Cyclist and Pedestrian Guide to the Neighbourhood of Dublin
By R. J. Mecredy188641 chapters
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- 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.
- 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.
- Route via Westmoreland Street, Grafton Street, and Leeson Street to Donnybrook Bridge, with notes on the best edge of the macadam road to follow.
- Short exit route to Milltown village via St. James’s Terrace, noting rough surface conditions.
- Exit via Harcourt Street, Richmond Street, and Portobello Bridge to Palmerston Park, with notes on paving and tram-lines as far as the bridge.
- Route along Thomas Street, James’s Street, and Mount Brown to Old Kilmainham, described as very bad setts throughout.
- Route via the north quays—Henry Street, Capel Street, Ormond Quay, Arran Quay, and Parkgate Street—to the Dublin Gate of Phoenix Park.
- Alternative route to Phoenix Park via the Island Bridge Gate, either via the Dublin Gate and Lucan tram lines, or via Kilmainham.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Circular northern route via Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, Knocksedan, Swords, and the ancient church at St. Doulough’s, returning via Artane, Coolock, and Clontarf Crescent.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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’.
- 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.
- 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.