Harold's Cross

1. The HXGrow Project goes from strength to strength with over 100 enthusiastic members of all shapes & sizes collaborating to improve their horticulture skills at home. The project has been recognized by Dublin City Council at its annual City Neighbourhood Awards, taking the gong in the Community Environment Initiative category!  Lovely bit of recognition for the contribution the project has made to the community over the past 12 months.  Well done to everyone especially the wonderful Donal O’Laoire who championed and nourished the project from day one !

More info: HERE.

If you would like to join the WhatsApp Group Click HERE.

2. BusConnects: The National Transport Authority has commenced the final round of public consultations regarding proposals for the Bus Corridors before they make their submissions to An Bord Pleanála on 2021. These proposals cover significant re-engineering for roads and traffic including four new bus gates in the Harold’s Cross region, one-way systems and re-direction of private vehicles, compulsory purchase orders for some front gardens on Harold’s Cross Road, off-lane cycleways – some on private property, tree removals & replanting etc. All the details are accessible on the web. Click : HERE Some of the more relevant maps are on display in the window of the former Harold’s Bazaar beside CRAFT restaurant.

The more significant proposals for Harold’s Cross Village include:

·       Closing Harold’s Cross Road on the West side of the Park (Siopa Linn to McGowans & vv) to general traffic. Access to any location on that side of the Park (Mount Argus Road, Mount Jerome, Gandon Close, Siopa Linn etc) – will have to use the road at the South end of the Park (Main gate, Opes Wealth, Shamrock Villas, McGowans). The footpath on the Park side of that road will be lost and a portion of the apron in front of the Park gate will also go to enable access to & from Harold’s Cross Road for the displaced traffic.

·       A portion of the front gardens of most of the houses opposite the Hospice, from St Clare’s to Mount Drummond will be taken.

·       The five-way junction at Kenilworth (Spar etc.) will be significantly re-engineered – including a diversion via Kenilworth Square and Rathgar Avenue for traffic coming from Rathmines.

·       Access to and from Lower Kimmage Road, including Mount Argus Park & church, will have to use any of the side roads as there will be bus-gates at McGowans and at Ravensdale Park (near the KCR and Poddle Park). Access for residents of & visitors to these side roads (Kenilworth Park, Westfield, Priory) will be via Clareville Road.

The expiry date for submissions is Wednesday 16th December 2020.

This NCT “Bus Corridors” project deals with the physical road works. It is separate from and independent of the “Bus Networks” project which deals with bus routes, frequencies, timetables etc. More on the Bus Networks projects in future emails.

3.     Planning : All the details are here.

4.     Our own Paula Russell recently featured on RTE1’s Six-One News as part of an EU Citizen Scientist initiative called WeCount: Click: HERE and scroll down for the action.

If you would like to participate in the UCD WeCount project, by hosting a sensor at your home, please contact Associate Professor and local resident Francesco Pilla to find out more: (e: francesco.pilla@ucd.ie).

5.     Steve Wall’s other half Tiziana Corvisieri will have a pop up shop in Lenehan’s Bar + Grill, Rathmines on Monday Dec 14 & Tuesday 15. She is a costume designer for film & TV but is also known for her handmade leather bags. The pop up will feature a lot of new designs and even handmade Christmas cards as well as wallets, purses and other lovely bits and bobs. Steve will also have copies of The Stunning’s new Paradise in the Picturehouse Songbook on sale! It’s just on for two days so put it in the diary & get down the hill to Lenehans on Monday or Tuesday. Here are links to her Etsy shop and website.

7.     Light up a Life: Like many other events the Hospice’s signature fund-raising event has had to don the “Virtual” mantle this pandemic year. You can still make your usual contribution. Click: HERE

8.     The GOAL Mile: Too has gone virtual. So no community Christmas morning gallop in Sundrive Park this year. You can still make your usual contribution. Click: HERE

9. Here’s contact details for our Kimmage-Rathmines Councillors:

Deirdre Conroy (FF) deirdre.conroy@dublincity.ie / 086 280 5413

Carolyn Moore (GP) carolyn.moore@dublincity.ie/ 087 645 2800

Tara Deacy (Soc D) tara.deacy@dublincity.ie / 087 938 9904

Pat Dunne (I4C) pat.dunne1@dublincity.ie / 087 776 4422

Anne Feeney (FG) anne.feeney@dublincity.ie / 087 295 5256

Mary Freehill (Lab) marycfreehill@gmail.com / 086 812 6378

10. Many more FREE EVENTS in Dublin this week HERE