MENU
Tuesday | 19th March 2024

Why Choose Dun Laoghaire

 

⬇️Click to Download our PDF Guide⬇️

 

 

About Dún Laoghaire Town

The coastal suburb of Dún Laoghaire Town has stunning views, a cosmopolitan culture, Mediterranean appearance and Victorian built heritage, all making it a popular destination. Dún Laoghaire as we know it now largely dates from the 1820s and is home to many independent, family-owned businesses of long standing.

The town features one of Ireland’s longest main streets (1.2 kilometers) stretching from the beautifully laid out People’s Park to the reputed location of the 450AD King Laoghaire’s dún or fort, located near York Road.

The town is dotted with places of interest including the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, the world’s first suburban railway station, what was the world’s largest asylum harbour for over 50 years, the Baths and the strikingly modern DLR LexIcon.

The town’s harbour is a busy hub for fishing and water sports and is much loved for strolls on the East Pier with a snack of locally caught fish and chips.

Public transport links include the DART and over 12 bus routes.

Dún Laoghaire’s stunning location and views, cosmopolitan culture, Mediterranean appearance, and physical beauty make it a very special place. Few places in Europe, let alone Ireland, encompass its blue seas, magnificent parks, old and new architecture, mountain views, food culture and transport links that make it accessible to all.

One in five of its population are non-nationals and a diversity of languages – French, Polish, Chinese and many others – can be heard on its streets daily.

A paradise for pedestrians and a sense fest for cyclists, Dún Laoghaire is working hard to reinvigorate its town by introducing a new family friendly coastal cycle route attracting thousands of cyclists everyday, new outdoor public art and photography exhibitions, and a series of urban parklets spilling over with pollinating plants

 

Employment

Dún Laoghaire has a steady increase of employment since 2012.

The main industries are:

  • IT and Financial Services 27%
  • Retail and Trade 22%
  • Education and Health 19%
  • Other 32%

Specialties in demand:

  • Data Analysts and Scientists
  • AI and Machine Learning Specialists
  • Big Data Specialists
  • Digital Marketing and Strategy Specialists
  • Process Automation Specialists
  • Business Development Professionals
  • Digital Transformation Specialists
  • Information Security Analysts
  • Software and Application Developers
  • Internet of Things Specialists
  • Project Managers
  • Business Services and Administration Managers
  • Database and Network Professionals
  • Robotics Engineers
  • Strategic Advisors
  • Management and Organisation Analysts
  • FinTech Engineers
  • Mechanics and Machinery Repairers
  • Organisational Development Specialists
  • Risk Management Specialists

 

Accommodation

Available accommodation:*

1,796 properties available to buy

235 properties available to rent

*available properties in July 2022 in 10 km Radius

State of home ownership:

54,289 properties home owner occupied

21,273 properties rented

3,006 other

 

Traffic and transportation

9,000 of Dún Laoghaire’s population are within a 10 minute walk from the town centre and a million people are within a 30 minute drive.

40 minute drive to Dublin Airport by car and 20 ride to the Dublin City centre by DART.

Top types of commuting:

Motor car: 49%

Train, DART or Luas: 13%

On foot: 13%

Other 25%

 

Medical Facilities

1 Hospital

5 GPs

8 Dentists

And more

 

Weather

Average temperature: 10.4 °C

Precipitation: 919 mm

Average hours of sunshine per month: 59.88 h

Average temperature of the sea: 11.20 °C

 

Things to do

  1. Get yourself a great coffee
  2. Eat something delicious
  3. Walk on the Pier
  4. Chillax in The People’s Park
  5. Treat yourself with Ice-cream
  6. And more

ANSEO

Discover Dún Laoghaire’s street art collection. Anseo murals display the essence of Dún Laoghaire. It reflects on all the elements that make our town a unique place. Start your walking tour from Paul Francis’ piece, opposite the Maritime Museum.

 

Historic sights to see

  1. Town Hall
  2. James Joyce Tower & Museum
  3. National Maritime Museum of Ireland
  4. Queen Victoria Fountain
  5. Russian Cannon from the Crimean War
  6. And more

Since 450 AD, our town has been Dublin’s go-to spot for visitors and traders. Originally a fishing village located where the Purty Kitchen now sits, Dún Laoghaire as we now know it largely dates from the 1820s. Since then it’s been home to the world’s first suburban railway, the first purpose-built yacht club in the world, and the world’s largest asylum harbour.

 

Culture

Within the town, there are numerous historic buildings, museums and cultural attractions that reinforce Dún Laoghaire as a most desirable place to live, work and visit.

Places of interest

 

Shopping

The town has one of the longest high streets in Ireland coming in at 1.2 km running from People’s Park to York Road featuring more than 220 shops. From small independent family run boutiques to well-known, high-street brands, Dún Laoghaire has it!

The town is also home to two shopping centres, Bloomfields and Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre.

Penney’s, Dunne’s Stores, Argos and Meadows & Byrne are just a few of the outlets located in the town.

There is also wide range of restaurants, coffee shops and bars.

The area is also home to a large organic market every Sunday morning.

 

Schools & Education System

3 Third level education institutes

5 secondary schools

10 primary schools

 

Sports, Activities & Hobbies

Recreational activities:

 

Community Groups and Volunteering

 

Coworking Capacity

 

Networks in the Town

DLR Chamber

Digital Dun Laoghaire

 

Check our town out online!

DunLaoghairetown.ie provides a wide range of digital resources which will help give you a flavour of our great town through your smartphone:

Discover:

Visiting guides:

Business guides:

 

Highlights of 2022 Year

Opening of the Dun Laoghaire Baths

The re-opening of the Dún Laoghaire Baths is a significant milestone for the Council and the people of the town. This well-known landmark has been an important part of the history and heritage of families all over the County. Once again, we can welcome visitors to this popular bathing area. This beautiful restoration will facilitate swimming, water sports, and a great concert area.”

Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

The Urbanism Awards – Winner

“Dún Laoghaire winning the Academy of Urbanism, Great Town award 2022 is recognition of what has been achieved by the Council working closely with local communities, businesses, and other partners. The Academy’s assessment referenced the creation of lively urban spaces that people value and use and the flourishing shopping street with a broad range of retail and services.”

Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

Myrtle Square redevelopment

Works have begun on the Myrtle Square & Convent Lane Project. Generous greening, play, seating and nature in the heart of the town will be key benefits

 

Plans for 2023

Completion of Myrtle Square

The completion of the project will see a dramatic redistribution of public realm space in favour of pedestrians and as a destination space. The site has long been highlighted as a location for a public square, which the town has historically lacked.

DLR recommends to permanently pedestrianise George’s Street

The DLR CoCo Summer Streets initiative in the summer of 2022, saw George’s Street Lower closed to traffic and the creation of additional outdoor space at Myrtle Square. At the end of the initiative and a comprehensive public consultation found that the pedestrianisation of this section of George’s Street was positive under a number of criteria and recommended that a permanent scheme should be progressed.

 

Credits & resources

  1. KPMG – Dun Laoghaire 2040 A Spatial and Economic Study
  2. Dlr CoCo – Sport and Recreation
  3. climate-data.org – Ireland/Dun Laoghaire
  4. Welcome to Dun Laoghaire – GATEWAY TO DUBLIN – DLR CoCo
  5. Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2019 – Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
  6. daft.ie
  7. independent.ie
  8. boards.ie
  9. dunlaoghairetown.ie
  10. hse.ie

 

Love Dun Laoghaire is an initiative of @Digital Dun Laoghaire providing digital promotion and marketing activities aimed at driving footfall and encouraging economic growth in Dún Laoghaire Town.

Supported by: 

bank of ireland and DLR county council logos