Disclaimer! This is not Vincent Finnegan but his 1 year old son!!
Our Interview With Vincent Finnegan
One of the newest arrivals to Dún Laoghaire is Finnegans Estate Agents who opened their new premises in Anglesea Buildings on Upper Georges St in March of this year. Managing Director, Vinnie Finnegan says he had always conducted a lot of business in the area, from Dún Laoghaire to Dalkey and Killiney to Monkstown. And he revealed that there had been a plan afoot to have an office in the town as long ago as 2006. “We had two failed attempts to secure a suitable property, then the recession hit but I would take the premises we’re in now over any of them. We are very happy where we are”!
Vinnie described himself as a ‘blow-in’ as he has only lived in the area for twenty years! He says they were given a great welcome when they opened up, “People just called in to welcome us”.
But why Dún Laoghaire? “This is an area due to make a resurgence where urban renewal and regeneration are still to take hold”. He mentions a number of improvements he has seen already including the new Library, the Peoples’ Park and the Kingston Hotel which, he says, has a great restaurant and a lovely beer garden. ‘People like to see an area coming back to life’, he says.
And Vinnie has an excellent track record in ‘reading’ an area. He opened their offices in Dundrum in 2002 when the Luas, Dundrum Town Centre and the M50 had not yet taken hold. He identifies the potential for Dún Laoghaire as ‘limitless with the amenities it has, the harbour, the sea, the coastline’!
Finnegans Estate Agents are renowned as results-driven and have an outstanding track record in selling properties – the company is in operation since 1972 and Vincent senior was selling properties in Dublin since the 1950s. “It’s in our blood, believe me.”
There are things on his wish-list too, Vinnie would like to see the shopping centre completely regenerated with a bit of creative thinking thrown into the mix.
Vinnie and Finnegans Estate Agents have settled comfortably in Upper Georges Street, there are seven staff and, already, plans to develop above the premises to complete the streetscape.
