Mountjoy Square Park to be reimagined with FIFA-grade pitch and upgraded amenities
Mountjoy Square Park is set to be transformed as plans to re-imagine the Georgian public amenity have moved one step closer.
At Tuesday’s Central Area Committee meeting, Dublin councillors agreed to move the ‘Re-imagining Mountjoy Square Park’ project to Part 8 planning. As a plan that has been years in the making, local residents will soon get to provide their own input on what the re-imagining should focus on as public consultation evenings will be announced shortly.
As a park that has seen increased use in recent years, Dublin City Council Landscape Architect Gareth Toolan outlined their desire to improve the park without “losing any facilities that are there already.” With areas like an old asphalt pitch set to be replaced with a “high-quality FIFA grade pitch,” Mr Toolan said the upgraded park will serve the needs of the community.
Mr Toolan highlighted the tennis courts filled with potholes and cracks as another area of the park that’s not fit for purpose. The report outlines the addition of accessible seating, an outdoor gym, basketball facilities, public toilets, and drinking fountains.
While the Council had previously applied for Part 8 planning for Mountjoy Park Square back in 2018, these plans stalled as consultation revealed the public wanted far more than what had been initially proposed. Mr Toolan said they are now using “the old footprint of the park” to totally re-imagine it for sports, recreation, and everyday use.
Restoration of the park, perimeter railings, and perimeter footpath are a key aspect of the Council’s plans, with Mr Toolan stating they are extending and widening footpaths around the park so it’s a “more welcoming, pedestrian friendly space.” “The park is going to be the landmark of the square, it’s not going to be the traffic anymore,” he said.
Mountjoy Square Park was first opened in 1802 and the re-imagined design will incorporate its Georgian history into the development. With about half of the park now in a state of disrepair, the plan is to address the largely outdated infrastructure and tackle the functionally inadequate aspects of the area.
While encouraging community use, tourism, and increased footfall is a major aspect of the plan, it will also align with biodiversity goals and with Dublin City Council’s Climate Action Plan. This includes the strategic planting of trees, shrubs, and bulbs around the park.
These developments were welcomed by local councillors, with Cllr Janet Horner stating it's great to see a park that “hasn’t necessarily been living up to its potential for quite a while” gets the attention it deserves.” While Cllr Horner welcomed the report, she did express concern that the project is moving to Part 8 planning before councillors have been able to see the full oversight of all plans.
Mr Toolan addressed these concerns by stating he would deliver a full presentation to councillors prior to public consultation beginning, so that they can familiarise themselves more fully with the specific details of the plan, which are still being “refined.” With this assurance, it was agreed to proceed with Part 8.
Lord Mayor Cllr Ray McAdam stressed the importance of having as “wide a consultation as possible” to ensure all the various parties within the North City Centre who use the park get a chance to give their input. “Any weekend you go past it, if it’s not events organised by the Council there are other groups coming together and making full use of the park,” he said.
“We want to ensure we do not lose that usability while also trying to enhance it. We must launch as comprehensive a consultation process as possible around that part of the North Inner City.”
Cllr Daniel Ennis described Mountjoy Square Park as a major “recreational hub in the heart of the city” and highlighted the importance of prioritising its potential as a community space. “I know the plan pays homage to that Georgian heritage, but it should also pay homage to it being a community hub,” he said.
While there are many reasons to celebrate this development, Cllr Ennis also touched on the importance of addressing anti-social behaviour and ensuring there is consistent engagement with An Garda Siochana as the project progresses. Mr Toolan stated that they are working closely with the area officer and gardai on addressing safety concerns within the park.
Mr Toolan stressed that they want to keep the momentum of this project going and be ready to go to tender straight after public consultation ends. If things proceed as planned, he said they “hope to have someone on-site” by around Q4 2026 or Q1 2027.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.