A HARBOUR HAVEN

Everyone that I met along this trail indicated that they were more than impressed by this most unlikely facility within the port area of Dublin.

Opened in September 2024 by Minister of State James Lawless TD, the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway offers a new shared cycling and pedestrian route, connecting EastPoint Business Park to the Ferry Terminals. This scenic pathway traverses reclaimed land, a legacy of the 1970s, along Dublin Port’s northern perimeter.

Developed by the Dublin Port Company, the Tolka Estuary Greenway forms part of Fáilte Ireland’s Dublin Coastal Trail, a captivating route showcasing Dublin’s majestic coastline from Skerries in the north to Killiney in the south. This trail, renowned for its diverse experiences, now proudly features the port’s own greenway.

Nestled within the bustling port, the Greenway provides cyclists and pedestrians with breathtaking views of Dublin Bay. The air is alive with the calls of migratory birds, including Brent Geese, Bar-Tailed Godwits, and Common and Arctic Terns, who find sanctuary in the port throughout the year.

Mature Pine, Willow, and Sycamore trees have been carefully preserved along the route. Complementing this existing greenery, over 200 large trees and more than 5,000 smaller woodland trees, alongside native wildflowers, have been planted, creating new shelter and nesting sites for birds, pollinators, and other insects.

The Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway also celebrates the port’s rich history. Seating at the Greenway’s Discovery Points incorporates reclaimed granite from the 19th-century Alexandra Basin, salvaged during the first phase of Dublin Port’s Masterplan 2040.

Easily accessible from Clontarf, the Greenway’s EastPoint Business Park entrance is a short walk from the EastPoint stop on the N4 bus route. Access is also available from the Ferry Terminals via the Stena Line Terminal 2 building, and is conveniently located near the Irish Ferries and Isle of Man Ferries Terminal 1 building.

Midway along the route, via Promenade Road, the Circle K Dublin Port service station offers refreshments from K Coffee, a variety of food options, an ATM, showers, and toilet facilities. The Greenway features a specialist lighting system designed to minimise disturbance to wildlife, and call points are strategically placed along the route.

Entering from the EastPoint side, users are immediately immersed in a woodland corridor. The expanse of Dublin Bay dramatically unfolds at the first of the Greenway’s three ‘Discovery Points’. These observation platforms offer previously inaccessible panoramic views across the bay.

Interpretive panels at each Discovery Point provide insights into Dublin’s maritime heritage. The first Discovery Point overlooks Clontarf, the site of Brian Boru’s momentous victory over the Viking and Leinster armies in the 1014 Battle of Clontarf.

At the second Discovery Point, near Promenade Road, visitors can gaze out over Dublin Bay, where over 300 shipwrecks lie undiscovered beneath the waves. The panels here also offer a glimpse into the lives and humour of the dockers who worked in the nearby shipyards, a vibrant hub of economic activity that continues to thrive today.

Continuing along Promenade Road to ‘Discovery Point 3’, visitors witness the port’s bustling heart, observing ships arriving and departing, and enjoying a 270-degree view of Dublin Bay stretching out to the Irish Sea.

The Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway is a certified section of the ‘Eurovelo 2 Capitals Route’, a 5,000km network of long-distance cycling routes connecting seven countries, six capital cities, and two European seas. By Q2 2025, the Greenway will connect westward to Athlone via the Royal Canal and Clontarf Greenways, upon completion of Phase 3 of the Royal Canal Greenway.

The official opening of Phase One of the Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway took place in September 2024, with further phases planned as the port develops. The Greenway will also be linked to the River Liffey via the Liffey-Tolka Project, which received planning approval in 2023. This project represents a significant milestone in Dublin Port’s Masterplan 2040, maximising the potential of existing port lands and integrating the port with the city, an investment for generations to come.

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