NORTH OF THE RIVER AS EXPERIENCED BY THE URBAN CARTOGRAPHER

Original Images By William Murphy

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Dublin Docklands Development Authority

THE NEW CUSTOM HOUSE

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PROMENADE ROAD ON THE TOLKA ESTUARY

The New Custom House: A Modern Hub for Customs Operations

The New Custom House in Dublin Port stands as a testament to the modernisation of customs operations in Ireland. Located on the Tolka Estuary at Promenade Road in Dublin 3, near the East Point Business Park, this £8 million complex has been fully constructed and is now operational.

Spanning approximately 4,000 square meters, the building houses both office spaces and “turning out” sheds, accommodating around 166 staff members. The New Custom House has successfully centralised all customs functions within the port, streamlining operations that were previously dispersed across various locations.

Despite its significance in facilitating trade and enhancing efficiency, the New Custom House project received relatively little publicity compared to its historical counterpart, the iconic Custom House designed by James Gandon. This newer building, however, serves as a vital hub for customs activities in the 21st century, playing a crucial role in supporting the flow of goods through Dublin Port.

While the historic Custom House remains a celebrated landmark, the New Custom House on Promenade Road represents a forward-looking approach to customs operations, equipped to handle the demands of modern trade and commerce.

EXPLORING THE TOLKA ESTUARY GREENWAY – SECTION THREE

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SONY FX30 PLUS ZEISS BATIS 85MM LENS

As there was no relevant signage on Alfie Byrne road I had difficulty finding the Tolka Estuary Greenway. I started by crossing the Eastpoint Causeway that crosses the Tolka River and then follow a waterfront path that leads to Bond Road where the entrance to the new Dublin Port Greenway. There is a second entrance beside the New Custom House on Promenade Road and the final entrance is at Terminal Road South/North. I met a number of people who were unaware of the waterfront walkway and therefore failed to find the Tolka Estuary Greenway – it is not at all obvious.

The Dublin Port Greenway, specifically the Tolka Estuary Greenway section, has recently opened to the public and is generating quite a buzz. This new greenway offers:  

Stunning Views: It provides access to previously unseen vistas of the Clontarf seafront, Bull Island, and Howth, showcasing the beauty of Dublin’s coastline.  
Improved Access: The greenway significantly enhances access to Dublin Port’s ferry terminal, offering a safer and more continuous route for cyclists and pedestrians, especially those traveling to and from the ferries.  
Environmental Sensitivity: The project was designed with the environment in mind, featuring low-level lighting to minimise disturbance to wildlife and incorporating landscaping with native trees.  
Connectivity: The greenway connects to the Royal Canal Greenway, providing access to the city centre and the Southside of Dublin, furthering the network of cycling and walking paths in the city.  
The opening of this greenway is a significant step forward for Dublin. It not only offers a scenic route for recreation and commuting but also promotes sustainable transport and improves access to key areas of the city.
As Dublin continues to develop its cycling infrastructure, the Dublin Port Greenway stands as a prime example of how such projects can enhance the city’s liveability and connectivity.

The Tolka Estuary Greenway is actually a part of the larger Dublin Port Greenway project.  

Dublin Port Greenway is a broader initiative aimed at improving cycling and pedestrian access throughout the Dublin Port area. It will eventually include multiple routes and connections, creating a network of greenways within the port.  

Tolka Estuary Greenway is a specific section of the Dublin Port Greenway, running along the northern edge of the port, offering views of the Tolka Estuary and Clontarf. It’s the first phase of the Dublin Port Greenway to be completed and opened to the public.  

So, while they are related, the Tolka Estuary Greenway is a specific completed section of the larger and still developing Dublin Port Greenway project. 

EXPLORING ALL SECTIONS OF THE TOLKA ESTUARY GREENWAY

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I USED AN iPHONE 12 PRO MAX

There seems to be an LR bug or a problem with the Halide Camera App – I say this because all of my recent iPhone photographs have a pink tint that was difficult to correct.

Today I had planned to attend the opening of a new Indian restaurant in the Portobello area of the city but for technical reasons the opening had to be rescheduled for Thursday so as I had plenty of time to spare and thought that it would be a good idea to explore the Tolka Estuary Greenway section of the Dublin Port Greenway and it proved to be an excellent decision even if I had the wrong camera and the wrong lens.

As there was no relevant signage on Alfie Byrne road I had difficulty finding the Tolka Estuary Greenway. I started by crossing the Eastpoint Causeway that crosses the Tolka River and then follow a waterfront path that leads to Bond Road where the entrance to the new Dublin Port Greenway. There is a second entrance beside the New Custom House on Promenade Road and the final entrance is at Terminal Road South/North. I met a number of people who were unaware of the waterfront walkway and therefore failed to find the Tolka Estuary Greenway – it is not at all obvious.

The Dublin Port Greenway, specifically the Tolka Estuary Greenway section, has recently opened to the public and is generating quite a buzz. This new greenway offers:  

Stunning Views: It provides access to previously unseen vistas of the Clontarf seafront, Bull Island, and Howth, showcasing the beauty of Dublin’s coastline.  
Improved Access: The greenway significantly enhances access to Dublin Port’s ferry terminal, offering a safer and more continuous route for cyclists and pedestrians, especially those traveling to and from the ferries.  
Environmental Sensitivity: The project was designed with the environment in mind, featuring low-level lighting to minimise disturbance to wildlife and incorporating landscaping with native trees.  
Connectivity: The greenway connects to the Royal Canal Greenway, providing access to the city centre and the Southside of Dublin, furthering the network of cycling and walking paths in the city.  
The opening of this greenway is a significant step forward for Dublin. It not only offers a scenic route for recreation and commuting but also promotes sustainable transport and improves access to key areas of the city.
As Dublin continues to develop its cycling infrastructure, the Dublin Port Greenway stands as a prime example of how such projects can enhance the city’s liveability and connectivity.

The Tolka Estuary Greenway is actually a part of the larger Dublin Port Greenway project.  

Dublin Port Greenway is a broader initiative aimed at improving cycling and pedestrian access throughout the Dublin Port area. It will eventually include multiple routes and connections, creating a network of greenways within the port.  

Tolka Estuary Greenway is a specific section of the Dublin Port Greenway, running along the northern edge of the port, offering views of the Tolka Estuary and Clontarf. It’s the first phase of the Dublin Port Greenway to be completed and opened to the public.  

So, while they are related, the Tolka Estuary Greenway is a specific completed section of the larger and still developing Dublin Port Greenway project. 

EXPLORING HANOVER QUAY AND THE IMMEDIATE AREA REF-225548-1

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NOVEMBER 2023

Because of the riot in Dublin last Thursday I am using a iPhone rather than my Sony Cameras. I suspect that I am being over cautious.

The Grand Canal Docks first opened in 1796, built to a design by William Jessop. Before this development, from medieval times the area was associated with lepers, as recorded in some of the street names such as Misery Hill and Lazer Lane. At the time they were the world’s largest docks. They fell into decline within just a few decades, due mostly to reduced canal usage with the arrival of the railways. The landscape was dominated by Dublin Gas Company’s mountains of black coal, along with chemical factories, tar pits, bottle factories and iron foundries. However, bakers and millers maintained business along the southern edge of the inner basin. By the 1960s, the Grand Canal Docks were almost completely derelict.

Around 1987 it was decided that Hanover Quay was too toxic to sell. Regeneration began in 1998, when Bord Gáis sold the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) the former gasworks site located in the area between Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and Hanover Quay, for €19 million. The DDDA spent €52 million decontaminating the land, even though the likely return was estimated at just €40 million. The decontamination took place under the supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency, between 2002 and 2006. The process involved constructing an underground wall eight metres deep around the affected area, and the contaminated soil being dug out and removed. By the time the decontamination was finished, an inflated property bubble and increased demand in the area (brought on, in part, by the decision by Google to set up its European headquarters nearby), allowed the authority to sell the land for €300 million. The DDDA injected some of its new funds into the area’s infrastructure including seats, street lighting, and civic spaces.

A number of buildings have since been developed, involving the construction of millions of euros worth of real estate, the establishment of what is now sometimes known as Silicon Docks, and the arrival of several thousand new residents.

A LOT GOING ON NEAR THE SEAN O’CASEY BRIDGE

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ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE LIFFEY ACROSS FROM CHQ

The CHQ Dublin building is a retail and events hub on the banks of the the River Liffey and George’s Dock in Dublin City centre. CHQ stands for Custom House Quay.

When I visited today I was surprised to see so many people to board the Spirit Of The Docklands riverboat and I was also surprised to discover that Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) building on Custom House Quay had been demolished.

Seán O’Casey Bridge is a pedestrian swingbridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland, joining City Quay in the Grand Canal Docks area to North Wall Quay and the IFSC.

Designed by architect Cyril O’Neill and O’Connor Sutton Cronin Consulting Engineers (for which they won an Institution of Structural Engineers Award for Pedestrian Bridges in 2006), the bridge was built in 2005 as part of a large-scale urban renewal scheme under the Dublin Docklands Development Authority to link the north and south quays and rejuvenate both. The swing bridge spans approximately 100 metres and has two balanced cantilever arms that swing open to permit boats to pass up river. Around 2010 the remote control that operates the swing bridge was misplaced, and the bridge was unable to be opened until the control system was reprogrammed in 2014.

The bridge was opened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in July 2005. It is named after the playwright and Irish Citizen Army member Seán O’Casey (1880–1964) who lived in the North Wall area of the city.

Dublin’s tour service on the River Liffey. The bright red, glass-roofed tour boat, ‘Spirit of Docklands’ operates between the city centre and the Docklands, exploring the historical sites and landmarks along the River Liffey.

A tour guide delivers entertaining snippets on Dublin life specific to the Liffey and Docklands throughout the journey, offering passengers an intriguing insight into Dublin folklore and history. The script has been developed by leading Dublin historian Pat Liddy. The tour departs from a landing station at Bachelor’s Walk, passing under O’Connell Bridge downstream past the Custom House in Docklands. It reaches the East Link Toll Bridge and the Grand Canal Basin before passing the IFSC and returning to Bachelor’s Walk.

‘Spirit of Docklands’ arrived in Dublin in June 2005. Built in Sweden by boat builders Westers Mekaniska, it can accommodate 50 passengers, is 23 metres long and capable of travelling at 9.5 knots. It is wheelchair accessible and suitable for young and old alike.

The service is the latest of a number of initiatives under the Docklands Authority’s River Regeneration Strategy to bring back life to the River Liffey to give Dubliners and visitors alike an alternative view of the city.

The Liffey River Cruises operates daily, with a journey time of approximately 45 minutes.

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