Walk Clontarf Promenade

We meet in Seafield Road, which if you are travelling from the city centre is the first road on your left after you pass the Wooden Bridge leading on to Bull Island.

Our walk on Clontarf Promenade takes us from Seafield Road to the Alfie Byrne Road. This can be a bracing walk with a strong wind inhibiting the walker's progress in one direction but greatly assisting in the other. Turn right when you leave Seafield Road and head towards the Dublin City Centre.

At the Pedestrian way cross the road and you are at the entrance to the wooden Bridge which leads to the Bull Island. We ignore this and continue on along a pedestrian path which skirts along by the water's edge. The promenade is 40 metres wide and this provides a buffer from the busy traffic. This land was reclaimed in the 1920s. This path continues for two miles until it reaches the Alfie Byrne Road

After a few hundred yards we pass the Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club which is one of the oldest yacht clubs in Dublin Bay. Founded in 1875, the club provides a sailing and boating facility for the greater Dublin area. The members are drawn from a varied cross section of the community and their interests encompass cruising, racing, fishing and general recreation on the water.

We then quickly arrive at Vernon Avenue, a popular shopping area which is considered to be the village of Clontarf.Some very good local shops and one of them Beshofs fish shop was started by Ivan Beshov who was born in Odessa. His career in the Russian Imperial navy ended when in 1905 as a cabin boy he became part of a mutiny on board the battleship Potemkin. After the mutiny he moved west until he finally settled in Dublin around 1914.

A little distance further on and you can see the old Clontarf Seawater Baths. These are now closed and it is thought that the site may be converted to a restaurant. Once past the Baths it is possible to see in the distance Alfie Byrne Road. Before we reach there we past the old Clontarf Town Hall used for many years as St Anthony's Parish Church. When you reach the Alfie Byrne road there is a modern sculpture "SAILS" and a memorial seat dedicated to Alfie Byrne.

Alfie Byrne was ten times elected to the post of Lord Mayor. He was a well known figure around Dublin partly because of his style of dress which was considered to be old fashioned. He always carried sweets in his pocket and gave these out to all the children he met. There was a serious political side to him and he treasured his independant status but this meant he could be voted down by the established political parties. He failed to be nominated by fellow politicians to stand for the post of Irish Presidency. More importantly he failed in an attempt to amend a new children's bill in 1946. He wanted more protection for the children being sent to the Industrial Schools. This is where we turn to walk back to Seafield Road. We encourage slower walkers to turn back as soon they see the front walkers turn. In this way we all get back together.

Please look around our Website for further details and do contact Scotidoiler if you wish to make comments or seek information.

Navigation

• Clontarf Promenade
• Walks in St Annes Park
• Walks in Bull Island