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Dun Laoghaire

A MAN AND HIS TWO BUOYS IN A RIB

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DUN LAOGHAIRE HARBOUR WEST PIER

Here in Ireland a buoy is pronounced the same as boy and a RIB is the commonly used acronym for Rigid Inflatable Boat, if it contains an H, it stands for Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat. Both RIBs and RHIBs are the same thing, they are light-weight, high performance powerboats constructed with a solid hull, and inflatable tubes or ‘sponsons’ around the outer edge.

There are four waterfront yacht clubs located between the East and West Piers. In addition there are two umbrella Clubs, without premises, the Royal Alfred Yacht Club, founded in 1857, and the Dublin Bay Sailing Club, founded in 1884.


Dublin Bay Sailing Club organises races Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the summer months. The starts and finishes of the yacht racing can be best seen from the vicinity of the Starters Hut on the West Pier.

ACTUALLY IT IS A CANNON FROM THE 1853-56 CRIMEA WAR

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OUR PATRIOT AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM

The inventor of the first cannon made of cast steel, is reputed to have remarked that cannon guns were not manufactured for future generations of children to play upon in town squares.

About twenty guns captured after the siege of Sevastapol (formerly Sebastopol) in September 1855 are now on display in towns throughout Ireland and there is one at the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire and it does attract many children however when I visited a few days ago it was attracting many starlings (there were many at rest along the pier). Unfortunately they they refused to pose for me when I tried to photograph them.

The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Sardinia-Piedmont.

The common starling is stocky and dark overall. Short tail, triangular wings, and long, pointed bill. Close look reveals beautiful plumage. In breeding season, shows purple and green iridescence on body with yellow bill. In winter, bold white spots cover the entire body. Native to Eurasia; introduced in many regions worldwide, where it is now abundant. Often in large flocks. Makes variety of squeaky vocalisations, including proficient mimicry of other species. Inhabits a wide range of open habitats, often in very close proximity to people. Visits feeders, and is often aggressive.

DUN LAOGHAIRE BATHS AND THE ROGER CASEMENT STATUE

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AFTER TWELVE YEARS OF WORK ON SITE

I am a bit disappointed with the photographs and I cannot determine what caused the lens not to focus correctly.

In December 2022 the people of Dun Laoghaire witnessed the re-opening of the Dún Laoghaire Baths and it was a significant milestone for the Council and the people of the town. This well-known landmark has been an important part of the history and heritage of families all over the County.

The works included the refurbishment of the baths pavilion, the construction of a new 35m jetty with built in seating, the installation of the Roger Casement statue, a simple changing shelter, the refurbished Edwardian gazebo in the beach garden and a new walkway from Newtownsmith.

The former pavilion building has also been substantially refurbished to provide studio space for artists, as well as a gallery and a café with a spectacular view of Scotsman’s Bay. The café will have a terrace outside which will link across to the People’s Park as well as down to the sea. The pavilion building and café is now operational. There are also toilet facilities, including a “changing places” bathroom, which is for people with additional needs.

The finished results are the culmination of 12 years work at the site. The work has encompassed different phases – the design phase, the preparation of tender drawings and construction phase, which took five years to complete. Significant structural work was required to underpin and stabilise the main building when extensions were removed and to restore walls along the embankment at Queens Road. Additional challenges included the rocky coastline and proximity to the sea.

There are plans for a new walkway between Dún Laoghaire’s East Pier and the Dún Laoghaire Baths in 2023. The original plans did not include a swimming pool, but a future phase of development on the site can include an open seawater pool, subject to approval. During the construction, a rectangular concrete void was left below the surface of the amphitheatre area, with a concrete “lid” covering it, allowing for the inclusion of a tidal pool.

The project was mainly funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with a contribution by the European Regional Development Fund. Final costs are estimated to be in the region of €18 million. There was an increase in the cost due to the significant structural work required to underpin and stabilise the main building and to restore walls along the embankment at Queens Road as well as the construction of the jetty.

BETWEEN DUN LAOGHAIRE EAST PIER AND THE BATHS

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THIS AREA HAS BEEN BADLY NEGLECTED

There are plans for a new walkway between Dún Laoghaire’s East Pier and the Dún Laoghaire Baths in 2023. Unfortunately, much of this area along Queen’s Road has been badly neglected for decades.

While I was in Dun Laoghaire I could see the Cruise Ship “Carinval Pride” at anchor in the the bay. Carnival Pride is a Spirit-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was laid down on March 30, 2000, launched on March 29, 2001 and completed and delivered to Carnival on December 12, 2001. She was christened by American scientist and astronaut Tamara Jernigan in Port Canaveral, Florida, on January 7, 2002.

Carnival Pride has 1,062 passenger cabins. She is currently based out of Tampa, FL.

LONGFORD TERRACE AND CLOSE BY

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SALTHILL AND MONKSTOWN TRAIN STATION

I got off the train at Salthill-Monkstown Station with the intention of walking to Dalkey but I ended up exploring the Glenageary area instead.

Longford Terrace, Monkstown is a set of 28 houses in two terraced blocks of Victorian buildings all of which face the sea and the railway track. There is a linear park between the houses and the railway and I think that it is known as Seapoint Park.

Salthill and Monkstown railway station serves the areas of Salthill (on the coast) and Monkstown (just inland) in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland.

It is situated between Seapoint and Dún Laoghaire DART stations. The station has a car park, ticket office, automated ticket and vending machines. The ticket office is open between 05:45-00:15 AM, Monday to Sunday. The original Salthill station opened in May 1837. It was built by the Dublin and Kingstown Railway. It closed in 1960 and was electrified and reopened in 1984 with the arrival of DART services.

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