Dame Street and College Green to go traffic-free for a day

College Green and Dame Street will be made traffic-free on August 7th as the city hosts a family friendly Summer Sunday event from noon to 4pm.

The area from College Green to the junction of South Great Georges Street will only be accessible to pedestrians and cyclists between 7am and 7pm on the day.

According to a statement from Dublin City Council, the event will offer families a chance to ride on an antique carousel and attend circus skills workshops, with performers, stilt walkers, and jugglers also in attendance.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy welcomed the carnival-themed event, saying: "Summer Sunday will be an unmissable occasion to see and appreciate College Green and Dame Street in a whole new light with no traffic.”

We are delighted to announce that College Green and Dame Street will host a family friendly Summer Sunday Event from 12-4pm on August 7th with a unique traffic-free opportunity to enjoy on-street entertainment and free family-fun. See https://t.co/8AELhncObY#SummerSunday pic.twitter.com/Nl9ZAk869S

— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) July 19, 2022

The following arrangements will be in place to minimise disruption on the day:

Cars: Southbound traffic will be diverted to the South Quays, Lower Bridge Street and Upper Dame Street. Northbound traffic will be diverted via Winetavern Street.

Grafton area car parks will be accessible from South Great Georges Street and Exchequer Street.

Disabled Parking: Disabled parking will be temporarily relocated from Foster’s Place to D’Olier Street.

Cyclists: Cyclists must dismount before entering the event area, but cycle parking will be provided.

Buses: Buses which normally travel eastwards to Dame Street and College Green will be diverted to Parliament Street. Westward buses will be diverted to the South Quays and then to South Great Georges Street.

Luas: LUAS will operate a normal Sunday service.

Taxis: The taxi rank at Foster’s Place and at College Green will be closed. An extended taxi rank will be temporarily available on D’Olier Street.

A sign of things to come?

While the plans are in place for one day only, debates surrounding a traffic-free College Green have been ongoing for a number of years.

Dublin City Council (DCC) first proposed to pedestrianise the area in 2015, but An Bord Pleanála rejected these plans in 2018.

However, a survey carried out that year revealed that the majority of Irish people are in favour College Green being turned into a traffic-free public plaza.

Only 22% of the 1,000 people surveyed said that the area should not be pedestrianised.

In December 2021, the Council announced new plans to start a €10 million pedestrianisation process, estimated to be completed by 2024.