March 2024: Fernhill
The car park at Fernhill, Stepaside, was the starting Point for Strollers’ March walk. Fernill is Dublin’s newest public park and is very much on the fringe of the city, at the foothills of the Dublin mountains. Set on 34 hectares, Fernhill is in the care of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Ably led by Valerie, we anticipated glorious views over the city and we were not disappointed. Despite a morning of torrential rain, the afternoon cleared as we approached the entrance to Fernhill. Just past Lamb’s Cross the park shares an entrance with Rosemount School. If you have not been in this area for a while, you may expect lots of changes, as there is much housebuilding going on in the area. Skirting Fernhill, our route took us up to Barnacullia ( ‘Top of the Wood’) via a series of stiles. The morning rain had left its mark and great care was needed to navigate these very muddy stiles. All part of the fun. We were rewarded by the panoramic views of the city when we reached the Blue Light. We savoured our refreshments in this lovely atmospheric pub. Although we did not visit the garden proper on this occasion, we could see lots of rhododendrons. They must be a wondrous sight later in springtime and well worth the trip out to this corner of Dublin. This walk reinforces the idea (from Peter Pearson) that Dublin is indeed a city perched between the mountains and the sea. Carmel Gilbride
April 2024: Portobello and surrounding area led by Maureen Flanagan
We explored Portobello, walking through the streets which are bounded on the south by the Grand Canal and north of the South Circular Road. We were treated to such interesting information about the history of the area, from before the building of the houses (19th century) when it had been part of the Kingsland Estate, complete with a large pond and fountains and was known as the Royal Portobello Gardens. It is hard to imagine gas and Chinese lanterns, bands playing, acrobats, dancers etc entertaining the crowds here during the summer months. Portobello has a varied selection of street art – ranging from a public notice about urination in the street, to an Irish language verse by Máirtin Ó Direáin “I will have ease for a little while amongst my people” and to a huge wall mural celebrating the environment and David Attenborough’s work. The street name signs ranged from the most up to date to some written in the old Irish script. The houses showed a great mix of well-kept houses with beautiful colourful front gardens to some that looked a bit unloved. We completed our afternoon with coffee in the NYX hotel. Margaret Wynne
May 2024 – Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire was our destination for the May walk, starting from the Royal Marine Hotel and heading left to explore the older parts of Dun Laoghaire harbour. We viewed the monument (modelled on lifejackets and in the form of a lighthouse) commemorating the life and times of the Dublin Bay Hobblers (Google “Hobblers”). Then to walk around the Irish Lights area with a view of the Buoys undergoing maintenance, the repair area where boat owners can work on the undersides of the boats (including one currach) and on to the marine where thousands of euros worth of yachts are moored. We saw the beautifully built original lifeboat station and its old launching area, also the Dunleary Project dedicated to the restoration and preservation of one of the largest pulling and sailing lifeboats that served Dun Laoghaire from 1919 for twenty years. Margaret Wynne