PUBLIC TRANSPORT

All Photographs Supplied By William Murphy

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William Murphy

DUBLINBIKES DOCKING STATION 03 BOLTON STREET DURING A SNOW STORM

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DECEMBER 2010 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION

Dublinbikes, launched in 2009, was still in its infancy in 2010. The scheme, with its distinctive blue bicycles and prominent docking stations, was designed to provide a public bicycle rental service for residents and visitors to Dublin.

In 2010, Dublinbikes was notable for its lack of a commercial sponsor. This meant the bikes were simply branded with the Dublinbikes logo and the city council’s emblem. This was a conscious decision by Dublin City Council, who wanted to establish the service as a public utility before seeking commercial sponsorship.

The winter of 2010 was particularly harsh in Dublin, with several heavy snowfalls. This was unusual, as snow in Dublin is typically infrequent and doesn’t tend to disrupt daily life significantly. However, 2010 was different. The heavy snow and ice caused widespread disruption to transport and daily life, including the Dublinbikes service. Many docking stations were temporarily closed due to the hazardous conditions, and the use of the bikes was significantly reduced as people opted to stay indoors.

Despite the challenges posed by the weather, Dublinbikes continued to operate throughout the winter of 2010, providing a valuable service to those who braved the elements. The lack of a commercial sponsor did not hinder the service’s popularity, and it continued to grow in popularity in the years that followed.

CLONTARF GARAGE 2017 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM MURPHY

  • CLONTARF GARAGE [2017 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION]-244445-1

Clontarf Garage is more than just a place where buses park overnight. It’s a landmark with a rich history intertwined with the development of public transport in Dublin.

Here’s what I’ve found about Clontarf Garage:

Early beginnings: The garage was originally built as a tram depot in the late 19th century (between 1870 and 1880, according to the Buildings of Ireland records). This was during the era of horse-drawn trams, and the building would have housed and serviced these early forms of public transport.

Electrification and modernisation: With the electrification of the tram lines in the late 1890s and early 1900s, Clontarf Garage would have undergone modifications to accommodate the new electric trams. This likely included the installation of electrical infrastructure, such as the transformer we discussed elsewhere [also featured in one of this set of images].

Transition to buses: As trams gradually gave way to buses in the mid-20th century, the garage transitioned into its current role as a bus depot. It continues to serve as an important hub for Dublin Bus operations today.

Architectural significance: Clontarf Garage is a listed building, recognised for its historical and architectural significance. It stands as a reminder of the evolution of public transport in Dublin and the city’s industrial heritage.

Key features and facts:

Officially named “Dublin Bus Clontarf Garage”
Located at 239-243 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3
Registered with the Buildings of Ireland (Reg No. 50030113)
Serves as a depot for Dublin Bus, housing and maintaining buses
Historically significant as a former tram depot
Beyond the practical: Clontarf Garage is more than just a functional building. It’s a landmark in the local community and a symbol of how transport has shaped the development of Clontarf. It’s also a place where generations of Dublin Bus drivers and staff have worked, contributing to the city’s transport network.

THE LUAS TRAM STOP ON HARCOURT STREET

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OUTSIDE WHAT WAS ONCE AN IMPORTANT TRAIN STATION

Harcourt Street is a vibrant and historic street located in Dublin’s city centre, known for its diverse architecture, cultural attractions, and lively atmosphere. But it’s not just about history! Harcourt Street is also famous for its buzzing nightlife, with popular nightclubs like Copper Face Jacks and Tripod drawing crowds, especially on weekends. This adds to the energetic atmosphere of the street, particularly in the evenings.

The street is also home to a significant landmark in Dublin’s transport network: the Harcourt Street Luas stop.

The Tram Stop

The Harcourt Street Luas stop is situated directly in front of the former Harcourt Street railway station, a grand Victorian building that once served as the terminus for the Dublin to Bray railway line. The station, which opened in 1859 and closed in 1958, has been repurposed and now houses a variety of commercial and residential spaces.

The Luas stop itself is a modern addition to the street, having opened in 2004 as part of the Green Line. It features an island platform, a rarity for Luas stops, which is flanked by tracks running in lanes reserved for trams. Road traffic must travel on the western side of the street.
 
The stop is a major transportation hub for the area, connecting passengers to various destinations along the Green Line, including Broombridge, Parnell, and Sandyford. It also provides easy access to other modes of transport, such as Dublin Bus and the Dublinbikes bike-sharing scheme – you’ll find a Dublinbikes docking station on nearby Clonmel Street.

Key features of the Harcourt Street Luas stop:

Accessibility: The stop is fully accessible, with ramps and lifts for wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments.
Real-time information: Digital displays provide up-to-the-minute information on tram arrivals and departures.
Ticket machines: Passengers can purchase tickets at the station using ticket machines or the Luas app.
Security: The stop is monitored by CCTV cameras for passenger safety.

Points of interest near the Harcourt Street Luas stop:

National Concert Hall: A premier venue for classical music concerts and other cultural events.
Iveagh Gardens: A beautifully landscaped park offering a tranquil escape from the city bustle. The entrance to the gardens is on Clonmel Street, a short street just off Harcourt Street.
Grafton Street: A popular shopping destination with a wide variety of high-street stores and boutiques.
St. Stephen’s Green: A large park in the heart of Dublin, perfect for picnics and leisurely strolls.

AT OR NEAR THE BROADSTONE PLAZA OR THE GRANGEGORMAN GATE

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THE LUAS TRAM STOP IS LOCATED HERE

Broadstone is one of three neighbourhood’s that together form the modern-day Phibsboro area in Dublin, Ireland. Situated furthest south among these, it starts just two kilometers north of the Father Mathew Bridge at Ormond Quay. The area is triangular in shape, bordered by Phibsborough Road and Constitution Hill on the west, North Circular Road on the north, and Dorset Street and Bolton Street on the southeast. Its postal code is Dublin 7.

The Grangegorman Gate, built as part of the Luas Cross City project, serves as a vital entrance to the Grangegorman University campus. This completed public plaza now significantly connects Grangegorman to the heart of Dublin. It’s located off Constitution Hill where the old Royal Canal once was, at the site of the former Great Western Railway Station (commonly called Broadstone), and is now a major gateway to the Grangegorman urban quarter.

The Broadstone area, bordering Grangegorman on its east, underwent a Part VIII planning process in 2014 to enable site development and gate access.

The Grangegorman Masterplan envisions the main urban path through Grangegorman, St Brendan’s Way, connecting with the Broadstone Gate, ultimately reaching Prussia Street. This Broadstone link can also be viewed as an extension of Dublin’s historic 18th-century core, which stretched from Dublin Castle across Grattan Bridge, along Capel Street/Bolton Street, to Henrietta Street and King’s Inn.