The saga of the Clongriffin DART Station has gripped Northside People readers for years; a story of government apathy pitted against dogged and determined local activists.
Residents have complained for years that the station is not accessible from the Baldoyle side for people with disabilities, visual impairments or low mobility.
In the final weeks of 2025, a breakthrough happened; the lift, which had been in an unusable state for years, is finally up and running.
It taking years to fix a lift at a local DART station usually doesn’t qualify as a major news story, but it’s the manner in which change was affected that makes it noteworthy.
Samantha O’Flanagan of Myrtle The Coast Residents Association said “we’re delighted to have finally reached this stage with access to Clongriffin Station from Baldoyle. We shouldn’t have to be this excited about lift access to a DART station – universal access should be standard.”
However, she noted that “because this has been such a long, hard-fought campaign, it deserves to be acknowledged,” and that “we’re not at the end goal yet.”
“It’s important to remember, though, that this is only phase one. While it’s worth celebrating, there’s still a lot of work ahead. The ultimate goal is full, permanent universal access.”
There is still more to do be done, per O’Flanagan, saying that installing ramps to ensure 24/7 access, and removing the existing stairwell core should be next on the agenda.
She said that as it stands, the stairwell core is “simply not fit for purpose.”
The “temporary” structure was installed in 2010, a time when Brian Cowen was still Taoiseach.
During various protests over the years, one sign from a local resident read, “this structure is older than I am.”
The crux of the issue, and the cause of the long delays, stems from the Land Development Agency being involved in negotiations to acquire land beside the station for housing purposes.
However, the Baldoyle side of the station – which is where the sub-standard infrastructure is based – was operated by Richmond Homes.
Richmond Homes, who are developing 2,000 homes in the Baldoyle area and purchased the necessary land to build the homes, owned the land on the Baldoyle side but were not compelled to maintain or keep the DART station up to date.
It took years of protesting and petitioning from local residents to get them to seek a meeting with the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport.
The Kafka-esque nature of Ireland’s planning system means that changes can only happen once building works begin on the adjoining land.
“We appreciate that work will take time, but we’ll continue to apply pressure to make sure this progresses as quickly as possible,” O’Flanagan said.
In 2023, local residents described the DART station as “something out of a horror movie” with urine, faeces and drug paraphernalia to be found inside the lift.
The NTA finally relented and, in September, began work to upgrade the lift to modern standards.
O’Flanagan said, “we’re genuinely delighted to see the lift replacement installed, and we look forward to further improvements within the stairwell core to make it safer for our community.”
She said, “our community would especially like to thank the NTA, who have worked closely with us and kept us so well updated since taking over the project.”
“This situation in Baldoyle is a really important reminder that access to public services must be universal. This needs to be built into plans from the very beginning. Accessibility and inclusion can’t be an afterthought.”
A number of local politicians and activists took part in the years long campaigns, such as Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins and Green councillor David Healy, who were in the trenches trying to get the issue solved as far back as 2021.
Hopkins said, “this current campaign to get these lifts has taken 5 years, but this issue is ongoing 16 years. We have a government that is incapable of delivering public transport that is safe and reliable.”
“I personally would like to thank the community here who gave up so much of their time and energy to fight for something that should be so basic in a modern European country,” the Howth-Malahide councillor said.
Bernard Mulvany, Access For All Ireland said “after five years of sustained and at times tiring campaigning, we can finally look to Clongriffin Dart station as a station that guarantees wheelchair users and those with mobility issues along with young families safe, secure and reliable access to the Dart train network.”
“It proves that when we come together as one voice that we can effect real and positive change that benefits everyone in our community,” he said.
Green councillor David Healy, who brought then-Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan on a “tour” of the station in early 2024, said “it’s great to see the lift properly renovated.”
He thanked the NTA for responding to the local residents’ needs when asked to by Minister Ryan. but added “we really shouldn’t be here”(in this situation).
Healy noted “the original planning permission for the station should have provided for the permanent access on both sides of the station. That permanent access is still vital.”
He said that the Land Development Agency have committed to providing the permanent access as part of the next phase of their development, a promise was given in response to Friends of the Irish Environment’s application for judicial review of a Fingal planning decision.
“The local community and the local councillors are glad that the LDA are now in charge of development, and we will hold them to that promise to develop the permanent access to the station,” he said.
The NTA said that the upgrades to the DART station are “essential” as they improve safety and reliability of lift services, ensure “seamless” access across the rail line to amenities on the west side and “enhance” visibility and security in the station area.
They said that as part of future works, 24/7 station access, a new CCTV monitoring system, removal of overgrown vegetation and upgraded lighting were on the docket.