On Sunday 21 September, 25 Dublin streets will turn into play streets to mark the 25th annual World Car-Free Day. Unlike other European cities, Dublin rarely does anything big for Car-Free Day but tomorrow will be the biggest ever Car-Free Day Dublin has ever done.

Our streets used to be more than just a place to drive cars through. They were public spaces where people met each other, talked, played, sat, laughed and cried. They were the focal points of each community. Today, traffic divides communities, children spend most of their childhood indoors and people rarely get chances to meet their neighbours.

The goal for me is to make it easier for parents to let their children play on the street again without the help of Dublin City Council. That’s what myself and the volunteers of the Central Area’s Play Committee are working towards —together with community development officers in DCC’s Central Area, the Traffic Department and DCC Beta. That could mean potentially designating some streets as play streets for a few hours every week with local wardens responsible for traffic management. There’s a lot more to be done until we get there. Until then, go and enjoy these streets tomorrow and get to know your neighbours!

Dublin 7
Annaly Road
Cabra Drive (Northern & Southern Sections)
Great Western Villas
Fontenoy Street
St Ignatius Road
Ellesmere Avenue
Shandon Drive
Harold Road
Norfolk Road

Dublin 9
St Brigid’s Road Lower
St David’s Terrace

Dublin 17
Woodlawn Walk

Dublin 3
Haverty Road
Melrose Avenue

Dublin 6
Wasdale Park
Church Gardens

Dublin 8
Sandford Avenue
Donore Road
Swifts Alley
Garden Lane
Margaret Kennedy Road
Gray Street
Bulfin Gardens
Mountshannon Road, Mayfield Road & Maddison Roads
Warren Street
Ovoca Road

Local vehicular access will be maintained by council staff.