All Roads Lead To More Houses…?

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t was an almost casual remark, but it’s one that rang in GG’s ears for the rest of the day.

Having met Gabriel Dooley to talk about the Wicklow County Council’s proposed Delgany Village Accessibility Scheme, the veteran real estate agent stated that, within 1,000 metres of the village centre, there will be 1,000 houses built within the next three years.

Land that has already been zoned, planned and paid for, all within a trowel’s throw of the village. Jaysus.

We had already been shaken by the seemingly inevitable sale of the Carmelite monastery property – 15 acres, zoned residential; you’re looking at €15m, easy – and the fact that The Wicklow Arms is about to become a quaint facade for a retail and apartment complex. There’s also the 50 or 60 houses, and retail units, at Style Bawn House, right across from the Fireside Bakery, along with Gorteen Way’s 82 houses up on Bellevue Hill, just gasping to go.

Is it any wonder that Wicklow County Council – who, with the new Part 8 Application, can fast-track these housing developments – are suddenly so keen to widen Delgany’s roads, slap down a few new pavements, and even pop in the odd soothing roundabout too?

Not that the new Delgany Village Accessibility Scheme has the locals jumping up and down for joy. At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, there was as much approval as rage over what was included and, more importantly, what was omitted.

We’ll have more on that meeting later. For now, here’s Gabriel – with a little help from his beautiful daughter, Johanna – with his take on Delgany’s future. Worth noting, the man has a dog or two in the race..

If you feel like getting nostalgic, here’s Delgany in the rare oul’ times…