Rathmines

Back in the day we’d wobble into Rathmines like tourists who’d missed the memo that small-town glamour is its own aesthetic. Our Saturday ritual used to involve the Swan Centre — yes, the one that marked 40 years and still managed to feel like a beloved department-store hug — complete with boutiques, cafés and that Omniplex cinema where you could both people-watch and catch the latest.

Wynnefield Road briefly became the place to do proper parenting theatre when Stork & Co opened a 600 sq ft shop for kids’ clobber, toys and personalised bits. We cheered (quietly, like sensible neighbours) because nothing says “local hub” like a small shop that knows your child’s name before you do.

There was also that bit of local column inches when Amy Huberman and Brian O'Driscoll sold up in Goatstown and were reported to be moving to Rathmines after buying a large Victorian red brick on Palmerstown Road. Did we pretend not to notice the extra cluck of interest? Absolutely. We’re civil, but we’ve got an eye for good wallpaper.

Who would hate living here: anyone who needs a skyline of glass and anonymous late-night bars, or people allergic to small shopping centres and the kind of neighbourly hum that includes school-run foot traffic. Who would love it: families, filmgoers, and anyone who enjoys a place that still feels like the main street of a proper town — even if the headlines treat it like a celebrity annex from time to time.

For years Rathmines has been quietly doing its thing. We like it that way; and we’ll keep the popcorn warm at the Omniplex, thank you very much.