Mount Bernard Park to be expanded following land transfer to DCC

Lands located north of Mount Bernard Park in Phibsborough will soon be developed to become an extension of the park, Dublin City Council has confirmed.

The site, which was originally earmarked by the National Transport Authority for the Luas Cross City initiative, was acquired by the local authority after the NTA declared that the land was no longer needed for Luas operations.

Under the Phibsborough Local Environmental Improvements Plan (LEIP) the council sought to extend Mount Bernard Park to these lands.

Last week, Fine Gael local councillors Colm O’Rourke and Ray McAdam tabled a motion at the Central Area Committee meeting calling on the chief executive Owen Keegan “to proceed as quickly as possible with the remediation works and secure the specialist assistance required.”

The motion also asked for a timeframe for the completion of the entire project and asked that DCC consults with local residents regarding the best use for the amenity.

“Since being elected in 2019, a priority of mine was to do all I could to extend the land at Mount Bernard Park,” O’Rourke said.

“This is a massive win for the local community in Phibsborough, Cabra and surrounding areas.

“The grounds are currently under-utilised but will now become a wonderful amenity as an extension of Mount Bernard Park and further enhance the site along the Royal Canal.

“Residents have been looking for this to happen for a long time, and I’m delighted that the NTA has confirmed that they are handing over the land to Dublin City Council for community gain.

“I’m so excited as this large section of land has so much potential to benefit residents.

“I’m looking forward to hearing residents’ ideas and suggestions for the lands so I can bring them to the Council.

“It’s massively important that no matter what the land is used for, it’s an opportunity to increase biodiversity in the area.

“The transformation could take some time due to the remediation works needed but transferring land to Dublin City Council is a hugely significant step.”

Councillor McAdam, chairperson of the Central Area Committee, said that due to previous uses of the land, “the ground requires a significant amount of remediation works before the public can use the area.

“The transfer of these lands to Dublin City Council will be of huge benefit to residents in Dublin 7 and surrounding areas and I look forward to continuing to work on this project to make it a reality.”

Local community group such as Phizzfest, Reimagining Phibsborough, Phibsboro’ Village Tidy Towns, and Shandon Residents Association have also been involved in campaigning for the lands to be transferred to Dublin City Council.