Jim, as others have said, Powerscourt is a gorgeous location and the hotel is very comfortable. I have only played the East (on a few society and corporate days) and chime with the comments above - it is solid / fun rolling parkland golf, with some v pleasant backdrops - including the nearby Sugarloaf mountain, which is well worth a hike up as well.
On that side of Dublin, as Tommy says The European Club is the daddy from a links perspective. If money is not a factor fire away, but the EUR 225 current main season green fee (per the website) is not for me (each to their own obviously). Arklow has been mentioned as well and is a fun members' links with some v good holes and (in particular) some fantastic greens with plenty of movement in them. At EUR 30 or so a go it's a fun game. If you do a search on here there is a thread from a while back on Arklow.
If you want to play a good bit of links, the other (north) side of Dublin is really where it's at - Portmarnock, The Island, Royal Dublin, up to Baltray, Co Down a bit further on - also not forgetting Corballis for a fun game as flagged by Mr Arble on here. Hotels in Malahide / Portmarnock the best base for those spots.