DĂșn Laoghaire Harbour Masterplan Sets Out Long-Term Vision for Living Waterfront
Council-led plan proposes 30-plus projects across six harbour quarters, combining public space, watersports, tourism and biodiversity
16 January 2026 | đ§ editor@ipropertyradio.com
DĂșn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has formally launched the DĂșn Laoghaire Harbour Masterplan, setting out a long-term, phased framework to reposition the harbour as a connected, accessible and multifunctional public asset while retaining its maritime role and heritage.
The Masterplan, commissioned by the Council, supported by FĂĄilte Ireland and led by Copenhagen-based ARROW Architects, is the result of an extended co-design and consultation process with stakeholders and the wider community. It provides a strategic roadmap for investment, governance and delivery, with projects phased over short, medium and long-term horizons, subject to funding, marine consents and environmental requirements Dun Laoghaire Harbour MasterplâŠDun Laoghaire Harbour MasterplaâŠ.
At its core, the plan aims to reconnect the harbour physically and functionally with DĂșn Laoghaire town, addressing long-standing fragmentation between working harbour infrastructure, public access and the town centre. The approach is framed around a âliving harbourâ concept, balancing everyday use, tourism, recreation and marine activity.
The Masterplan identifies more than 30 individual projects grouped into six distinct harbour quarters: the Urban Quarter, East Pier Quarter, Active Quarter, Marina Quarter, National Watersports Campus Quarter, and West Pier and the Gut. These are organised as a linked sequence of spaces, allowing each area to retain its own character while contributing to a continuous waterfront experience.
Short-term and early activation projects include the Pavilion Garden, which would repurpose an existing car park as a civic green and flexible public space; opening the East Pier Lighthouse to visitors; the creation of marina pocket parks; and a series of watersports-related facilities supporting the proposed National Watersports Campus. Medium and longer-term proposals range from new pedestrian connections and urban squares to cultural venues, mixed-use development and a potential conference and spa hotel within the Urban Quarter Dun Laoghaire Harbour MasterplâŠ.
Two projects are already progressing. Public consultation is open until 6 February on the Metals Green, a 0.30-hectare landscaped public space along Harbour Road. Separately, co-design work is under way on the National Watersports Campus, which is intended to consolidate DĂșn Laoghaireâs role as a national centre for sailing, water safety training and watersports education, with wider public consultation expected later in 2026.
Speaking at the launch, Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of DĂșn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said the plan marked âa milestoneâ for the town, combining heritage, sustainability and everyday public use. Chief Executive Frank Curran said the Masterplan provided a clear and deliverable framework shaped by community input, intended to guide change over the coming years.
FĂĄilte Ireland has positioned the plan as a coordinated approach to developing DĂșn Laoghaire as a coastal destination with year-round appeal for domestic and international visitors, while maintaining its local and civic functions.
Delivery of the Masterplan will be overseen by a dedicated Steering Group, with funding expected to be drawn from multiple sources, including the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Shared Island Fund, Climate Action Fund, FĂĄilte Ireland, Sport Ireland and marine and foreshore infrastructure programmes. The Council has emphasised that all timelines remain indicative and dependent on approvals and funding availability.
The launch of the Masterplan represents the starting point of a multi-decade programme rather than a single development project, with the stated objective of ensuring DĂșn Laoghaire Harbour functions as a shared civic, economic and environmental asset for the wider region.
