Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway Officially Opens to the Public
26 September 2024
Minister James Lawless launches new section of the Dublin Coastal Trail, offering never-before-seen views across Dublin Bay
Minister of State James Lawless TD has today launched the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway, a new shared cycling and pedestrian route which joins EastPoint Business Park to the Ferry Terminals and runs along the perimeter of northern port lands reclaimed from the sea in the 1970s.
Developed by the Dublin Port Company, the Tolka Estuary Greenway forms part of Fáilte Ireland’s Dublin Coastal Trail which runs from Skerries in the north to Killiney in the south. The trail, which highlights Dublin’s majestic coastline, is dotted with adventures and now proudly includes the port’s Greenway.
On this new Greenway nestled in the heart of the busy port, cyclists and pedestrians can take in stunning new views of Dublin Bay and hear calls of the migratory birds that call the port home throughout the year, including Brent Geese, Bar-Tailed Godwits and Common and Arctic Terns.
A collection of mature Pine, Willow and Sycamore trees are preserved along the route, which alongside additional planting of over 200 large trees and over 5,000 smaller woodland trees and native wildflowers have created new shelter and nesting sites for birdlife, pollinators, and other insects.
The Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway also preserves and reinterprets the port’s rich history. Seating at the Greenway’s Discovery Points reuses granite from the Alexandra Basin dating back to the 19th century. These granite pieces were recovered under the first phase of Dublin Port’s Masterplan 2040.
Only a short distance from Clontarf, cyclists and pedestrians can access the Greenway at its EastPoint Business Park entrance, a short walk from the EastPoint stop on the N4 bus route. The route can also be accessed from the Ferry Terminals via the Terminal 2 building operated by Stena Line, in close proximity to the Terminal 1 building operated by Irish Ferries and Isle of Man Ferries.
Refreshments with K Coffee, a variety of food options, as well as ATM, showers, and toilet facilities, are available at the Circle K Dublin Port service station accessible midway through the route via Promenade Road. Equipped with a specialist lighting system to consider wildlife, the Greenway will also have call points scattered along the route.
Setting off from the EastPoint entrance, users of the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway travel through a woodland corridor. The expanse of the Bay opens up to cyclists at the first of the Greenway’s three ‘Discovery Points’. These observation platforms reveal breathtaking views across Dublin Bay that have never been accessible to the public before.
At each Discovery Point, interpretive panels give context to the heritage and history of Dublin as a port city. The first Discovery Point faces out toward Clontarf, where Brian Boru fought the momentous 1014 Battle of Clontarf and defeated the Viking and Leinster armies.
Heading south towards Promenade Road, visitors to the second Discovery Point can look out over Dublin Bay, where over 300 recorded shipwrecks lie beneath the waves, waiting to be discovered. Panels at this point offer insight into the toil and characteristic humour of the dockers, just a stone’s throw from the shipyards where they worked and where a busy hub of economic activity thrives today.
Continuing down Promenade Road to ‘Discovery Point 3’, visitors can catch a glimpse of the hardworking heart of the port, as ships arrive and depart, and take in a 270-degree view of Dublin Bay out to the Irish Sea.
The journey doesn’t end there – the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway is a certified section of the ‘Eurovelo 2 Capitals Route’, a network of long-distance cycling routes developed by the European Cyclists’ Federation (https://en.eurovelo.com/). This 5,000km route spans seven countries, six capital cities and two European seas. To the west, the Greenway will link the Port to Athlone via the Royal Canal and Clontarf Greenways in Q2 2025, when works are completed on Phase 3 of the Royal Canal Greenway.
A ceremony today marked the official opening of Phase One of the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway, with a further phase to follow as the port is developed. It will also be linked to the Liffey through the Liffey-Tolka Project, which received planning approval in 2023. This marks a milestone achievement in the delivery of Dublin Port’s Masterplan 2040 to maximise the potential of existing port lands and integrate the port and the city and the project represents an investment in the city of Dublin for generations to come.
Launching the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway, James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, said: “The Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway offers a new view of Dublin Bay, one of Ireland’s two UNESCO-designated biospheres, to cyclists, walkers and adventurers of all stripes. Anything we can do to encourage cycling and other forms of sustainable transport is a net benefit for our environment.
“I want to thank Dublin Port for their commitment to this project, which creates a sustainable link to the Ferry Terminals, preserves Dublin’s heritage as a Port-City and creates a brand-new amenity for future generations to enjoy.”
Liz Halpin, Head of Dublin at Fáilte Ireland said: “Dublin Port serves as a vital gateway for visitors to both Dublin and the entire country and the new greenway offers an exciting way for visitors to experience Dublin’s coastline on foot or by bike. It will be a fantastic addition to the Dublin Coastal Trail, which showcases the wealth of activities and experiences along Dublin’s coast to help encourage visitors to stay longer and have more immersive and meaningful experiences. The opportunity to link the stories of the port and associated heritage also provides a significant platform for new experience development, leveraging Dublin’s unique maritime past for visitors.”
Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive of Dublin Port, said: “The opening of the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway is an exciting moment for the city. This Greenway lets cyclists from Dublin and further afield see Dublin Bay like never before, whether they’re taking the family out on a Sunday afternoon, walking the dog or cycling down to catch their ferry to Holyhead. This brilliant new amenity is a centrepiece of our Port-City Integration strategy to open up the port to the public and celebrate the rich historical links it shares with the city.”
The Tolka Estuary Greenway is a part of Dublin Port’s ‘Distributed Museum’ network, which began with the opening of The Diving Bell on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in 2015 and also includes The Substation, an exhibition space offering the public views of the original 18th century sea wall from which East Wall gets its name. From 28 September, the venue will hold its latest exhibition, ‘The Bridges of Dublin’, in collaboration with The Little Museum of Dublin.
Building the Greenway
An integral part of Dublin Port’s Masterplan, first published in 2012, is the delivery of Port-City integration. The Greenway development along the northern perimeter of the Port Estate is a key project delivering on this objective. In 2021 design began for the new Greenway under the direction of the Dublin Port Capital Projects Team and ably supported by specialist consultants ROD Consulting Engineers, Darmody Architecture and Austen Associates Landscapes. Following an extensive design phase including local community and key stakeholder engagement, works began in summer 2023 following the appointment of Wills Bros Ltd. Over the following fifteen months, the project team worked tirelessly to deliver the vision and quality standards expected for this prestigious project.
The scheme comprised various engineering and architectural packages including coastal protection works, combined active travel path, three unique Discovery Points, specialist lighting system, extensive soft landscaping, various public realm and interpretation fixtures.
Discover more about the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway