Back in April 2023, DLR invited submissions to the Living Streets Blackrock Village proposals.  This was a public realm improvement project to build on the temporary measures implemented during the COVID restrictions of summer 2020 on Blackrock Main Street, in order to move the village from a temporary layout to a high-quality permanent design.

Big Response

There was a total of 509 submissions received within the statutory consultation period. These comprised of 456 submissions through Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Citizen Space Hub and 53 written submissions by email/letter.  This is a huge response by any measure.

DLR has reviewed all the feedback and comments received. The Chief Executive’s Report on the Public Consultation was brought to the Elected Councillors in recent weeks and, subject to the adoption of minutes, the report and its recommendations were agreed by the Elected Councillors at the recent July County Council Meeting.  The designers will now react to the suggestions in the submissions to the scheme before completing their detailed design.

Blackrock Village Centre hosted a brilliant Summer Festival on the last weekend in June!   The management team of Seamus Carroll and Michael Hayes would like to thank everyone who came along and enjoyed themselves plus all those to helped to make it a truly memorable weekend.  Enjoy this look back at one of the most enjoyable events in the village this year.

Images courtesy Blackrock Village Centre and Corvenieos

A Play on Ulysses directed by Nastaise Leddy was performed in a new venue this year – Blackrock Village Centre.  The venue worked well and eliminated the risk of interruption due to the wet weather.  A very large crowd attended as well as 6 guests from Vincennes.

A high level delegation from Vincennes visited Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock mid-June 2023 to explore how DLR County approaches housing (especially social housing) and urban planning.  A packed timetable was put in place for their visit starting with a presentation on Urban Planning and the DLR Age Friendly Programme in DLR Council Offices.  They were then hosted on Bloomsday by Cllr Mary Hanafin at a Bloomsday Breakfast in Cavistons in Glasthule, followed by a trip to a nearby social housing project for older people, a meeting with Commodore Mark Hennessy at the Royal St George Yacht Club, a tour of Lexicon Library and tour of the IADT facility.   At the Royal St George YC event, Paddy Cranfield, CEO of Granada FC, presented the Mayor with a framed Granada shirt to mark the new relationship between Granada FC and football teams in Vincennes. The Vincennes group later attended the annual Bloomsday Ulysses performance, this year in Blackrock Village Centre.

The Vincennes delegation was comprised of:

• Mrs Charlotte Libert-Albanel, Mayor
• Mr Pierre Lebeau, First Deputy Mayor, in charge of housing, planning, urban planning (public works, roads, parks and outdoor, etc.)
• Mr Alexis Michon, Councillor in charge of social housing
• Mr Gildas Lecoq, Chief of Mayor’s office
• Mrs Odile Benali, Deputy Director in charge of animation (culture, sport, NGO, tourism, archives)

Mrs Christine Laumond, in charge of audiences for cultural and touristic events and international relationships.

Bloomsday Breakfast in Glasthule

Commodore Mark Hennessy, Pierre Lebeau, Mayor Charlotte Libert-Albanel, and Alexis Michon

Paddy Cranfield CEO of Granada FC presents a framed shirt to Mayor Charlotte Libert-Albanel

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are planning to upgrade the Coastal Mobility Route (CMR) from a temporary design to a high-quality permanent scheme. The CMR consists of a 4.5 km cycle route along the coastline from Blackrock to Sandycove, 3.6 km of which is a two-way fully segregated cycle lane. Building on this infrastructure implemented during the COVID restrictions of the summer of 2020, the proposed scheme will improve the finish, connectivity, accessibility, and safety of the route. It will make it easier and safer to walk and cycle along the coast and will create enhanced public spaces for rest and recreation.

The consultation period opened on 3 July 2023 and closes on 11 August 2023.  To make a submission or observation please follow the link – https://dlrcoco.citizenspace.com/environment/living-streets-coastal-mobility-rout/

Are you connected to Iloveblackrock on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?  If not, please do so – so that you can find out what’s happening in the Blackrock area!   Businesses are supported by postings on sponsorships, openings and events on their premises.  As well as supporting local businesses, the BBN supports the local community by posting on social media – news stories, updates and interesting information.   Examples of some recent postings are information on DLR’s ‘Living Streets’, on the free choral performance in the Lexicon by the Frascati Singers (joining with the Vincennes singers), on the Art Exhibition in BFEI created by Spanish and Irish Participants of the Erasmus Project, on BFEI’s waiving of fees for their upcoming courses, DLR’s ‘Coastival Nights’, the ‘Play on Ulysses’ on Bloomsday (free), the Blackrock Village Centre Summer Festival, and the Blackrock Athletics Club.

The recent heavy rains demonstrated once again how our local bathing places can be prone to episodes of poor water quality with periodic closure to swimmers.   As a consequence, the question is often asked as to why the authorities don’t deal with these problems in a proactive way.   A Labour Bill currently working its way through the Dáil, if passed, would establish a statutory Dublin Bay Authority charged with preserving for future generations the distinctive character of Dublin Bay and its ecology as a coastal resource. The authority would have the aim of creating a better framework for environmental protection, governance and improvement of water quality for all of those who use the bay.

New Play Area

A contract has been awarded for a new natural play area to replace the out of date playground adjacent to the bandstand. Works are to commence late July 2023.

Steps

DLR Parks had to re-tender the steps and handrail works. This has been awarded and works are due to commence in Sep/Oct 2023 because of the long lead in times for the stone.

Pavilion Kiosk

DLR Parks were unsuccessful with their grant application but are just about to appoint a Conservation Architect-led design team to progress the project to detail design.

Maya Mobius – Blackrock Athletic Club

BAC remains the largest Juvenile Athletics club in the country and one of the largest clubs overall.  The club continues to grow and attract new Adult and Juvenile members and, with the game changing addition of the UCD track as a regular training venue for both Juvenile and Adult members,they look forward to being able to train across a broader range of athletic disciplines which can only be performed on a track.

The Adult section of the club continues to train throughout the summer with a busy schedule of mid and long distance events being targeted.  Last year the club had great success when they gathered 7 national medals in the Dublin Marathon.  The Juvenile National Outdoor T&F championships are currently underway and BAC have made a great start winning National medals in multiple events.

UCD track now a regular training venue

Free Guided Walk – a journey back in time through historic Blackrock.

Sundays at 11am from 2 July to 3 September 2023.  No Booking Required.  Starting at the Main Gates to Blackrock Park.  Finishing in the Village.

Meet at the Main Gates of Blackrock Park – opposite Mount Merrion Avenue.

This is an outdoor event.