wasn’t even a year old and Ireland was still riding the Celtic Tiger wave says they’ve had famous faces including Mike Tyson Matt Damon shopping over the year – and even Michael Jackson: Meanwhile shoppers told 98FM about their DTC memories we've probably lived in nearly every apartment around Dundrum people were blown away by the size of the shopping centre," Catherine Gregg remembers She heads up the 60-strong cleaning staff and has worked at Dundrum since day one four American Presidents and every iPhone ever Developed by Square1 Protestors at the gate of Dundrum House Hotel Fresh concerns have emerged over a multi-million-euro Government contract for an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) accommodation centre in Dundrum in county Tipperary following revelations about the company awarded the deal estimated to be worth "between €16 million and €20 million" according to one local representative has been granted to a little-known company called Utmasta which is now leasing Dundrum House Hotel for the purpose of housing International Protection applicants READ NEXT: BREAKING: Contract signed to house over 250 asylum seekers in Tipperary hotel scrutiny is mounting after it was revealed that Utmasta did not exist prior to January 9 according to claims by one Tipperary councillor.  Cllr Liam Browne says the company was incorporated in Spain just three months ago with a declared capital of only €120 and a single listed director READ NEXT: 'IPAS centres are so lucrative you have individuals exploiting this,' says Tipperary TD the Irish Government have signed a contract running a three month old company valued at €120 who has no track record of ever running a hotel or direct provision centre READ NEXT: MOST READ (2024): 'I'm afraid to write this column - which is why it must be written' it was revealed that a contract had been signed to house over 250 asylum seekers in Dundrum House Hotel although there have been other reports from local representatives that the final figure is 277.  The hotel has been used as a centre for refugees since early 2022 when Ukrainian refugees began to take up residency in the hotel following the Russian invasion of Ukraine when roughly 80 international protection applicants were relocated onto the grounds of the hotel who have been protesting outside the gates of the hotel since May of last year Speaking on the signing of the new contract Cllr Liam Browne posted on his social media saying: "I'm extremely disappointed to have to pass on this news but I've just been informed that the DCEDIY have signed a contract for 277 IPAS applicants to be accommodated at Dundrum House READ NEXT: Well-known GAA family deny involvement in Dundrum House Hotel asylum seekers debacle "We've not yet been told when people will be moving into Dundrum House Moving such numbers into a small rural area without first addressing the lack of services in the area causes problems both for local residents and for those being accommodated "There are also serious issues around the ownership and planning status of Dundrum House which are currently being investigated in the courts "The Government have been at fault in regards of communicating with local residents from day one and are now leaving down the vast majority of residents in Dundrum and West Tipperary again READ NEXT: WATCH: Dundrum asylum seeker protest continues but fewer protestors at gate of hotel "I've said from the beginning, in my opinion, this is a money racket, and once again, we're seeing millions of euro of taxpayers money being paid out, with only the barest of accountability. "Whoever made this decision, made the wrong one," he concluded. Cllr Annemarie Ryan also provided an update saying: "Councillors received an email on Monday from the Community Engagement Team, informing us that a contract has been signed for the use of Dundrum House Hotel as an IPAS Centre. 277 people (in total) will be accommodated in Dundrum House. A valid fire cert is in place and has been provided to the Department. The property is operated by Utmasta Limited, who have a 20-year lease on the site. Security staff will be present on a 24-hour basis with CCTV in place. The Department will manage the arrival of families to Dundrum. "The Ukrainians still living in Dundrum are staying there until the Government make a decision on their future accommodation. "Families will start arriving in the next 2/3 weeks, in small numbers." " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g, ' To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism! Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles. To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in. Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news! Join the EirGrid Energy Citizens Roadshow, Wednesday, 5 March at the Halla Na Féile in Cashel Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles. Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm. This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. Inditex Group brands Zara and Pull & Bear are set to expand their footprints in Dundrum Town Centre, the retail centre’s owners have said. UK property group Hammerson, which jointly owns the Dundrum Town Centre with German insurer Allianz, said the company was actively seeking new brands to set up in the centre. Zara is set to increase its footprint by 43 per cent, from 26,300 sq ft to 37,700 sq ft, and will upgrade and refurbish its existing store. Pull & Bear will be relocating its shop in the centre, more than trebling its existing footprint from 2,477 sq ft to 8,394 sq ft Hammerson said the Pull & Bear expansion was expected to be completed later this year, while Zara’s extension was not expected to open until 2026. Zara and Pull & Bear are both owned by the Spanish fashion multinational clothing group, Inditex Group, alongside Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and Zara Home. The fashion group operated 23 stores in Ireland last year, employing 741 people. Latest accounts show that the group generated revenue of €257 million, up 9 per cent year on year, with post-tax profits for the period standing at €22 million. Connor Owens, managing director of Hammerson’s assets in Ireland, said the company was “delighted with the expansion of Zara and Pull & Bear.” A new 14,500 sq ft entertainment and bowling space, Lane 7, opened in the centre in January and Mr Owens said there was a “promising pipeline” of new openings for the rest of the year. In its financial accounts for 2024, Hammerson saw the value of its Irish assets decline by 13.3 per cent. The assets were valued in its full year results at £522 million (€630 million) at the end of December 2024, down from £630 million a year earlier. Hammerson’s other Irish assets include a 50 per cent share in the Ilac Centre in Dublin city, and the Pavilions retail complex in Swords. Both of those are jointly owned with Irish Life Assurance plc. (L-R): Cllr Lettie McCarthy; Cllr Robert Jones; Frank Curran Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; Maeve O’Connell TD; Cllr Jim O’Leary Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; Shay Brennan TD; Cllr Anna Grainger Cllr Fiona Murray; Sinead Gibney TD and Cllr Anne Colgan at the Finsbury Park playground opening.  Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with Noah McGough and Sophie Maurin at the Finsbury Park playground opening Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with Michael and Thomas Salter at the Finsbury Park playground opening.  The newly upgraded play space at Finsbury Park Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and features a variety of inclusive and accessible play elements designed to foster adventure and social connection for the whole community which was developed in consultation with local community members and youth groups and a social hub with seating and bike/scooter parking Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council “The new play space in Finsbury Park is a welcoming place for family and friends and now makes the park a special place for gathering It was delivered through consultation with the local community and youth groups and was prioritised in the dlr Play Policy due to the high child population age range in the area We hope that local children will enjoy this new inclusive accessible and adventurous play space for many years to come.” The play area includes 13 exciting play elements Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council we want to ensure that every person in the county can access play and recreation freely and safely and test risk in a wide range of universally accessible settings The dlr Play Policy was fully implemented in Finsbury Park to achieve the design of this child-led play space." As part of its ongoing commitment to providing high-quality play spaces for all residents Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has refurbished several other playgrounds in line with the dlr Play Policy the council has planned refurbishment projects at Carysfort Park (Blackrock) Public consultations for these projects will begin soon Consultation for new play spaces at Clonkeen Park and Meadowbrook/Ludford took place in December 2024 and January 2025 Tenders have now been invited for the Clonkeen Park play space and will also be invited for the Meadowbrook/Ludford project in the coming weeks There have been calls for a taskforce to solve issues in the village of Dundrum Extra services are needed for a Tipperary village after a contract to house over 270 International Protection Applicants (IPAs) was approved for a local hotel Dundrum House Hotel in the village of Dundrum has had a contract approved to house 277 IPAs in the county Tipperary village a decision which has caused considerable upset in the local community At the April meeting of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District independent councillor Liam Browne called for more services to be provided for the small village to support locals and new people moving into the area Cllr Browne also wants the district to send a delegation to meet with Minister for Children to discuss the awarding of the contract to Dundrum House with a view to creating a taskforce to discuss the services available and required to support the rapid population growth in the village Cllr Browne said that there is a lack of services in the village READ MORE: Age friendly recognition and achievement awards now accepting applications in Tipperary “The reason why we’re having the discussion over the past year has been the lack of services in the area and the lack of services in Dundrum mirrors a lot of other places around the country that have a significant number of International Protection Applicants moving into the area that doesn’t have the services “We’re now aware that Dundrum doesn’t have services I think that we cannot consider putting extra people into the Dundrum area until that has been addressed in the first place and I think the best place to do that is at Government level,” Cllr Browne told the meeting Fianna Fáil councillor Roger Kennedy backed calls for the district to write to Minister Foley and also asked that they write to Minister Jim O'Callaghan as the responsibility for the IPAS system moves from the Department of Integration to the Department of Justice Cllr Kennedy said that the awarding of the contract to a company that has only been in operation for three months is worrying “There was huge shock in the area when the most recent contract was announced with Utmasta READ MORE: MEP urges Tipperary County Council to hire more people with disabilities “We’ve been discussing roads, we’ve been discussing footpaths, we’ve been discussing everything, if we were to award a contract I’m sure the first people to come down on us like a ton of bricks would be the Department to say that the person ye’ve awarded the contract to is totally inexperienced, uncapitalised, with no record of delivery, with no history, basically with nothing, how is a multimillion euro project being awarded to somebody like that?” Cllr Kennedy asked. Arising out of the discussion the municipal district agreed to write to both Ministers Foley and O'Callaghan to arrange a meeting to discuss the issues around the awarding of the contract to Utmasta and Dundrum House Hotel. Dundrum Town Centre owner Hammerson saw the value of its Irish assets decline by 13.3 per cent last year due to what it described as “outward yield shift”. The assets were valued in its full year results at £522 million (€630 million) at the end of December 2024, down from £630 million a year earlier. The decline was the result of a £27 million movement in foreign exchange and £80 million hit on yield. Hammerson jointly owns the Dundrum Town Centre with German insurer Allianz. Other assets include a 50 per cent share in the Ilac Centre in Dublin city, and the Pavilions retail complex in Swords, north Dublin. Both of those are jointly owned with Irish Life Assurance plc. The passing rent for Dundrum, Ilac and Pavilions amounted to £36.9 million last year, down from £39 million in 2023. By contrast, the value of Hammerson’s UK shopping malls increase by 4.2 per cent in 2024 as the retailers that survived the pandemic compete for the best space, reinflating rents after years of decline. The retail landlord reported like-for-like gross rental income that was 1.6 per cent higher after leasing 1 million square feet of space across 262 deals and bringing in £41 million (€49 million) of rent, a record for the business, according to a statement Wednesday. The company has signed £156 million in new leases since 2020 at rents that are 32 per cent higher than they were before the pandemic. Still, the company reported a £497 million impairment on the sale of its stake in outlet mall owner Value Retail that drove it to a £526 million loss for the year. Hammerson chief executive Rita-Rose Gagne has overseen a transformation of the business since her appointment in 2020, selling off swathes of the portfolio to generate £1.5 billion in cash, slash its debt pile and focus the business on dominant city centre properties. “The flight to quality where occupiers want fewer and more productive stores in only these locations, enables us to attract leading global and local brand partners,” Ms Gagne said. The company’s overall portfolio valuation slipped to £2.7 billion following the disposals and a 13 per cent write down on the value of its Irish portfolio, despite the increase in its UK and French properties. Hammerson’s loan to value ratio, a measure of its relative indebtedness, dropped to 30 per cent from 34 per cent a year earlier. – Bloomberg Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is proposing a new housing development of 129 no. residential units at Mount St. Mary’s, Dundrum This drop-in information evening is being held in advance of the commencement of the statutory planning public display period which will follow in the coming weeks.   Once live, the statutory planning public display will be available for viewing via DLR’s Citizen Space.   We are holding a drop-in information session:  Where: Dundrum Office Park, Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 14, D14 YY00 This session is an opportunity for you to:   An artist's impression of the proposed development in Dundrum The owners of Dundrum Town Centre have been refused permission by An Bord Pleanála to build almost 900 apartments on the site of an old shopping centre in Dundrum village in south Dublin that predates the bigger and better known Dundrum Town Centre The watchdog said the controversial €500m proposal would “seriously detract from the architectural character of the area” It said the planned development would have a “monolithic” appearance and result in “overbearing impacts” for some properties near the development Hundreds of objections to the plans by Dundrum Retail GP were received to the proposed Strategic Housing Development plans for which were submitted early in 2022 Dundrum Retail is jointly owned by Dundrum Town Centre’s equal owners UK property group Hammerson and German insurance giant Allianz Some of those submissions described the proposal as a “visual catastrophe” The scheme on the site of the former shopping centre in Dundrum would have included 11 apartment blocks “Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing patter of development the site location within and adjoining an architectural conservation area and adjoining several protected structures it is considered that the proposed development would seriously detract from the architectural character of the area and particularly the character of Main Street and Dundrum Architectural Conservation Area and the setting of Holy Cross Church and the associated parochial house gates and railings,” An Bord Pleanála stated in a decision made just before Christmas to refuse permission Today's News in 90 seconds - 7th January 2025 It added that the “excessive proportion” of smaller residential units would materially contravene the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county development plan The proposal included the construction of about 335 one-bedroom apartments – more than one-third of the total it is considered that the proposed scheme would represent a substandard form of development and residential amenity for future occupiers,” An Bord Pleanála noted It added that the developers planned to provide more than 30pc of the open communal space at the site by way of roof gardens which An Bord Pleanála said would conflict the local county development plan The planning watchdog said the scheme would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area It added that of the total planned gross floor space at the development “The board was not satisfied that the proposed development would provide an appropriate range and mix of supporting uses at this location,” it noted Hammerson put an indicative total price tag of just under €43m on 88 apartments it was proposing to sell to the local council for social housing at the development The watchdog noted that the apartments would also be located in an area deemed at risk of flooding “Notwithstanding the site-specific flood risk assessment submitted with the application on the basis of the information lodged with the planning application and the absence of detailed hydraulic modelling that the proposed development would not give rise to an increased risk of flooding either on the proposed development site itself Dundrum Retail has just finished the structural part of the Ironworks apartment development in the area This article was updated on January 8th after initially incorrectly describing Dundrum Shopping Centre as a former shopping centre It remains in operation with a number of shops trading at the site Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Contact us on: 01 564 7963 / 01 564 7964 Online queries digital@thegloss.ie Print queries letters@thegloss.ie Home | Fashion | What’s New At Dundrum Town Centre by The Gloss We suggest you discover new stores and restaurants and shop for new season pieces at Dundrum Town Centre where the thrill of the new is matched with excellent customer service Luxury beauty emporium Space NK has opened on Level 1 of Dundrum Town Centre members providing expert advice and recommendations to customers Shopping for beauty products here is a stimulating and informative experience Mango’s gorgeous new store is now open on Level 2 the store fit-out based on a Mediterranean-inspired concept which showcases the Spanish brand’s spirit freshness and commitment to sustainability for inspiration for an autumn interiors upgrade There is a huge buzz around the new Lovisa jewellery store on Level 2 Lovisa specialises in elevated everyday jewellery with a fashion feel – ring and necklace stacks s and studs (with free piercing!) bangles and bracelets Lovisa also stocks cool hair accessories and scarves New store openings have inspired existing stores to move to alternative retail spaces or refurbish their spaces to elevate the customer journey and experience River Island and Molton Brown both have a fresh new look and feel – and are a joy to visit Two new restaurants in the Cinema Building – Fujiyama (delicious sushi sashimi and nigiri rolls; perfect for a pre- or post-cinema supper) and CowBoy Steakhouse (the best Irish steak and seafood; brilliant for a family occasion or business dinner) – enrich the excellent dining options at Dundrum Later this year, Lane7 will offer a host of activities including bowling, augmented darts, floor shuffle, curling, ping pong, pool, dedicated karaoke booths and much more. Roncheng, a new Chinese dining concept will also open in the Pembroke District. There are so many reasons to visit Dundrum Town Centre this autumn. See www.dundrum.ie for a full list of stores and restaurants September always calls for a style reset and there’s one very smart destination that has everything you could need under one roof – yes there’s lots to get excited about at Dundrum Town Centre this autumn The refreshed (and very pretty) River Island store on Level 1 features interactive fitting rooms with touchscreens to request alternative sizes and styles as well as seamless self-checkouts for those days when a queue won’t do Mango’s long-awaited arrival on Level 2 has delighted shoppers – the Spanish brand is on the up and up Cover the basics with an oversized trench coat in deep green or beige (River Island) and a pair of trending barrel-leg jeans (try Frame or Citizens of Humanity both at Brown Thomas) you’ll want some smart leather loafers (Hobbs) and a suede tote bag (Massimo Dutti) for that grown-up back-to-school feeling Animal print has a whole new groove for AW24 – find trending leopard print accessories at H&M and Zara gorgeous cherry red (we have our eye on a great Chanel-style jacket at Mint Velvet) burgundy and merlot pieces to give your wardrobe that rich autumn vibe Gold plated baguette stone toggle tennis bracelet SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW glossy content of our large-format magazine in a neater style delivered to your door Wanabe model Kate McDaid leads the queue in Dundrum Shopping Centre for auditions for RTÉ series The Model Agent in 2008 their wallets and their confidence in the Irish economy both full to overflowing and the official opening of Dundrum Town Centre (DTC) where the candles are soy and scented and the pews are in Nando’s and JD Sports Home | Fashion | One Day Only: Giftmas Day Is Back At Dundrum Town Centre GIFTMAS DAY is back at Dundrum Town Centre this Thursday November 7 Dundrum Town Centre will stay open until 10pm on Thursday This is your chance to get a headstart on your Christmas shopping while availing of an incredible 20% off at participating retailers with some of the highlights including Brown Thomas But there’s much more to Giftmas Day at Dundrum Town Centre than discounts Brilliant activities and animations will bring a great sense of fun to Dundrum and lots of prizes and goodies up for grabs too Look out for music on the mall – The New Brass Kings will play between 12pm and 2pm and super mariachi band Mariachi San Patricio will play between 5pm and 7pm Rituals is celebrating its new store location on Level 1 with goodie bags for the first 50 purchasing customers (and will also offer personalised calligraphy and engraving in store.) Benefit’s fabulous Benemart is open for beauty with gifts for everyone on Level 1 Edvard and Pink Day Spa will be popping up on Level 2 offering complimentary express treatments to energise busy shoppers or reward yourself with a delicious coffee Sip an Aperol on the house before dinner at Jamie’s Italian or swing by the Smooch pop-up on Level 1 for complimentary mini acai bowls Check out new restaurants Fujiyama and Cowboy Steakhouse in the Movies at Dundrum building will have discounted tickets on Giftmas Day so the kids can take a spin while you get through your list Don’t miss out on Giftmas Day, on November 7,  an exciting opportunity to kickstart the festive season and your Christmas shopping at Dundrum Town Centre. To make the very most of your trip, and identify your shopping targets, see all the offers and activity at www.dundrum.ie. Dundrum Town Centre will also launch a Giving Tree on Level 1 in aid of Children in Hospital Ireland on the day Visitors will be invited to donate a gift to a child or parent in need this Christmas It’s easy to get caught up in the business of Christmas – and good to remind ourselves it won’t be fun for everyone this year Dundrum gives us that opportunity to give a little to those who need it most convenient access to stores and plenty of places to stop for a morning latte If you are looking for a cult or limited edition beauty gifts Dundrum Town Centre has every single base covered As well as those stalwart stores we have loved forever Dundrum always offers interesting seasonal pop-ups reflecting the latest trends and ideas Ireland’s biggest shopping centre turns 20 today It’s two decades since Dundrum opened its door on March 3rd 2005 It came less than a year after the Luas started running and it remains the biggest shopping centre in the country The south Dublin outlet now welcomes 15 million people on average each year There’s more than 160 shops and restaurants developing and retaining the best and brightest legal talent Our people are experts in their fields and we have the depth of resources across all practice areas to provide unrivaled quality of legal service Our practice encompasses all aspects of corporate and business law We deliver the full range of services which apply to corporate transactions working with multi-disciplinary teams of lawyers from our specialist groups ensuring a quality multi-faceted and seamless service for our clients Our story has been defined by our progressive outlook Our news section contains details of new developments and items of interest happening in the firm We know that our clients operate in a constantly evolving commercial environment Our knowledge resources allow us to share our clients Guiding them through complex legal issues and supporting them to achieve their goals Arthur Cox LLP is one of Ireland's leading law firms we have led the way in the legal field in Ireland We are an "all-island" firm with offices in London We have partnered with Ashurst on advising a lending syndicate on a €350 million term facility secured against Ireland’s leading retail The lending syndicate comprises Rothesay Life Plc BNP Paribas and DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale as mandated lead arrangers The transaction is expected to be one of the largest single-asset refinancings in the Irish market in 2024 Dundrum is owned in a 50/50 JV operated by Hammerson PLC and Allianz Read more here By Bronwyn O'Neill | beauty expert Triona McCarthy officially launched Dundrum Town Centre’s new immersive beauty experience with an exclusive Beauty Brunch at The Loft fizz and beauty chats and were treated to a sneak peek at what’s to come at the event on April 25th – 27th including the reveal of celebrity ambassadors and participating brands Mark Rogers and Aine Kennedy were welcomed with mimosas and coffee before sitting down to enjoy a warm welcome from beauty expert and event host Triona McCarthy followed by an exclusive chat with Dundrum Town Centre’s Marketing and Placemaking Manager Copyright © 2025 VIP. All Rights Reserved. Website Design and Development by Fusio With the recent announcement that an IPAS centre to accommodate 277 international protection applicants will be run from Dundrum House Hotel concerns among the locals of Dundrum village are growing due to the rapid expansion of the population Concerned locals on social media have expressed their worries that services in the village will be stretched beyond their capabilities with many claiming the village does not have the facilities to deal with such a rapid influx of people into the populous including doctors and schools not being able to keep up with the incline the population of Dundrum village is listed as 221 individuals READ MORE: Enjoyable coffee morning was held to raise funds for a Tipperary Day Care Centre The area covered within this census goes from slightly beyond the split in the road at the Golden Vale to the crossroads where the R661 and the R505 meet The surveyed area encompasses a total land area of 0.4009 square kilometres within these parameters leading to a population density of 551.3 individuals per square kilometre READ MORE: BREAKING: Tipperary gardaí issue appeal for 'suspects travelling in black Audi' Though concerns have grown amongst locals that the population of the village is due to increase by more than double the total population at present, the hotel in which the IPAS centre will be run from is not included in the surveyed area. Among other areas not included in the survey is Knockavilla village, located a similar distance from the hotel on the far side, as well as various residential areas around Dundrum village, though the exact number of people living in this area cannot be accounted for. which connects Taney and Upper Kilmacud roads appear on maps of the area dating from the 1870s Its name change to Stoney Road was not due to an uneven surface but to celebrate the Stoney family; engineer Bindon Blood Stoney was involved in the development of Dublin Port was a physicist known for introducing the term “electron” as the “fundamental unit quantity of electricity” Besides the coveted road in Dundrum bearing his name craters on both Mars and the moon are named in his honour One of the original period properties on the road it still has wonderful views to the Dublin Mountains from first-floor bedrooms Its evergreen leafy setting on a third-of-an-acre site gives much privacy which is one of the reasons the current owners fell for the 318sq m (3,427sq ft) pile when it last came to the market in 2014 according to the Property Price Register (the asking price was €2.15 million) Located a five-minute walk from Airfield House the detached Victorian house initially had six bedrooms When the current owners purchased the property on the secluded they engaged Dublin-based interior designer Ciara Brandon to give their new home an overhaul was changed to allow a spacious dressingroom for the dual-aspect main bedroom the house was redecorated from top to bottom into what it is today: a walk-in five-bedroom period pile on a spacious secluded site Inside its elegant facade of dun-coloured Dolphin’s Barn brick peculiar to its period and accessed by granite steps are a host of original features including ceiling roses ornate fireplaces and 11ft-high ceilings in reception rooms that add to its overall period charm illuminated by dappled light from stained-glass windows lies a formal drawingroom with a feature marble fireplace and bay window that connects with an equally notable diningroom Here too a fine bay window allows views to the front garden where a new open-plan kitchen by Tracey Kitchens of Termonfeckin was installed in 2023 It has solid-oak Trunk flooring and an extensive range of appliances including an electric Aga along with Bosch Liebherr and Miele appliances overlooking a large quartz-topped island solid oak continues into a breakfastroom that opens to the rear gardens via double French doors Also on this level are a well-serviced utility accessed by a staircase now offers a well-lit study/home office The gardens are one of the real delights here with a most impressive monkey puzzle tree marking the front cobblelock driveway This has been replaced with a purpose-built garden room Now housing a games room incorporating a Trackman virtual golf simulator it could make a stunning home gym or indeed a teenage den Alongside an Indian sandstone patio – set out for summer dining – are a series of original stone sheds incorporating a loo and storage facilities mature trees and herbaceous borders enhance the property’s overall privacy In terms of access, the house is a few minutes’ stroll from two of the stops on the Luas green line and from Dundrum Town Centre, while a 20-minute drive will have you at St Stephen’s Green. Back when Cullenagh was first built in 1870, Dundrum was considered a health resort, based on the fact that it was alleged to have healing powers from clean mountain air and goats milk – due to the abundance of goats in the area – remembered in the name of the local Goatstown townland. Though today the area is Ireland’s shopping mecca housing one of Europe’s largest capital-city shopping centres, the charm and allure of the country lives on in the secluded and most private Cullenagh. Houses coming up for sale on Stoney Road are as rare as hen’s teeth, as a quick search on the Property Price Register indicates. Cullenagh is Ber exempt as it is on the Record of Protected Structures, and has now been launched to the market through Sherry FitzGerald seeking €2.95 million. Elizabeth Birdthistle, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about property, fine arts, antiques and collectables John (Joseph) - (Donnybrook and formerly of Clonskeagh Lance Engineering) 28th April 2025 (peacefully) in St Vincent’s University Hospital with his daughters by his side Predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth He will be deeply missed and remembered with much love and affection by his daughters Paula Dundrum on Thursday afternoon (1st May) from 3pm to 5pm Removal on Friday morning (2nd May) to the Church of the Sacred Heart Donnybrook arriving for Funeral Mass at 11am Committal prayers afterwards at 1.30pm in the Garden Chapel donations in lieu to the Irish Cancer Society You may view John’s Funeral Mass live on this link https://donnybrookparish.ie/webcam/ And the committal prayers in Mount Jerome on this link https://www.mountjerome.ie/garden-chapel-service/ John’s family would like to take this opportunity to give their special thanks to the Palliative Care Team on the Herbert Wing for the wonderful care that was given to John during his time there. You may leave your personal message for John’s family in the Condolences section open below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Cremation / BurialDate Published: More about Clubs & Facilities More about Coaches & Officials More about Get Involved More about High Performance closeMenu() { this.menuOpen = false; this.searchOpen = false; this.enableBodyScroll(); } this.menuOpen; this.searchOpen = false; this.menuOpen this.disableBodyScroll() : this.enableBodyScroll(); } this.searchOpen; this.menuOpen = false; this.searchOpen disableBodyScroll() { document.body.classList.add(...this.menuOpenClasses); } enableBodyScroll() { document.body.classList.remove(...this.menuOpenClasses); } A thrilling afternoon of athletics action unfolded today (April 27th) at the 2025 edition of the 123.ie National Road Relay Championships hosted by Raheny Shamrock AC which took place on the now familiar lap route starting on Wade’s Avenue in Raheny The senior races featured many well-known names on the domestic athletics scene Dundrum South Dublin AC retained their title winning gold in the senior women’s race (20:59) with Maria McCambridge Emma McEvoy and Eimear Maher contributing to their success Mary Horgan and Ellie Hartnett combined to win silver (21:31) while host club Raheny Shamrock won bronze (21:44) with Lucy Barrett Kate Crowley and Niamh Kearney making up the team Ennis Track AC went one better than last year to win gold (37:11) Niall Murphy and Mark Hanrahan ran on the victorious team The Clare quartet were pushed all the way for their victory by Jamie Fallon William Fitzgerald and Oisin Davis from Craughwell AC who claimed silver (37:15) Last year’s champions Clonliffe Harriers had to settle for bronze (37:32) with Ben Guiden ahead of last year’s champions Sportsworld AC and Dunboyne AC who won silver and bronze respectively Ennis Track AC retained their Women’s O50 title finishing ahead of silver medallists Raheny Shamrock AC and bronze medallists Drogheda and District AC Letterkenny AC made the long trip down from Donegal to Dublin worthwhile as they took the gold medals in the Men’s O35 race ahead of Raheny Shamrock AC (silver) and Clonliffe Harriers AC (bronze) Rathfarnham WSAF AC won the O50 Men’s title ahead of last year’s champions City of Derry Spartans AC and Inishowen AC who rounded out the podium Athletics Ireland would like to congratulate all of our competitors and thank Raheny Shamrock AC for hosting these championships Place  Club                                               Time                                        21:31 1            Ennis Track A.C                          37:11 3            Clonliffe Harriers A.C A           37:32 Sign-up for the Athletics Ireland E-Zine with exclusive interviews This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalised ads or content, and analyse our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below. The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website, store your preferences, and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you. These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent. You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience. Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data. Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Planning permission for almost 900 apartments on the site of the old Dundrum shopping centre in Dublin has been refused following a long-running battle and hundreds of objections from locals Plans for the €466 million scheme were lodged in April 2022 by a subsidiary of British property group Hammerson, which co-owns Dundrum Town Centre and this site with German insurance group Allianz. The group proposed to build 881 mostly one- and two-bedroom apartments across 11 apartment blocks, including a 16-storey “landmark” building at the northernmost point of the site. The proposal also included plans for 10 retail units, a food store, four cafe/restaurants, and a creche, as well as a new public open space, to be known as Church Square, to the rear of Holy Cross Church. However, following almost three years of deliberations and upwards of 700 objections, An Bord Pleanála has rejected the plans after raising concerns around its architectural impact, flooding, and living conditions for future occupiers. There were objections from eight residents’ associations and at least one primary school against the plans, which were lodged under the Strategic Housing Development scheme. Underlining the depth of local feeling against the proposal, local residents variously described it as “appalling”, “destructive”, “a visual catastrophe”, “a vertical sprawl”, “an eyesore”, “a concrete jungle”, “monstrous” and “a developer’s dream”. In its ruling, the board said the proposed development would “seriously detract from the architectural character of the area”, particularly citing Main Street, as well as Holy Cross Church and the associated parochial house, gates, and railings. Listen | 36:52“Having regard to the excessive density, height and scale, together with its monolithic appearance, it is considered that the proposed development would result in unacceptable, overbearing impacts for properties in the residential area to the west of the site,” it said. “The proposed development would also result in excessive overlooking for existing adjoining properties along the west side of Main Street.” About 90 per cent of the apartments were to be one or two-bedroom units, while the remainder were to be three-bedroom homes. An Bord Pleanála said the proposed scheme represented “a substandard form of development” for future occupiers, and said the “excessive proportion” of smaller residential units would contravene local authority development plans. “Having regard to the nature, design and layout of the proposed scheme, it is considered that the scheme would represent, in a substandard form of development and residential amenity for future occupiers,” the ruling said. “The excessive proportion of smaller residential units would materially contravene the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County development Plan 2022-2028.” An Bord Pleanála further established that the proposed development was in an area which is “deemed to be at risk of flooding”. “The board is not satisfied on the basis of the information lodged with the planning application and the absence of detailed hydraulic modelling that the proposed development would not give rise to an increased risk of flooding either on the proposed development site itself or on other lands,” it said. Mum-of-two and Irish model, Kelly Horrigan, has gone viral after sharing a video of the amazing facilities in Dundrum to her TikTok account. RELATED: How to tell if you’re overfeeding your baby The impressive room features a changing area are located on Level 2M near the toilets- You can get the lift from outside Butlers Café on the ground floor Kelly asked her followers: ‘Are we all in the know about this baby changing and feeding area in Dundrum They’re absolutely huge and so good.’ ‘There’s space to change your baby a play area for toddlers with loads of toys and books and arguably one of the most important things- a toilet you can fit your buggy in!’ Kelly wrote: ‘This is a PSA to basically everywhere to TAKE NOTES Dundrum Town Centre slaying as per.’ with one user gushing: ‘I remember finding this nearly 11 years ago with my son and it was a god send!’ A second added: ‘It’s always spotless too!’ and a third wrote: ‘Omg I didn’t know this I was there last week and fed my 3-month-old in the Dunnes changing rooms.’ hopefully more shopping centres will follow suit Preparing for Pregnancy Fertility Treatment Surrogacy Male Fertility Birth Control Fertility Discussions Week 1 through 40 Baby Names Health & Wellbeing Labour & Birth Hospital Bag Pregnancy Products Maternity Style Products & Services Baby Skin Solutions Baby Name Generator Baby Name Search The First Year Baby Products Breastfeeding Weaning & Feeding Products & Services School Children Tweens & Teens Creche & Childcare Schools & Education School Calendar Activities & Events Recipes & Nutrition Health & Mental Health Family Holidays & Travel Parenting Adoption & Fostering Just for Dad Family Breaks No Stupid Questions Entertainment Health & Wellbeing Beauty & Style Interiors Mums Mean Business Mums Stories Dundrum Town Centre is arguably the jewel in the crown of Irish retail and is inevitably the subject of much focus as other shopping centres are sold at relative knock-down prices have refinanced a €570 million loan secured against the centre which together control the centre through a joint venture arranged a €350 million non-recourse term loan of up to seven years with lenders Rothesay Hammerson accounts for about €175 million of that loan The two firms are funding the remaining €220 million from existing cash held in the joint venture and newly issued equity there was €30 million cash held against the loan reducing the refinancing needed to €570 million The new term loan is repayable on or before maturity in September 2031 at an all-in interest cost expected to be around 5.5 per cent Given that the refinancing replaces the loan due to expire next month the move extends the average maturity on Hammerson’s debts to 2.9 years from 2.2 previously [ Dundrum centre owners near €600m refinancing with group led by UK’s RothesayOpens in new window ] Getting the refinancing away is a boon to Hammerson – its shares rose 1.2 per cent on Wednesday – but will also be welcomed by the retail industry here. Hammerson cut the carrying value of its shopping centre interests here by 7.7 per cent in June. All told, it has reduced the value of its Irish interests, which include 50 per cent stakes in the Pavilions in Swords and the Irish Life Mall by about £320 million since 2020. Given the amount of commentary around the apparent decline of bricks-and-mortar retail as shopping moves more online, this should be a vote of confidence in the market here. Still, Dundrum is a one of a kind in Ireland. Unlike other malls, it is really a so-called super-prime shopping centre and classed with maybe a dozen such assets in western Europe. Dundrum Town Centre is clearly doing fine. But does that mean the rest of physical retail is fine too? Cantillon is sceptical. Dundrum Town Centre’s Beauty MRKT took over the weekend with a buzzing three-day celebration of all things beauty Star of the show was the exclusive “Mane Attraction: In Conversation with Andrew Fitzsimons,” where the celebrity hairstylist and entrepreneur sat down with Triona McCarthy for an inspiring deep dive into his journey from Dublin to Hollywood The Founders Forum packed out the stage as Aine Kennedy (The Smooth Company) Jennifer Rock (Skingredients) and Kim O’Sullivan (Brow Aid) shared the real stories behind building some of Ireland’s best-loved beauty brands the crowd were all smiles for a live recording of “A Beautiful Breakdown” with James Patrice and Suzy Griffin Dunne The Flying Duck in Dundrum Town Centre is closing down A restaurant in Dundrum Town Centre is closing its doors “with a heavy heart” just before Christmas. The Flying Duck, a music, food and theatre venue situated next to Harvey Nichols, is headed up by actor and restaurateur Gary Whelan. The venue opened just over two years ago offering “a varied mix of local inspired Irish produce, ranging from modern cuisine in our restaurant to creative small bites served in our stylish bar area”. However, The Flying Duck has announced it is shutting due to several challenging circumstances. “We are closed. It is with a heavy heart that we announce The Flying Duck is closing its doors,” they said. “After much thought and reflection, we’ve made this difficult decision due to several challenging circumstances that have made it unsustainable for us to continue operations. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the years, whether you joined us for a meal, celebrated a special occasion, or simply stopped by for a coffee. “Your loyalty, kindness, and love have meant the world to us. While this chapter is ending, we’re excited for what’s ahead! “Big things are coming with our sister companies, Smash It and The Good Food Store catering, as well as many more exciting opportunities. “Please keep following us to stay connected and continue to support our journey.” CourtsMan jailed for ‘very frightening’ robbery attempt at Paddy Power bookies in DublinA father of three tried to hold up a bookmakers using a metal implement as a weapon in a “very frightening” robbery attempt. The exterior of the 1966-built semi-detached home on Balally Avenue While currently habitable and with gas central heating, it has a decidedly 1960s BER rating of F The shaker-style kitchen looks old fashioned, though new kitchen units or at the very least a lick of paint, and tiling underfoot would bring the room back to life Erin McCaffertyFri 25 Apr 2025 at 03:3045 Balally Avenue, Dundrum, Dublin 16 What it is: A three-bedroom, semi-detached family home in the heart of Dundrum, built in 1966. Tell me more: As the prices of 1930s to 1950s homes surge, location-focused forever-home buyers looking for an upgrade project move out to the city’s 1960s-built southern suburbs. This is evidenced by recent purchases in the Balally estate followed by substantial energy upgrade renovations. At just under 1,000 sq ft, No45 Balally Ave has a hall, kitchen, and two large interlinking receptions on the ground floor. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, a single bedroom and a family bathroom. It is within walking distance of the Sandyford Office Park, home to the Beacon Hospital, Microsoft and other international firms The bad news: While currently habitable and with gas central heating, it has a decidedly 1960s BER rating of F. The walls and attic would need to be insulated, while new windows and external doors would also make it warmer. The interior is dated and would need an injection of cash to be modernised. Wooden panelling on sitting room walls reeks of the 1970s, while the shaker-style kitchen looks old fashioned, though new kitchen units or at the very least a lick of paint, and tiling underfoot would bring the room back to life. The bathroom is in working order, but could do with updating design-wise. The good news: This has all the makings of a comfortable home that would suit a young family. It could be extended, planning permission allowed, at the back and/or side of the house, as some others home on the same road have to make a four or five bedroom house. These types of semi-detached houses are easy to extend and the absence of bricks means the application of external insulation won’t test the planners. The south-west facing back garden has mature hedges, a couple of trees and a greenhouse. The location is a big draw, close to schools, sports facilities and shops. It’s also just a two-minute drive to the popular Dundrum Shopping Centre. Well serviced for buses, Balally Luas stop is a five-minute walk and the M50 a five minute drive. How much to buy it?: Offers of €675,000 are being sought for No45. And to fix it up?: You will probably need a minimum of €70,000 to carry out a refurbishment and insulation upgrade (with the help of an Seai grant) or about €300,000 to both renovate and extend to a four bed. What will I end up with?: Potentially, a ‘forever’ family home in a coveted location well-served with amenities. Previously, a very similar home on this road extended to a four bed and upgraded to B2 went on the market for €925,000 and is reported to have sold in early 2023 for €965,000. Who do I contact?: Deirdre O’Gara or Pat Mullery of Mullery O’Gara will help you to explore the potential at No45. UK property group Hammerson, which has a half stake in Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin wrote down the value of its flagship Irish shopping centre interests by a further 7.7 per cent in the first half of this year amid uncertainty in the sector The value of the Irish portfolio, which also includes 50 per cent stakes in the Ilac Centre in Dublin city centre and Pavilions shopping complex in Swords, north Co Dublin, declined by £49 million (€58.3 million) over the period, Hammerson said on Thursday as it reported interim results. Following an additional foreign exchange rate hit, the combined value of its stakes in the three centres fell to £568 million. All told, Hammerson has reduced the value of its Irish flagship malls since the start of 2020 by £320 million. Still, Hammerson said that it and German insurance giant Allianz are at an “advanced stage of refinancing” €600 million of loans secured against the Dundrum mall and that they expect to sign a new facility in early August. The loans fall due in September. Allianz’s holding is held through its Pimco investment unit. The Irish valuation charges in the first half came as values in Hammerson’s other flagship shopping centres in the UK and France held their own. “In Ireland, sentiment has weakened with a number of aborted or stalled transactions being cited as the basis for valuers marking market [rental] yields higher in 2024,” Hammerson said. Rental yields move inversely to property values. However, there have been signs of life on the deal-making front in the prime shopping centres sector since the end of June. Receivers appointed by AIB to The Square in Tallaght in May recently picked Eagle Street Partners, the property asset manager founded by two former senior Glenveagh Properties executives, as preferred bidder for the retail complex after it bid €126 million. That’s half the value that was put on it in 2019 when it last changed hands. Meanwhile, the Blanchardstown Centre’s owner, Goldman Sachs, has fielded bids of up to €600 million for that mall. It took control of the centre in 2020 in a deal valued at €750 million in a debt-for-equity swap arrangement with its previous owner, investment firm Blackstone. Hammerson said the vacancy rate across its Irish centres stood at 4.3 per cent in June, up from 3.8 per cent six months earlier. However, footfall increased 1 per cent. The group also reduced the value of assets in its so-called developments and other portfolio across the UK and the Republic by 4 per cent to £270 million. This portfolio includes a 50 per cent interest in residential schemes in Dundrum, a mixed-use scheme planned for its landmark O’Connell Street site, and land in Swords. Hammerson said it is continuing works on a 122-unit build-to-rent development in Dundrum, known as the Ironworks, “where the concrete frame will be completed shortly, albeit with a short delay having recently replaced the main contractor”, it said. It expects the development to be completed in the autumn of next year. Elsewhere in the portfolio, it continues to await the decisions of An Bord Pleanála on plans to build hundreds of apartments on the site of the old shopping centre in Dundrum with Allianz, as well as its proposed Dublin Central hotel-to-retail redevelopment on O’Connell Street. Hammerson said on Monday it has agreed to sell its fashion outlets business, including a large stake in Kildare Village in the Republic, to a private equity firm backed by luxury goods group LVMH for £600 million. L Catteron, which is also backed by the family office of LVMH chief executive Bernard Arnault, is buying the Hammerson Select Retail unit, which owns stakes in 12 centres across Europe, through a vehicle called Silver Bidco Ltd. This includes 41 per cent in the Kildare Village designer outlet, which opened in 2007 and is home to more than 120 boutiques, including Armani, Michael Kors, and Mulberry. The portfolio also includes La Roca Village in Barcelona, La Vallée Village in Paris and Bicester Village in England. Joe Brennan is Markets Correspondent of The Irish Times Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called on the Minister for Integration to urgently withdraw the Contract for IPAS Accommodation at Dundrum House Hotel following significant planning breaches found at the Property A warning letter has been issued by Tipperary County Council to Brogan Capital Ventures Ltd in respect of multiple planning breaches found at Dundrum House Hotel Some of the alleged unauthorised developments at the hotel include the construction of a roofed structure on the foundation of the former ballroom construction of a maintenance building in the carpark construction of new internal access roads and provision of a new waste water treatment system and ancillary works among others READ NEXT: BIG READ: Dundrum House Hotel, the Spanish company and the multi-million euro IPAS contract “Following the announcement of a Contract having been signed last week serious questions have been raised in relation to the manner in which such a contract could be signed when there are serious matters relating to Dundrum House Hotel before the courts "There are also serious concerns in relation to the legitimacy of the company with whom the Department have entered a contract and I have already put these questions to the Minister for Integration I have also referred the matter to the Comptroller and Auditor General and to the Office of Government Procurement and I have sought an investigation into the manner in which this contract has been agreed to.” said Deputy McGrath “The news now that Tipperary County Council has issued a Warning letter in respect of Unauthorised Developments at Dundrum House Hotel brings this contract further into dispute and we cannot have a Government Department entering into a contract in a respect of a property where there are numerous planning breaches.”  READ NEXT: BREAKING: Fatal road traffic accident in Tipperary claims life of female adult teenager “I have brought this matter to the urgent attention of the Minister for Integration and we need answers There must be transparency and respect for the laws of the land including planning laws and we cannot stand over a Government department entering into a contract when there are such serious outstanding matters.” Concluded McGrath Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.