Dog Park

Mr. Manager · 02-09-2010 2:54pm #1

I wanted to take my 6 month old puppy to a dog park but am unsure on where to go. I heard there is one in Marley Park but that there is a cover charge, I also heard St.Annes on the northside has one but it's very shabby.

Does anybody have any information on dog parks or could steer me in the direction of information?

I live in Clondalkin so somewhere on the Southside would be best but don't mind travelling in the car.

Thanks!

sophie1234 · 02-09-2010 2:56pm

cabinteely park has an area now that is closed off and dogs can come off the lead and socialize with other dogs!! if thats the kinda thing you want i find it great and the dogs are loving all the new dogs there meeting!!

DBCyc · 02-09-2010 3:00pm

I was in the one in Marlay Park a few months back. There was no cover charge

Dubdude · 02-09-2010 3:01pm

Hi OP, just to let you know there is no cover charge for Marley Park.

sophie1234 · 02-09-2010 3:03pm

i was in marley park on saturday couldnt find it where about is it i drove in the entrance near the playground...unless theres more then one playground then i cant describe what way i went in? thanks

DBCyc · 02-09-2010 3:10pm

sophie1234 wrote: »

i was in marley park on saturday couldnt find it where about is it i drove in the entrance near the playground...unless theres more then one playground then i cant describe what way i went in? thanks

From what I can remember - its around here

sophie1234 · 02-09-2010 3:15pm

is it an enclosed area like the one i described in cabinteely park where yur dog can come off the lead and play with other dogs????

DBCyc · 02-09-2010 3:17pm

yep its a fully enlcosed area full of off-lead dogs playing

Dubdude · 02-09-2010 3:17pm

sophie1234 wrote: »

i was in marley park on saturday couldnt find it where about is it i drove in the entrance near the playground...unless theres more then one playground then i cant describe what way i went in? thanks

Its down the back past the football pitches.

sophie1234 · 02-09-2010 3:19pm

thanks think ill try it later the one in cabinteely is also great though im only new to this didnt think such thing excisted in dublin till i found the one in cabinteely!!

seamus · 02-09-2010 3:31pm

To get to the Marlay Park one from either of the Car Parks:

From the main car park (i.e. beside the house): Follow the path which leads directly away from the house/courtyard, with the small bridge over the river. Stay on this path, it will lead you around the pitches and all the way down under the trees, then you'll see it on your right, across from the new Playground.

From the car park on college road, take the path which leads you east from the gate (imagine coming in the gate and turning right) and follow that path straight along, parallel with college road/M50 and you'll eventually encounter the new playground and the doggy park on your left a little further down.

If you walk in via the Ballinteer Gate, just go left and it's about 500m down on the right.

Mr. Manager · 02-09-2010 3:37pm

Thanks for all the responses guys! Just getting ready to head out in the car. Will report back later on

VERYinterested · 02-09-2010 4:32pm

Marlay Dog Run is a bit monotonous for the dog tbh. It's just a piece of grass with some chicken wire around it, in winter it can get quite messy too. My dog used to go over to other dogs to play and some owners were trying to train their dogs in there, so I now avoid it.

St Annes Park allow dogs off lead in the whole park before 11am, bit far for you to travel.

Dodder Valley Linear Park (aka Cherryfield) on the Firhouse Road is excellent. There is a car park on the newish slip road that links the Spa Well roundabout and the Firhouse Road near Ballyboden St Enda's GAA club. You can walk towards Templeogue or towards Firhouse, better option imho, you'll be able to go as far as the Speaker pub on the Firhouse Road. Park at the car park on the slip road and you can walk along the dodder banks, lovely wild flowers, foxes, rabbits, badgers, birds, great dog swimming spots, plenty of distractions for you and the dog and best of all, the dogs are not required to be on leads, you'll meet lots of dogs and yours will get plenty of socialisation time.

Mr. Manager · 02-09-2010 8:04pm

Just back from Marlay Park, was not overly impressed if I'm being honest. It was a lot smaller than I thought. The overall park is smaller than I thought too, probably won't be rushing back there. Not enough space to let the dogs off the lead.

@VERYinterested - St.Anne's is far from me but I do pop down from time to time as my parents are still living in Clontarf. I didn't hear great things about walking the dogs around there but I'll give it a go.

I will most certainly be checking out Dodder Valley Linear Park at your recommendation

Thanks for all the posts guys, very much appreciated.

VERYinterested · 02-09-2010 11:08pm

If you park in the car park on the Spa Well slip road, when you enter the park walking, vere around to your right, walk down a slight hill and go left towards Firhouse. (If you go right, you go behind a halting site and the place is manky and broken glass could cut your dog's feet.) Once you stay left, it's full steam ahead and you'll walk under the M50 and be at the back of Morton's Pub. There is a lovely Victorian Weir there at the back of the cement factory and just up from that there is a great spot for the dog to swim.

There is a metal gate at this point, go through the gate and keep straight, you come to a loop at the end and at this point the Speaker is on your right hand side. It's a good hour's walk and if you go early morning you'll see plenty of wildlife. It's comical when your dog encounters a rabbit for the first time! He'll be unlikely to ever catch one, but the chase is great for them.

There's too many tense people in Marlay, dogs straining on leads, too many busy bodies looking at you as if you had Hell Boy on a lead rather than a nice friendly dog! Enjoy Cherryfield, I'm sure you'll go back again and again.

TechnoPool · 02-09-2010 11:43pm

st anne's is fine for dogs , go around the green area near the playground there is always tons of dog's off lead around there, dont mind that patch of 20m squared tarmac they call a dog park :rolleyes:

pH · 03-09-2010 9:01am

Got to agree, Marley Park's dog area was a big disappointment, very small empty area surrounded by wire, very worn bare grass, and despite the signs plenty of dogsh*t.

If you live in Clondalkin, Corkagh is "on lead only" however Yellow meadows where I walk my dog every day is great, lots of dogs off the lead, plenty of place to run, only real downside is the broken glass which can be abundant on the paths at time.

Crazyivan 1979 · 03-09-2010 11:28am

pH, where is yellow meadows? Is it the fields adjacent to corkaigh park?

DBCyc · 03-09-2010 12:40pm

I found the Marlay Park dog park great. It could be bigger alright, but the dogs didn't seem to mind. They had a great time running around with the other dogs and the people there were very friendly and good to talk to. I didn't notice the dog dirt everywhere, but it could have been cleaned before I arrived.

I don't know what people's expectations are regarding the dog parks over here given that they are a relatively new addition to public areas. It's a step in the right direction in my opinion. If anyone has constructive criticism regarding the dog parks, let your local council know and then things may start to improve.

Niall06 · 04-09-2010 6:46pm

You can let your dog off the lead over in the football pitchs in Corkagh park, over beside Grange Castle .
Always lots of dogs there and park ranger has often drove past and never said anything.

Another good spot near Clondalkin is the park on Walkinstown Ave, across from EP Mooneys. Nice park, lots of dogs and no problem having them off the lead.

Crazyivan 1979 · 04-09-2010 8:12pm

Behind corkaigh park football pitches is also a good spot to let dogs run off the lead, there is a series of 4-5 fields. Quite often you'll meet other owners as well who are happy to let the dogs ave a run together.

sophie1234 · 05-09-2010 1:59pm

cabinteely park is by far the best one ive been to it a fairly decent size and everyone is very friendly!! and nice a secure has a good to gate entrance incase a dog sneaks out!

Karmaman · 05-09-2010 2:09pm

Marley is a bit boring for Dogs, a small fenced field for mud wrestling about sums it. You can't let them off outside this area.
The dodder valley linear park is a good stroll for them, if they like they can hop into the river.
Also in Bushy Park you can let your dog off the lead before 11:00am each day, great for streching the aul legs.

Dog Park

Comments