Dun Laoghaire

MaxSteele

Is Dun Laoghaire rough at all, i.e dodgy/notorious streets or areas nearby ??
Is it's hostels and beach quiet enough ??

I'm spending the night in some hostel with a few mates there on the weekend, but was talking with my Da last night and he told me to " watch yourself down there, it's a rough aul spot". Now I found it hard to believe, as I was in the town center before and it seemed quite upmarket and posh to me. Now maybe that's because I'm used to living in a rough part of west dublin, but should I be cautious when I visit ?
I usually think like this when in an unfamiliar part of the city, but can someone just tell me what the area is like altogether ?? Give me peace of mind. Thanks

jimogr

Dun Laoghaire (town and harbour area) is very safe. Where are you staying?

What hostel are you staying in?

It's hardly rough, there are a couple of junkies about the place alright but that's it.

MaxSteele

jimogr wrote: »

Dun Laoghaire (town and harbour area) is very safe. Where are you staying?

Someone else organised it, so I don't really know, but she said something like "we'll be near or on the beach". So I assume it's near the harbour or it could be near Killiney beach.

Raekwon

Dún Laoghaire itself isn't a bad spot although it has always attracted certain elements from the surrounding working class areas, mainly junkies that hang around in small groups but they are too out of it to be deemed harmful.

IMO Dún Laoghaire compares favorably to most other parts of Dublin. It's rather a quite town, especially at night where it's pretty much a ghost town with the only flicker of life coming from the few pleasant pubs scattered around the town as well as the local cinema.

Put it this way, I'd feel alot safer walking around Dún Laoghaire alone at night then I would in parts of the City Centre, Tallaght, Blanchardstown or most of the Northside TBH.

WoollyRedHat

Dun Laoghaire's grand... except for the ringing ghost of course, it haunts the harbour and chimes the bell every night. Listen out for it if you can.

me-skywalker

Great spot, never any trouble during the day and at night the odd messing around Abrakebabra but sure thats the same in any town with an Abrakebabra.

HavingCrack

Dun Laoghaire definately has a rough element hanging around, mainly junkies on that corner opposite the 46A bus stop beside the church. I've never really seen any trouble apart from some fisticuffs outside Abrakedabra at night time though. Odd town, has some of the most expensive houses in Dublin sitting cheek by jowl with some quite deprived areas.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Dude, you are staying in a hostel for one night.

Relax, it's not Beirut you are going to. Back in the 80's and 90's DL was a rough spot............just piss heads.

There isnt as much of a nightlife there as there used to be so trouble in infrequent and tame.

If it's the hostel I am thinking of, it's beside a pub/restauaunt (The Purty)

It is usually full of foreign people, you should have something nice to at least look at, if not touch :P

patrickbrophy18

To the OP,

Many portions of Dun Laoghaire town are very pleasant including The Peoples Park, the coastal fringe and promenade (excluding The Baths and Carlisle Pier), The Royal Marine Hotel, The Pavilion, The Kingston Hotel and The East Pier. However, the bulk of Dun Laoghaire, especially the main street, is incredibly seedy with an abundance of empty retail units. Any time I pass through the main street, it is crawling with ruffians and the occasional beggar. Additionally, The West Pier looks like it hasn't been refurbished since it was first built. More over, a lot of outdated buildings line the promenade between The Royal Irish Yacht Club and The West Pier including The Irish National Sailing School. The office building for the Irish Sea Fisheries Board is incredibly unsightly and sticks out like a sore thumb. Finally, the rather stringent pay and display scheme makes for a very unwelcoming environment for those coming from afar.

The pity about all of this is that Dun Laoghaire has so much potential to re-establish itself as a prominent coastal hub. The only thing is that there are lots of obstacles to overcome.

As for your second question. I can't say that the town of Dun Laoghaire has it's own beach. The nearest ones are Sandycove and Killiney Beaches. Most of the time, the tide is low on Sandycove Beach and there is lots of seaweed which is particularly bad for those who are squeamish. Killiney Beach is very uncomfortable to use in your bare feet with the amount of rocks and stones along the ground. It too, is very seedy with empty beer cans and graffiti all over the old tea rooms. The old changing rooms have been derelict for well over a decade. Once again, this is potential gone to waste.

I wouldn't really classify Seapoint as a beach by virtue of the fact that it is a bathing facility.

matt-dublin

^^^^^^

Paddy, good to hear you've nothing bad to say about dun laoghaire

zagmund

Is Eddie in the space time continuum again ? There's some fierce old fashioned terminology being thrown about in this thread.

As someone said above I would feel a whole heap safer walking around DL at night than I would walking around Dublin city centre, so if you take that as a guideline you know you'll be safe.

However, note that if someone actually goes out of their way to look for trouble then they wouldn't have too far to look in DL. Keep the head straight and you will be fine.

If it is the hostel beside the Purty then the worst you can expect (unless you manage to walk for about 15 minutes or more and get really, really unlucky) might be to find yourself on the receiving end of some strong rugby talk if Leinster lose next weekend, or maybe some sort of barrister joke. That's about it.

However, don't come past my house (or on the beach) making noise like some bowsie from the wrong side of town or I'll have to call the local constabulary out of their beds. And we don't want that now, do we ?

Seriously, you can relax and enjoy the weekend. I have to say I find it quite interesting that someone would come to DL for a weekend. Maybe the economy is picking up after all.

z

zagmund

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

I wouldn't really classify Seapoint as a beach by virtue of the fact that it is a bathing facility.

Here, head . . . what do you mean Seapoint isn't a beach ? It looks like a beach, it smells like a beach, it has sand, the tide comes in and goes out twice a day just like in the rest of the world. People swim there, kids build sandcastles there. We even have an ice cream van (in the Summer, on occasion). The nice people from DLRCoCo *Beaches* department come along every morning and make sure the place is clean, etc . . .

Sounds like a beach to me.

z

Cookie_Monster

It's a tidal flat, not a beach :pac:

as for DL, just stay away from Sussex st and the park by the bowling green and it's fine.

zagmund

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

It's a tidal flat, not a beach :pac:

Can you explain to the non-mensa folks like me what the difference is ? Or, wait, maybe it's not important.

z

Cookie_Monster

zagmund wrote: »

Can you explain to the non-mensa folks like me what the difference is ? Or, wait, maybe it's not important.

no it not, I'm being pedantic for the sake of it;)

Atomic Pineapple

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

It's a tidal flat, not a beach :pac:

as for DL, just stay away from Sussex st and the park by the bowling green and it's fine.

Actually does anyone know what they are doing there? The plans say they are building a library but what about the actual park? They cut down all the trees in it so now you can see as well as hear the drunks/junkies in there!

Cookie_Monster

draffodx wrote: »

Actually does anyone know what they are doing there? The plans say they are building a library but what about the actual park? They cut down all the trees in it so now you can see as well as hear the drunks/junkies in there!

like everything else in IRL the money is not there anymore. The bowling club was supposed to move up to a newly built green where they are building on the old DL golf course. This is not being built for them so they are not moving so the library is not getting built, last I heard anyway.

realgirl

The bowls club is moving up to the old golf course soon and the contract for building the new library has been awarded. I think its expected to take two years to build which seems crazy long but all seems to be going ahead.

crushproof

Has the plan for the new library been given the go ahead?
How on earth such an ugly and outdated design was chosen is beyond me, it will be as ghastly as the shopping centre in my opinion.
In the current economic climate, a good (actually, a very very good) clear out the pond area with landscaping, lighting and perhaps a layout for evening concerts in the summer would be much better. Along with removing the constant drinks and junkies that frequent the area.

realgirl

There are up to date details of the library development on the council website. I couldn't copy the link on my phone but if you go to www.dlrcoco.ie click on latest news and scroll down to 3rd April there is updated info. Apparently the park is being landscaped so outdoor events will be held there too.

Fratton Fred

Here you go. (PDF Document)

It looks good, but from those drawings it looks twice the size of the land available.

Mance Rayder

Dun Laoghaire is about as rough as a bag of kittens. Take it from someone from Coolock, the idea that Dun Laoghaire is rough is laughable. A couple of junkies or alcos here and there does not a rough place make. Any one who thinks that Dun Laoghaire is rough should take a trip to Darndale or Belcamp if they can muster up the courage to take the 27 bus.:D

All sea side towns near major citys have their share of undesirables, Just look at Howth, Bray etc. I still wouldnt call it rough.

Fratton Fred

I was out in DL last night.

Personally the word i would use for the place is "Dead". I've never seen the place that quiet.

crushproof

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Here you go. (PDF Document)

It looks good, but from those drawings it looks twice the size of the land available.

Cheers, to be honest it looks like a concrete block imported from the UCD campus. But hey, too late now to do anything about.

Morlar

I think it looks & sounds completely hideous. Looks like some kind of bland featureless looking blockhouse-style monstrosity. It's almost as if they are afraid to give it any character in case it beomes 'culturally non neutral'.

WoollyRedHat

What's up with Dublin's communist architechture sympathies?

ricero

just stay clear of the ducks pound beside the bowl court and you be grand

JayRoc

I did a lot of security work in Dun Laoghaire over the years. It had a massive heroin problem during the 80's and 90's, a lot of which managed to go over the heads of people who frequented and even lived in the area, but it's a whole lot better now. Most of them have died out.
A lot of the rougher estates are no longer there or have been refurbished, too.

Other than the odd drunk or the occasional headtheball getting his bus (which you'd get anywhere), it's a grand safe area now.

Although, as others have mentioned, with the amount of businesses closed down it's getting to be a ghost town, which is sad. The St Michael's end of George's st. in particular has been decimated.

Brendan Jabbers

I agree with Raekwon about the ghost town thing. I was born and bred there but moved to Manchester at 18. I go back regularly but I was shocked a few years ago when I went out on a FRIDAY night on the main drag there - it was deserted, with rain blowing around George's Street, a really depressing sight. I love the place, and it's really sad to see it run down that way - maybe it's picked up a bit?

dunner515

I basically live in Dun Laoghaire and the place could not be more of a ghost town, sure ya get the odd person stumbling around after the pub and the occasional late night walker but ya get that everywhere. I personally don't think that it's a rough spot at all

WoollyRedHat

Places like Dun Laoghaire, like Bray and so on, could do well, they need a new lease of life.

JMoney

New to Ireland here, just moved to Dun Laoghaire a few weeks ago. I like that it's a bit quiet myself. I don't think it's too dead, there seems to be many good shops around, great butchers and bakeries, and the sunday market in the park is real nice.

Jess16

I can honestly say I have never felt remotely unsafe in Dun Laoghaire. The DART station sometimes has groups of teenagers hanging about, which may be marginally intimidating for a meeker person but beyond that, it's generally a typically quiet, suburban place.

patrickbrophy18

Morlar wrote: »

I think it looks & sounds completely hideous. Looks like some kind of bland featureless looking blockhouse-style monstrosity. It's almost as if they are afraid to give it any character in case it beomes 'culturally non neutral'.

I concur. It is absolutely dreadful looking. This ugly concrete block will severely damage the elegance of the the surrounding architecture.:mad:

Cookie_Monster

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

I concur. It is absolutely dreadful looking. This ugly concrete block will severely damage the elegance of the the surrounding architecture.:mad:

surrounding architecture??

The shopping centre... work of art that one.
The pavilion blocks? bland
the ferry terminal, on no wait that got knocked down.
the new ferry terminal? that's pretty ugly too
The Royal Marine, not exactly a master piece either but I suppose you might be able to consider it elegant.
The Maritime Museum, OK I'll give you that one but only once they actually finish it.
The Yacht club, probably classed as elegant.
The railway, nope that's ok, they've hidden that in a big trench
That's all I can think of that'll directly surround it or be visible from it apart from a few houses on those side streets. Not exactly a list of fine buildings is it?

Whiskey Devil

Considering the population.. It's probably the safest place in Ireland.

There seems to be an element of snobbery towards Dún Laoghaire from some people in the more secluded surrounding areas.. :rolleyes:

patrickbrophy18

Whiskey Devil wrote: »

Considering the population.. It's probably the safest place in Ireland.

There seems to be an element of snobbery towards Dún Laoghaire from some people in the more secluded surrounding areas.. :rolleyes:

While there is a large amount of truth in that statement, I do think Dun Laoghaire Town is very seedy and depressing. I go to Dun Laoghaire at least twice a week and I regularly see a lot of very odd people, to put it politely. Most of these are very sleazy as well. I also feel unsafe around Dun Laoghaire past 9:00 PM due to the presence of ruffians. Never-mind the fact that half of the stores which line the main street are closed adding a creepy ghost-town feel to it.

Having said that, most of the nearby amenities are very pleasant including The East Pier, The Pavilion, The Peoples Park, The Hotels, The Ferry Terminal and The Sandycove Walkway. There are also plans to smarten up the rest of the coast line as per the following link:

http://www.dlharbour.ie/masterplan/masterplan.php

This is very impressive.:D

dublinman1990

Just like to mention that Penneys & Primark is getting a refurbishment on the exterior of it's shop atm.

There is also a new Indian food take away which I can't think of the name. It replaced the former Italian owned Lido Cafe.

Econoline Van

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Just like to mention that Penneys & Primark is getting a refurbishment on the exterior of it's shop atm.

There is also a new Indian food take away which I can't think of the name. It replaced the former Italian owned Lido Cafe.

The Lido is gone???? :mad::eek:

zyndacyclone

I hope so, I never liked the owner. Anything would be an improvement.

eth0

dunner515 wrote: »

I basically live in Dun Laoghaire and the place could not be more of a ghost town, sure ya get the odd person stumbling around after the pub and the occasional late night walker but ya get that everywhere. I personally don't think that it's a rough spot at all

They're all broke from paying their household charge or inside worshipping Big Phil

Agent Smith

eth0 wrote: »

They're all broke from paying their household charge or inside worshipping Big Phil

Can we stay somewhat on topic?



Dun laoghaire Is as Dangerous as playing Russian Roulette with a cork gun.

Theres a few drunks that hang around at the Boylan Centre. (who Genuinely will sit there watching your car if you give them a euro or two)

Dun Laoghaires a pretty quiet town, Well thats a bit of an understatement.
The town dies come 7pm. The best pub in the town (weirs) is closed at present.

Dundrum killed Dun Laoghaire.

Dun laoire

Agent Smith wrote: »

Can we stay somewhat on topic?



Dun laoghaire Is as Dangerous as playing Russian Roulette with a cork gun.

Theres a few drunks that hang around at the Boylan Centre. (who Genuinely will sit there watching your car if you give them a euro or two)

Dun Laoghaires a pretty quiet town, Well thats a bit of an understatement.
The town dies come 7pm. The best pub in the town (weirs) is closed at present.

Dundrum killed Dun Laoghaire.

Yeah i agree, Dundrum has had a massive impact on Dun Laoghaire's downturn. Could also be argued that the road works to pedestrianise Lower Georges Street had an impact but maybe that just coincided with the DD shopping centre?!?!

ted1

Agent Smith wrote: »

Dundrum killed Dun Laoghaire.

The council helped them by off enforcing the parking and by charging to much. Also the restrictions on the number of trucks allowed on the ferry killed the harbour. I see that there is planning in for change of use of the terminal to an exhibition center. That Will be an intresting one to watch.

SimonMaher

ted1 wrote: »

The council helped them by off enforcing the parking and by charging to much. Also the restrictions on the number of trucks allowed on the ferry killed the harbour. I see that there is planning in for change of use of the terminal to an exhibition center. That Will be an intresting one to watch.

You're right Ted1, the parking regime in Dun Laoghaire is draconian and it is one of the few places operating a quota based system (i.e. the clamping company has a quota of cars it has to clamp each month to get fully paid). Insanity in a recession. Such a pity to see a town with such potential in such trouble although there are in fairness some good people working on ways to rejuvinate it.

On the harbour front, the killing off of freight traffic really didnt help at all but I reckon freight was always going to end up in Dublin port once the tunnel was built. Front section of the terminal building (the old departures hall) will now become an exhibition space for long term exhibitions (first one planned to be an Ernest Shackleton one) and the new terminal entrance for ferry foot passengers will be the current side entrance. Likelyhood is that the current arrangement for the HSS will remain as is for the forseeable i.e. End of March to end of September which is far from ideal but far better than losing it altogether. Permission has also been applied for to use the car/coach marshalling area for public events in the wintertime like concerts, markets and the like.

Tragedy

There's simply no reason to go to Dun Laoghaire anymore. Used to walk the pier most evenings and then they brought in late and weekend parking fees. The one way system makes it a pain to get to where you want to, the cobbles on the streets make them horrific to drive(or get a bus!) on, it has nothing that Stillorgan doesn't offer - never mind Dundrum.

realgirl

Tragedy wrote: »

There's simply no reason to go to Dun Laoghaire anymore. Used to walk the pier most evenings and then they brought in late and weekend parking fees. The one way system makes it a pain to get to where you want to, the cobbles on the streets make them horrific to drive(or get a bus!) on, it has nothing that Stillorgan doesn't offer - never mind Dundrum.

What Dun Laoghaire offers that Stillorgan and Dundrum don't:
1 A lovely park with a playground and the market on Sundays
2 The sea and related activities e.g. kayaking, scuba diving, swimming, birdwatching, fishing, sailing
3 Seaside walks
etc etc
I know the shops in Dun Laoghaire aren't great and I agree with you about the parking, it's a joke to charge outside business hours at all and the charges are too high. I still think there's plenty of reasons to go to Dun Laoghaire, just not for the parking and shopping...

Tragedy

realgirl wrote: »

What Dun Laoghaire offers that Stillorgan and Dundrum don't:
1 A lovely park with a playground and the market on Sundays
2 The sea and related activities e.g. kayaking, scuba diving, swimming, birdwatching, fishing, sailing
3 Seaside walks
etc etc
I know the shops in Dun Laoghaire aren't great and I agree with you about the parking, it's a joke to charge outside business hours at all and the charges are too high. I still think there's plenty of reasons to go to Dun Laoghaire, just not for the parking and shopping...

#1 #2 and #3 refer to reasons to visit the pier, not Dun Laoghaire town itself
In fairness, lovely parks are ten a penny in Dublin and I can name any number which are nicer than the people's park (imo of course!) and Bray or Sandymount offer a much nicer seaside walk.

zagmund

Parking is definitely a disaster. There's nowhere free to park if you're dropping in for a few minutes. Given a choice, I will go to Stillorgan (which I don't like) or Deansgrange, or Blackrock.

The harbour authority charging all day (0700-2100 as far as I remember) in all parts of the area is bad as well.

I think the cobbles are mad - I'm not a big car head, but I do worry about what it does to my car every time I drive through.

I do agree with the traffic calming and on the main street - I don't know why anyone would think that having more cars (which don't/can't stop) would improve it.

z

jimogr

zagmund wrote: »

(0700-2100 as far as I remember)

8am-8pm 7 days.