Cyclist and Pedestrian Guide to the Neighbourhood of Dublin

By R. J. Mecredy188641 chapters38 images

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Contents

• PREFACE. (opens in a new tab)

  Mecredy explains the origin of the guide, describing four years of collecting routes through unfrequented lanes and by-ways around Dublin to help cyclists find the best roads and scenery.
• EXITS FROM DUBLIN. (opens in a new tab)

  Describes the best ways to leave Dublin in every direction, covering suburban centres such as Ball's Bridge, Donnybrook Bridge, Milltown, Palmerston Park, Kilmainham, Phoenix Park gates, and Clontarf, with road-surface notes and distances from the G.P.O.
• DONNYBROOK BRIDGE. (opens in a new tab)

  Route via Westmoreland Street, Grafton Street, and Leeson Street to Donnybrook Bridge, with notes on the best edge of the macadam road to follow.
• MILLTOWN. (opens in a new tab)

  Short exit route to Milltown village via St. James’s Terrace, noting rough surface conditions.
• PALMERSTON PARK. (opens in a new tab)

  Exit via Harcourt Street, Richmond Street, and Portobello Bridge to Palmerston Park, with notes on paving and tram-lines as far as the bridge.
• KILMAINHAM. (opens in a new tab)

  Route along Thomas Street, James’s Street, and Mount Brown to Old Kilmainham, described as very bad setts throughout.
• THE PARK, DUBLIN GATE. (opens in a new tab)

  Route via the north quays, Henry Street, Capel Street, Ormond Quay, Arran Quay, and Parkgate Street, to the Dublin Gate of Phoenix Park.
• THE PARK, ISLAND BRIDGE GATE. (opens in a new tab)

  Alternative route to Phoenix Park via the Island Bridge Gate, either via the Dublin Gate and Lucan tram lines, or via Kilmainham.
• THE CRESCENT, CLONTARF. (opens in a new tab)

  Route northward via Earl Street, Talbot Street, Amiens Street, and North Strand, crossing Newcomen and Annesley Bridges to the Crescent at Clontarf, described as setts throughout.
• SHORT RUNS. (opens in a new tab)

  A series of brief excursions from the G.P.O., including routes to Pigeon House, the South Wall, and the Poolbeg Light, with notes on road surfaces and views over Dublin Bay.
• BALL'S BRIDGE. (opens in a new tab)

  Route from the G.P.O. via O'Connell Bridge and D'Olier Street to Ball's Bridge, noting paving conditions and tram-lines along the way.
• BALL’S BRIDGE, SANDYMOUNT, AND MERRION. (opens in a new tab)

  Short run via Ball’s Bridge and Merrion Road to Sandymount shore and Merrion Pier, with return options through Sydney Parade and along the Dodder.
• CLONSKEAGH, DUNDRUM; RATHFARNHAM. (opens in a new tab)

  Routes via Windy Arbour to Dundrum and on through Ballinteer Road and Grange Road, noting sylvan scenery, steady inclines, and connections to Rathfarnham and Ticknock.
• PHŒNIX PARK. (opens in a new tab)

  Describes the circuit of Phoenix Park from the Gough statue, passing the Constabulary Barracks, Cabra Gate, Ashtown Gate, Castleknock Gate, and Viceregal Lodge, with notes on road quality and nine exits from the Park.
• DUNPHY’S CORNER, BLANCHARDSTOWN, DUNSINK OBSERVATORY, GLASNEVIN, DUNPHY’S CORNER. (opens in a new tab)

  Circular route from Dunphy’s Corner via Blanchardstown, ascending to Dunsink Observatory for a grand view of the Tolka Valley and Dublin plain, then returning via Glasnevin.
• STRAIGHT-AWAY AND CIRCULAR RIDES FROM G.P.O. DUBLIN. (opens in a new tab)

  Introduction to the main section of longer named routes radiating from the G.P.O., covering distances from Kingstown to the Wicklow mountains and northward to Malahide and Howth.
• DUBLIN TO KINGSTOWN. (opens in a new tab)

  Route via Ball’s Bridge and the Rock Road to Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire), describing the history of the road’s repair and the tram-line conditions, with an alternative via Monkstown Crescent.
• DUBLIN TO DALKEY. (opens in a new tab)

  Route via Kingstown and Sandycove to Dalkey, with a detour to Bullock Harbour and an ascent of Ardbrough Road on Dalkey Hill for panoramic views over Dublin Bay and Killiney.
• KILLINEY. (opens in a new tab)

  Description of Killiney Hill and its environs, including Druid’s Judgment Seat, the new Sorrento to Killiney road with its coastal views, and the route from Dalkey to Bray via Loughlinstown.
• DUBLIN, SANDYFORD, STILLORGAN, DUBLIN. (opens in a new tab)

  Circular route via Clonskeagh and Dundrum to Sandyford and Stillorgan Reservoir, returning through Glen Druid, with descriptions of wooded scenery and the reservoir covering twenty-six acres.
• SANDYFORD TO CARRICKMINES. (opens in a new tab)

  Short by-road from the Sandyford to Stepaside Road branching south-east to Carrickmines, together with related side-routes from Golden Ball via Glenamuck Road to Cornelscourt and from Kiltiernan to Loughlinstown.
• THE DARGLE. (opens in a new tab)

  Route from Bray into the Dargle valley, following the river through wooded gorges past Cherrybrook House and a viaduct to the junction with Powerscourt Demesne, with scenic descriptions of the glen.
• KILLAKEE. (opens in a new tab)

  Climb via Rockbrook to the gate of Killakee House, passing Mount Pelier Hill and descending through wooded avenues to the Glencullen road, with notes on rough ascents and a waterfall in the grounds.
• GLENDOO. (opens in a new tab)

  Excursion into Glendoo, a remote mountain glen with waterfalls, dark pools, and rocky stream-beds, best appreciated by descending into the bed of the stream itself.
• GLENCREE. (opens in a new tab)

  Mountain route into Glencree valley past Tibradden and the Three Rock summit, descending via a wild continuation of Glencullen into County Wicklow, with views of the Glencree Reformatory and Powerscourt Demesne.
• LOUGH BRAY. (opens in a new tab)

  Ride to Lough Bray high in the Dublin Mountains, with lyrical description of cloud scenery, the mountain lake, and the surrounding peaks; approached via the upper Glencree or Enniskerry road.
• BOHERNABREENA AND GLENASMOLE. (opens in a new tab)

  Route via Terenure and Bohernabreena to Glenasmole (the Valley of the Thrushes), exploring Friars’ Glen, Castle Kelly, and the head of the valley near Heathfield Lodge, with notes on the rough and hilly road.
• BALLINASCORNEY GAP. (opens in a new tab)

  Extension of the Bohernabreena run through Ballinascorney Gap, which divides Tallaght Hill from Slievebawnoge, continuing via Rathcoole, Saggart, and the Green Hills back to Terenure.
• BALROTHERY TO REDCOW. (opens in a new tab)

  By-road along the summits of the Green Hills from Balrothery to Redcow, passing Air Mount and Tymon Castle, with grand views over the Dublin plain and the mountains beyond Tallaght.
• DUBLIN, LUCAN, AND THE LIFFEY VALLEY. (opens in a new tab)

  Route via the Naas road to Lucan, following the picturesque Liffey valley with its tree-lined banks and murmuring stream, thence to the Salmon Leap at Leixlip and onward to Celbridge and Straffan.
• STRAFFAN. (opens in a new tab)

  Description of Straffan village and its environs on the Liffey, noting the wooded demesne and the connection to Celbridge, Hazlehatch, and Leixlip, with details of road surfaces westward into County Kildare.
• DUBLIN, LUCAN, LEIXLIP, MAYNOOTH. (opens in a new tab)

  Straight-away route via Lucan and Leixlip to Maynooth, describing the approach via Chapelizod and Palmerstown and noting the connection to Celbridge and Newcastle roads at Hazlehatch.
• MAYNOOTH. (opens in a new tab)

  Description of Maynooth town and its famous Catholic college, with route options via the Park’s Castleknock Gate and Blanchardstown, or via Clonee, noting historical associations with Castleknock.
• DUBLIN, MULHUDDART, HOLLYWOODRATH, SIX-MILE-HOUSE, KNOCKSEDAN, SWORDS, MALAHIDE, DUBLIN. (opens in a new tab)

  Long circular route northward through Mulhuddart, Hollywoodrath, and Six-Mile-House to Knocksedan and Swords, continuing to Malahide with its castle and abbey, returning via the coast road through Portmarnock and Baldoyle.
• DUBLIN TO HOLLYWOODRATH (RATOATH ROAD). (opens in a new tab)

  Direct route to Hollywoodrath via Dunphy’s Corner and the Cabragh Road, with alternative via North King Street and Prussia Street, noting the partly fair and partly rough surface.
• DUBLIN, GLASNEVIN, KNOCKSEDAN, SWORDS, FELTRIM, ST. DOULOUGH’S, CLONTARF. (opens in a new tab)

  Circular northern route via Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, Knocksedan, Swords, and the ancient church at St. Doulough’s, returning via Artane, Coolock, and Clontarf Crescent.
• ST. DOULOUGH’S. (opens in a new tab)

  Description of the remarkable medieval church at St. Doulough’s near Malahide, noted for its unusual round tower, ancient fire-place, and trefoiled windows, approached via Coolock.
• DUBLIN TO HOWTH. (opens in a new tab)

  Route from Clontarf via Raheny, Baldoyle, and the shore road to Howth, describing Malahide Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, Howth Harbour, and Ireland’s Eye, with a lyrical account of the cliff scenery and a fast downhill coast on the return.
• ERRATA. (opens in a new tab)

  List of corrections to errors in the text, including revised distances and place-name corrections such as ‘Seafield Avenue’ for ‘Seapoint Avenue’ and ‘Lough Bray’ for ‘Little Bray’.
• INSTRUCTIONS. (opens in a new tab)

  Explanation of how to read the guide, detailing the distance column (miles and yards from the G.P.O.), the marginal road-quality letters (B, C, f, r, etc.), and the system of cross-references between sections.
• INDEX. (opens in a new tab)

  Alphabetical index of places covered in the guide, giving the direct route, the page reference, and the distance in miles and yards from the G.P.O. for each destination.