Over sixty people - including families with young children - queued in the rain overnight at the Seven Mills housing development between Clondalkin and Lucan in Dublin.

Dozens lined up from three o’clock yesterday afternoon in a desperate attempt to get one of the new homes.

Many brought deck chairs, blankets and sleeping bags as they prepared to brave the elements until the houses went up for sale this morning.

Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte was among those looking to purchase one of the properties.

“To bring you back to the start here, Cairn Homes sent out an email yesterday morning at nine o’clock saying that a number of three-bed properties priced at €480, €490 and €500 grand would be made available on Saturday morning,” he told The Anton Savage Show.

“So, this morning at nine o’clock - but it would be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Me and my partner Yvonne, we were saying we would probably come at seven o’clock this morning.”

However, given how early previous queues have formed, the couple decided to head down at 11 o’clock last night to check out the scene.

The queue on Friday night the Seven Mills housing development. Image: Barry Whyte / Newstalk

“There was many couples, many families, many people even with their kids here,” Barry said.

“We did a count and thought, ‘Right, we might have a chance to be joined now’; so, we’ve been here for 10 hours queuing.

“There’s now still about 10 people in front of us and we have no idea even if we’re going to be successful here.

“They handed out a leaflet a couple of hours ago saying there was only 38 homes available, but they haven’t come and told anybody they’re all gone yet.”

The queue on Friday night the Seven Mills housing development. Image: Barry Whyte / Newstalk

According to Barry, it is a “pretty dire situation” that many hopeful homeowners find themselves in as a result of the housing crisis.

“If I turn back here, there’s 300 people behind me,” he said.

“So, there’s going to be hundreds of people here disappointed as well.”

In the last three years, the Irish population has increased by 208,600; however, between 2022 and 2024, 92,706 new homes were built.

Main image: Seven Mills housing development. Image: Barry Whyte / Newstalk.