Overview
Father Collins Park was the first entirely new public park built in Dublin since 1890, and for a while the first in Ireland to run on its own wind power – five turbines that stood over the flat ground off the Hole in the Wall Road. The turbines are gone now, their concrete bases still in place, but the park they announced remains one of the city’s most deliberately sustainable, spread over about 54 acres on the boundary between Dublin city and Fingal. Be clear on what it is: a working local park rather than a scenic garden. The pull is the big skatepark, the 1.5 km loop, the two playgrounds and the medieval ruin of Grange Abbey at the northern edge – not sweeping views, and on a grey day the open ground can feel bare and windswept.
History & Heritage
The land has been cultivated since the Norman period, originally forming part of the Grange of Baldoyle. This farmland historically supported the Priory of All Saints, whose lands later contributed to the founding of Trinity College. The park’s most prominent historical feature is the 13th-century chapel ruin of Grange Abbey, which anchors the northern edge of the grounds and offers a tangible link to the area’s monastic past.
In the early 2000s, Dublin City Council invested €20 million to transform the site into a community-focused park. The design came out of an international competition, won by the Argentine architectural practice Abelleyro and Romero; construction began in September 2007. The park was named after Fr Joe Collins, a local parish priest who campaigned for public access to the land, and officially opened on 27 May 2009 by then-Lord Mayor Eibhlín Byrne and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
Sustainability & Design
When it opened in 2009, Father Collins Park set a new standard for eco-friendly public spaces. Five 50 kW wind turbines once stood over the landscape, feeding pathway lighting, water features and changing facilities; they have since been decommissioned, though their concrete pillars remain.
Rainwater and surface runoff are directed into a series of reed-bed wetlands, which filter the water before it reaches the nearby Baldoyle Bay Special Area of Conservation. Other measures include:
- A sports pavilion with a green roof, clad in Carlow limestone and recycled concrete.
- Over 1,200 trees and 2,000 native saplings planted to support pollinators and birdlife.
- Pathways and playground surfaces built from reclaimed and recycled materials.
- Concrete mixed with 70% ground granulated blast-furnace slag, cutting more than 100 tonnes of CO₂ from construction.
These design choices earned the park the Sustainability Award and Best Public Space accolades in 2010, plus a shortlist nomination for the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture in 2011.
What to See & Do
Sports & Fitness
The park’s 1.5 km perimeter track is a favourite with runners, cyclists, and casual walkers. Six outdoor health stations are spaced along the route, providing equipment for bodyweight exercises and stretching. For team sports, six full-size grass pitches cater to GAA, soccer, and other field games, all supported by nearby changing rooms. The three-level concrete skatepark remains one of Ireland’s largest municipal facilities, attracting skaters and boarders across all age groups.
Playgrounds & Leisure
Families are drawn to two dedicated play areas built on shock-absorbing recycled rubber surfacing. Both feature zip-lines, climbing structures, and age-appropriate equipment. If you prefer a quieter pace, permanent outdoor chess and draughts boards are positioned near the central promenade, alongside several picnic shelters that offer shade on warmer days.
Nature & Wildlife
The park’s reed-bed wetlands form a buffer for the neighbouring Baldoyle Bay estuary, which has been a Statutory Nature Reserve since 1988 and a Special Area of Conservation. The planted reed beds treat water runoff and create dense cover for nesting and feeding birds. The estuary supports an internationally significant wintering population of brent geese, and visitors frequently spot mallards, mute swans, and seasonal raptors over the water.
Cultural Events
A built-in stage and tiered amphitheatre at the northern end serve as a focal point for community programming throughout the year. The space regularly hosts outdoor theatre, summer music series, and the annual Father Collins Park Family Day. The open layout and backdrop of mature trees make it a practical venue for local arts groups and seasonal festivals.
Practical Information
Entry to Father Collins Park is free, and it opens at 10:00 every day. Closing time shifts with the season, following the daylight: 17:00 in the depths of winter, stretching to 22:00 in June and July, then back down through the autumn. Gates begin closing thirty minutes before the posted time to let staff secure the perimeter.
Getting There
- Car: The main entrance is on Hole in the Wall Road, easily reached via the R139 from the M1 or M50. Free on-site parking is available near the promenade.
- Public Transport: Dublin Bus route 15 stops directly outside the park, while the H1 route serves the Grange Road approach. For rail, Clongriffin DART station is a ten-minute walk away, and Howth Junction & Donaghmede station is approximately 2 km south.
- Bicycle: Secure bike racks are located near the main entrance and alongside the 1.5 km circuit.
On-Site Facilities The park is fully wheelchair accessible, with paved routes covering the promenade and most woodland paths. Changing rooms, public toilets, and drinking fountains are maintained year-round; there’s no reliable café on site, so bring your own supplies. Dogs are allowed off-leash for one hour in the morning and one in the evening, and must be on a lead the rest of the day.
There’s little reason to drive: Clongriffin DART station is a ten-minute walk and Dublin Bus route 15 stops at the gate. If you’re coming in the evening, check the seasonal closing time first – in winter the gates are shut by 17:00, and they begin closing thirty minutes before that.