MEATH STREET IN A WORK IN PROGRESS
THE UPGRADING OF MEATH STREET IS UNDERWAY [SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 2027]
Following the widely acknowledged success of the Francis Street refurbishment, Meath Street is now undergoing a similar significant upgrade. The project is a continuation of Dublin City Council’s wider public realm improvements under ‘The Liberties Greening Strategy’.
The Current Works: Installation of Large Pipes
The major works currently visible involving the installation of very large pipes are essential advance utility works being carried out by Uisce Éireann. This project involves the replacement of over a kilometre of aged 19th-century cast-iron water mains with new, modern pipes. This crucial upgrade is designed to reduce high levels of leakage, prevent bursts, improve overall water quality, and provide a more reliable water supply for the area before the main public realm repaving and landscaping begins.
Plan Comparison: Meath Street vs. Francis Street
The plan for Meath Street is explicitly modelled on the Francis Street project and is described in council reports as "mirroring" its successful design principles.
Similarities: The core plan is almost identical. It involves reducing the carriageway to a single lane for most of the street (while retaining through-traffic), which allows for the significant widening of footpaths to between four and five metres. This, in turn, creates space for the key elements seen on Francis Street: the planting of numerous new trees (approximately 19 are planned), the installation of new public seating and landscaping, upgraded street lighting, and new pedestrian crossings.
Significant Differences: The primary difference is one of specific emphasis rather than overall design. For Meath Street, there is a distinct focus on rejuvenating its historic identity as one of Dublin's great market streets. The newly widened pavements are expressly designed to accommodate and encourage a wider range of street uses, particularly outdoor café seating and, crucially, new street markets and casual trading pitches. The plan includes the installation of new electrical points to service market stalls, a feature intended to animate the street and support its traditional trading character.
Lessons Learned and Public Opinion
Lessons have indeed been learned from the Francis Street project. Council planners noted public feedback from Francis Street—for example, observing that areas around new benches tended to attract more litter—and are applying these lessons by strategically placing bins near the planned seating areas on Meath Street.
Public opinion is reported as being significantly more hopeful and positive than it may have been before the Francis Street works. The success of the neighbouring street has served as a tangible proof of concept. Local business owners have been quoted as being very supportive of the Meath Street plan specifically because they want the same standard of improvement that Francis Street received.
This optimism is not universal; during the consultation phase, some concerns were raised about potential gentrification, with one local councillor describing the Francis Street design as "bland" and worrying the upgrade could "remove people off the street". However, the final plan proceeded with broad support following a public consultation that received nearly 230 submissions.
Project Timeline
The €5 million Meath Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme was formally approved by Dublin City Councillors in December 2023. The project is split into two main phases:
Advance Utility Works: This is the current pipe-laying work by Uisce Éireann, which commenced in June 2025 and is scheduled for completion in late Autumn 2025.
Main Public Realm Works: The main construction (paving, planting, and furniture) is scheduled to begin directly after the utility works are finished, with a planned start date of September 2025.
The total construction timeline for these main works is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months, placing the planned finish date for the entire project between late 2026 and early 2027.
Expected Traffic Impact
During the current utility works, there is significant traffic disruption with road closures and diversions in effect. Traffic coming from The Coombe is being diverted via Patrick Street and High Street, or via Pimlico and School Street, to access Thomas Street. Pedestrian access to all businesses and residences is being maintained throughout the works.
Once completed, the permanent design will permanently alter the street's traffic profile. While through-traffic will be maintained, the narrowed single-lane carriageway will naturally calm vehicle speeds. The number of on-street parking spaces will be reduced significantly (from 27 to 12) to discourage all-day parking and prioritise short-term "drop-off and pop-in shopping", thereby rebalancing the street in favour of pedestrians.
History of Meath Street
Meath Street has a long history as the commercial heart of The Liberties. It was laid out as a planned street in the late 17th century, within the estate of the Earl of Meath. In 1680, a stonemason named Wheeler was commissioned to design the new thoroughfare specifically to create a vital link between the two main arteries of Thomas Street and The Coombe, solidifying its role as a central market street which it retains to this day.
Following the widely acknowledged success of the Francis Street refurbishment, Meath Street is now undergoing a similar significant upgrade. The project is a continuation of Dublin City Council’s wider public realm improvements under ‘The Liberties Greening Strategy’.
The Current Works: Installation of Large Pipes
The major works currently visible involving the installation of very large pipes are essential advance utility works being carried out by Uisce Éireann. This project involves the replacement of over a kilometre of aged 19th-century cast-iron water mains with new, modern pipes. This crucial upgrade is designed to reduce high levels of leakage, prevent bursts, improve overall water quality, and provide a more reliable water supply for the area before the main public realm repaving and landscaping begins.
Plan Comparison: Meath Street vs. Francis Street
The plan for Meath Street is explicitly modelled on the Francis Street project and is described in council reports as "mirroring" its successful design principles.
Similarities: The core plan is almost identical. It involves reducing the carriageway to a single lane for most of the street (while retaining through-traffic), which allows for the significant widening of footpaths to between four and five metres. This, in turn, creates space for the key elements seen on Francis Street: the planting of numerous new trees (approximately 19 are planned), the installation of new public seating and landscaping, upgraded street lighting, and new pedestrian crossings.
Significant Differences: The primary difference is one of specific emphasis rather than overall design. For Meath Street, there is a distinct focus on rejuvenating its historic identity as one of Dublin's great market streets. The newly widened pavements are expressly designed to accommodate and encourage a wider range of street uses, particularly outdoor café seating and, crucially, new street markets and casual trading pitches. The plan includes the installation of new electrical points to service market stalls, a feature intended to animate the street and support its traditional trading character.
Lessons Learned and Public Opinion
Lessons have indeed been learned from the Francis Street project. Council planners noted public feedback from Francis Street—for example, observing that areas around new benches tended to attract more litter—and are applying these lessons by strategically placing bins near the planned seating areas on Meath Street.
Public opinion is reported as being significantly more hopeful and positive than it may have been before the Francis Street works. The success of the neighbouring street has served as a tangible proof of concept. Local business owners have been quoted as being very supportive of the Meath Street plan specifically because they want the same standard of improvement that Francis Street received.
This optimism is not universal; during the consultation phase, some concerns were raised about potential gentrification, with one local councillor describing the Francis Street design as "bland" and worrying the upgrade could "remove people off the street". However, the final plan proceeded with broad support following a public consultation that received nearly 230 submissions.
Project Timeline
The €5 million Meath Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme was formally approved by Dublin City Councillors in December 2023. The project is split into two main phases:
Advance Utility Works: This is the current pipe-laying work by Uisce Éireann, which commenced in June 2025 and is scheduled for completion in late Autumn 2025.
Main Public Realm Works: The main construction (paving, planting, and furniture) is scheduled to begin directly after the utility works are finished, with a planned start date of September 2025.
The total construction timeline for these main works is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months, placing the planned finish date for the entire project between late 2026 and early 2027.
Expected Traffic Impact
During the current utility works, there is significant traffic disruption with road closures and diversions in effect. Traffic coming from The Coombe is being diverted via Patrick Street and High Street, or via Pimlico and School Street, to access Thomas Street. Pedestrian access to all businesses and residences is being maintained throughout the works.
Once completed, the permanent design will permanently alter the street's traffic profile. While through-traffic will be maintained, the narrowed single-lane carriageway will naturally calm vehicle speeds. The number of on-street parking spaces will be reduced significantly (from 27 to 12) to discourage all-day parking and prioritise short-term "drop-off and pop-in shopping", thereby rebalancing the street in favour of pedestrians.
History of Meath Street
Meath Street has a long history as the commercial heart of The Liberties. It was laid out as a planned street in the late 17th century, within the estate of the Earl of Meath. In 1680, a stonemason named Wheeler was commissioned to design the new thoroughfare specifically to create a vital link between the two main arteries of Thomas Street and The Coombe, solidifying its role as a central market street which it retains to this day.