Malahide Community Forum

Would you like your kids to be able to cycle safely to school?

Posted on 13 January 2021 by Active Travel

The Active Travel Sub Committee of the Malahide Community Forum was set up in 2020 with a goal of improving walking & cycling facilities in Malahide, with a particular focus on the provision of “Safe Routes to Schools”. By improving the infrastructure to make it safe, residents of Malahide will be able to travel to schools, clubs and shops in a safe & healthy way.

The current walking and cycling infrastructure in the Malahide area is poor, which has led to many school children being driven to school, which in turn has led to gridlock at school drop-off and collection time.

We believe that this should change as:

There is a substantial latent demand to cycle to school (In a recent NTA survey of 10,000 Irish school children, only 507 cycled to school regularly, while if it were safe, 7,143 would cycle to school – see bar chart below)
Evidence shows that when routes are made safe, people cycle & walk

NTA Bike Life Survey 2019 – view summary video at: https://youtu.be/NRxAtz_L6gY

A reduction in car use is good for people, society & the planet

There is a €1 net benefit for individuals and society for each kilometre cycled rather than driven (€170m per annum)
20% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport – cycling saved 28,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions which is the equivalent of 400,000 people flying from Dublin to London

Making cycling & walking safer for kids to get to school will increase these benefits

While 24% of adults cycle once a week, a further 21% would cycle if facilities improved

Fingal County Council has set up a new Environment, Climate Action & Action Travel Department. We believe that by advocating for better facilities for Malahide & using our local knowledge we can improve the quality of life for our community.

Over the coming months we will be seeking the support of the community in our aim of achieving safe routes to school and if you have a particular interest in this area, why not get in touch with the community forum at the email below.

secretary.malahideforum@gmail.com

Posted in Active Travel, Climate Change, Community, Cycle paths, Environment, Footpaths, Pedestrians, School Children, Schools, Tidy Towns, Transport, Walks, Youth | Leave a comment

Malahide looped walks – 8. Back Estuary, Seabury and Swords Rd

Posted on 8 January 2021 by malahidecommunity

Back Estuary, Seabury and Swords Road. Click to view route details:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Um_GCG2wYSVLrFnmBfVsDsITdWglgI1R&usp=sharing

Welcome to the eight in our series of looped walks mapped by Stephen Macdonagh. See all Malahide Looped Walks.

This 7.8km walk starts in the village at the Bridgefield Car Park (Marked A). Proceed out of the village along the Dublin Road and turn right down Hanlon’s Lane to the Back or inner Estuary where you turn left to walk along the estuary.

Swans on partially frozen Back (Inner) Estuary) – Jan 9th 2021

Walk west along the estuary (away from the village). Turn left at the Malahide Yacht Club and walk up Sea Road, past St. John Paul II school to the junction with the Yellow Walls road. Turn right at this junction and follow Old Yellow Walls road towards Seabury. Be careful crossing Barrack Bridge as the footpath is very narrow, making social distancing difficult.

Continue along Old Yellow Walls Road to the junction with Seabury Crescent where you turn left. You can access the Seabury green space shown in the map from any of the cul-de-sacs off Seabury Crescent. The map shows the first access point (from Seabury Drive, through Castle Cove – marked D). Walk along the path through the green that connects the Seabury and Killeen green spaces. Point E is the steps linking the green spaces.

Path connecting Seabury and Killeen Green spaces

Exit Killeen estate and turn left onto the Dublin Road. Turn left at “McAllisters’ Garage” and follow the Dublin Road back into the village.

For a longer walk, combine this route with the Abington, Streamstown and Castle walk. Please remember to share our paths roads and parks with care.

This walk is not currently wheelchair accessible due to the steps between Seabury and Killeen (Point E on the map).

Length: 7.8 km
Surface: Fully paved (with some steps)
Footwear: Walking shoes / runners (no need for hiking boots)
Wheelchair Friendly: No – due to steps between Seabury and Killeen

Posted in Active Travel, Community, CoronaVirus, COVID-19, Family, Footpaths, Fun, Pedestrians, Tidy Towns, Transport, Walks | 1 Comment

Malahide Family Bike Rides – 2. Estuary Park Seabury and Broadmeadow Estuary Path

Posted on 31 December 2020 by malahidecommunity

Estuary Park Seabury and Broadmeadow Estuary Sand Path – Click for Details:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1e7Jd3RfJXInl2Eeh6v5mEhcF4vE-xmfV&usp=sharing

Welcome to the second in our series of Malahide family bike rides. Enjoy!
If you prefer walking – see our series of Malahide Looped Walks. Please remember – Paths within our parks and green spaces are “share with care”. When passing pedestrians from behind, let’s slow down, tinkle our bells from about 20 metres – smile and say hello.

There’s a lovely short (approx 800 metres) “Share With Care” walking cycling path around Estuary Park Seabury – perfect for young children. Nice playground and exercise machines too. Lovely views of the estuary. The residents of Malahide and especially those of Seabury have been campaigning for almost 20 years for a safe walking cycling route from Seabury to St. John Paul II’s primary school and onwards to the Dart station, Malahide Demesne and all other local amenities. The Active Travel subcommittee of the Malahide Community Forum is supporting residents and liaising with Fingal County Council regarding the provision of “Safe Routes to School & to local amenities”.

A sand path (shown in yellow on the map) leads East from Estuary park to Caves Marsh and on to Barrack Bridge (Please exercise extreme care at the exit/access to Barrack Bridge, where there is no footpath and a busy road). Caves Marsh is a special area of conservation – please respect the nesting birdlife.

Caves Marsh Spring 2020 – Pair of Swans with Cygnets

Estuary Park connects to the west via a narrow path (shown in red on the map) to a lovely car-free sand/gravel path (a bit narrow at approx. 1.5m wide) along the Southern shore of the Broadmeadow Estuary. It runs for 1.6KM between Estuary Park and the roundabout junction with Seatown Road. This path is perfect for cycling with young children, as it is completely off-road. A great nature trail with lots of birdlife – expect to see herons, swans, ducks etc.

Broadmeadow Estuary Sand path – Stunning in October sunshine

Broadmeadow Estuary Path – 30 Dec 2020 – The path can get waterlogged after heavy rain

The good news: In August 2020, Fingalcoco obtained €1M in COVID Mobility funding to improve the cycling connection from Swords to Malahide. This 2.5km project will run from Seatown Road (Woodie’s roundabout) to the Estuary and then along Estuary Road to Seabury. The part of the route along the Estuary will require planning permission from An Bord Pleanala, due to the sensitive nature of the Estuary.

Route Details: Estuary Park Seabury:
Length: 0.8km (loop)
Surface: Paved path
Difficulty: Easy
Segregation: Fully off-road

Route Details: Broadmeadow Estuary Southern Shore Path:
Length: 1.6km (One way)
Surface: Sandy path
Difficulty: Easy
Segregation: Fully off-road (Exercise care accessing at either end)

Posted in Active Travel, Community, CoronaVirus, COVID-19, Cycle paths, Environment, Family, Footpaths, Fun, Tidy Towns, Transport, Youth | Comments Off

Malahide Family Friendly Bike Rides – 1. Malahide Castle Perimeter

Posted on 24 December 2020 by malahidecommunity

Santa is busy every year delivering bikes to children in Malahide and across the world

Santa delivers a new bike to practically every child in Ireland at some time in their childhood. Where can you go for a family friendly bike ride? Where can you relax knowing that little Mikey or Mollie can learn to ride their bike in safety.

Welcome to the first in our series of Malahide family friendly bike rides. Enjoy!
If you prefer walking – see our series of Malahide Looped Walks.

Please remember – Paths within our parks are “share with care”. When passing pedestrians from behind, let’s slow down, tinkle our bells from about 20 metres – smile and say hello.

Malahide Castle perimeter – share with care family bike ride – Click to view details:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iwnNg5Mow2hb8XBlyF8HXzpyCHmSCpIX&usp=sharing

The “Share with care” paths in Malahide Castle are the perfect place for a family friendly bike ride. At quiet times (you need to choose carefully), the coach car park, marked in pink, is a good place to teach kids how to ride a bike.

The perimeter path is just over 4k but there are many permutations and combinations in this wonderful facility. This route takes you through beautiful woods – with lots of places to stop and enjoy for the whole family.

Family walking and cycling in Malahide Demesne

Look out for the growing collection of carvings that are being added to all the time. See if you can find them…

Length: 4 km (loop)
Surface: Mix of paved and crushed ash paths (good drainage after rain)
Difficulty: Easy
Segregation: Fully off-road (beware of some vehicles accessing car parks and making deliveries to Avoca etc. )

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Malahide Fairy Forts Trail

Posted on 21 December 2020 by malahidecommunity

We’ve long known that Malahide is a magical place – now it’s official!

Fairies have set up home in a number of “fairy forts” in the Malahide area. The Active Travel sub-committee of the Malahide Community Forum has obtained photographs and mapped the location of the fairy forts (see below).

To date, forts have been located in Estuary Park (Seabury), Inbhir Ide, Hanlon’s Lane, Strand Court and The Back Road. If you’re aware of additional forts, please let us know.

Please don’t get too close to the forts (unless you have a gift for the fairies). Apparently one naughty child attempted to remove some of the fairies’ possessions – and the child hasn’t been seen since.

Malahide Fairy Forts Trail
Click to view details: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=10GV3at1SiVUJPWUuCgpa64MuPYAvW1gv&usp=sharing

Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap, And white owl’s feather!
(From “The Fairies” – by William Allingham)

See maps of Malahide Looped Walks.

Length: Approx. 4K end to end (not a looped walk)
Surface: Fully paved – wheelchair accessible
Footwear: Ordinary footwear

Posted in Active Travel, Community, Footpaths, Fun, Pedestrians, Tidy Towns, Walks, Youth | 1 Comment

Malahide Looped Walks – 6. Seapark Hill to Seamount Road

Posted on 17 December 2020 by malahidecommunity

Seapark Hill to Seamount Road
Click to see route details https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1zzlOsUupWF-xIjCVGY4oEMUopCmiDQKx&usp=sharing

View of Lambay island from green space between Seapark Hill and Seamount Road

This is a variation of our first walk (marked in blue on the map) by Stephen Macdonagh (Looped Walk 1 – Seamount and Paddy’s Hill). See all Malahide Looped Walks.

We’ve added a route from the coast to Seamount Road, over Seapark Hill that enables you to extend or reduce the length of your walk as you wish. The route is marked in yellow and purple on the map. This is a “challenging” route, with some steep hills and awkward access points (see photos below).

The yellow line shows the walk uphill from the coast, through The Moorings, to the top of Seapark Hill. While a bit steep, this is a relatively simple part of the walk.

Access to The Moorings (and Seapark Hill) from the Coast Road (R106)

The purple line shows a route between Seapark Hill and Seamount Road through the former Malahide golf links course (which will become a new park for Malahide – shown in green in the map). There are great views of Lambay island from this hidden wilderness).

When you leave the green space, you will see a building site hoarding. Turn left at this hoarding. The route continues along the hoarding to join Seamount Road.

As of December 2020, this route is a mud path, used to get to and from school daily by over 60 students of Malahide Community School (including students from Seapark, The Moorings, Island View, Muldowney Court and Biscayne).

In its current informal state, this beautiful green space is suffering from ongoing anti-social behaviour. The Malahide Community Forum is supporting local residents to get Fingal County Council to formalise this route and make it safer (as part of our “Safe Routes To School” initiative). If you see anything suspicious please contact the Malahide Garda Station at 6664600.

Malahide Tidy Towns recently organised a clean up of the green space

Please note that the grassy bank at the top of Seapark Hill is steep so care should be taken when ascending or descending.

Informal access from Seapark Hill to the former Malahide Golf Links – Steep and muddy during winter months

Access to route from Seamount Road – the route runs along the hoarding to Green Space at top

Length: Original looped walk: 6 km (additional route allows you to lengthen or shorten)
Surface: The route marked in purple is a mud path, with steep sections – not wheelchair accessible
Footwear: Hiking boots or strong walking shoes.

Posted in Active Travel, Community, CoronaVirus, COVID-19, Environment, Footpaths, Pedestrians, Tidy Towns, Walks | 1 Comment

Latest Notes

Posted on 4 December 2020 by malahidecommunity

Here are the notes for November 2020.

The notes of our previous meetings are available on our monthly notes page.

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Malahide Looped Walks – 5 Portmarnock village and Beach

Posted on 3 December 2020 by malahidecommunity

Portmarnock village and beach. Click to view route details: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1SoggwgLUv3xCBHHkMha-oObJE3AC6dIb&usp=sharing

Portmarnock village and Beach is the fifth in our series of looped walks mapped by Stephen Macdonagh. See all Malahide Looped Walks.

You may do the “short walk” as mapped above starting in Portmarnock, or the longer version from Malahide village along the coast walk and back (This can be crowded at weekends and busy times). Another option is to bike along the coast from Malahide to the start of the walk in Portmarnock.

Best walked from C-B-A-D. Finish by walking the beach back to D. Your target is the lower beach lifeguard hut (or the concrete base on which it is placed during the season). The path back to the car park is beside it. Alternatively begin at C and walk in either direction.

If travelling by car, our readers have advised us of an ongoing problem of thefts and break ins to cars parked in the car park at location C, as there is no cctv in the area (as of Dec 2020). Their advice is to start at point “A”.

This walk is not suitable for wheelchairs as much of it is along the beach.

Length: 3.6 km (short walk) From Malahide village along coast and back: approx 14Km.
Surface: Mix of paved and beach (sand)
Footwear: Walking shoes / runners that you’re happy to use on a beach

Posted in Active Travel, CoronaVirus, COVID-19, Environment, Footpaths, Pedestrians, Tidy Towns, Transport, Walks | 7 Comments

Malahide Tidy Towns – Seapark Hill / Seamount Road Green Space tidy-up: Sat 28th Nov

Posted on 26 November 2020 by malahidecommunity

Calling all volunteers!

Malahide Tidy Towns have organised a tidy up of the green space between Seapark Hill and Seamount Road this coming Saturday (28th Nov 2020). They will be ably assisted by Malahide Lions Club members and Gaisce volunteers.

All additional volunteers are welcome. Social distancing will be observed. Volunteers are asked to wear masks. Malahide Tidy Towns will arrange bags, collection etc.

Volunteers should meet at 10.30 at Malahide Train station, or Seamount Road at 11am. Seapark / Biscayne / Moorings etc. volunteers are meeting at the Seapark Hill entrance.

About the Seapark Hill – Seamount Road Green Space

This hidden wilderness, located between Seapark Hill and Seamount Road, has wonderful views over Lambay and into Malahide village itself (You can see the spire of the church). It was formerly the back six/nine holes of the old Malahide Golf course. It is due to become a new park for Malahide. The existing right of way (shown in blue in the image below – green space 44) is used daily by over sixty students of Malahide Community School to walk to/from school.

The Malahide Community Forum is supporting the Seapark and Seamount residents associations in getting Fingal County Council to formalise and upgrade the existing right of way (it is currently a mud path through a field).

Ref: https://consult.fingal.ie/en/system/files/materials/2018/Draft_Sheet9.jpg

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Malahide looped walks – Stay Active – Stay Safe – Stay Healthy

Posted on 19 November 2020 by malahidecommunity

Malahide walks – Stay Active – Stay Safe – Stay Healthy

Update Jan 2021: We’re all shell-shocked at the rise in Covid-19 cases. We must all do our best to “stay at home” – but we must also stay active. One tip for making social distancing easier is to ‘Wear wellies and take to the mud’!!! Where possible, leave the paved paths for those who need them most. A number of the looped walks below are very muddy at this time of year. While Malahide Castle (walk 2 below) has lots of paved walks – it’s full of muddy trails where you can splash to your heart’s content – go on, you know you’ll love it.
End of Update Jan 2021:

We all know that staying active is critical to our physical and mental health, especially during this challenging time.

To help residents to stay active, we’re publishing a series of “Malahide Looped Walks”, kindly mapped by local resident Stephen Macdonagh. Remember, as these are looped walks, you can start at any point in Malahide and join the walk at your nearest access point.

For a longer walk, simply combine walk 2 (a walk in the Castle) with any of the other walks. Please remember to share our paths roads and parks with care.

1. Seamount and Paddy’s Hill – 6km – Paved paths

2. Malahide Castle Perimeter – 4km – Mix of paved and crushed ash path

3. Back Strand, Sea Road and Yellow Walls – 3km – Paved paths

4. Abington, Streamstown and Castle – 3km – Some mud paths (very muddy in winter)

5. Portmarnock village and beach – 3.6km / 14km – Mix of beach and paved paths

6. Seapark Hill to Seamount Road – Variation of walk 1: Steep, muddy

7. Malahide Fairy Forts Trail – Not Looped – Approx 4km end to end – paved paths

8. Back Estuary, Seabury and Swords Road – 7.8km – Paved paths (some steps)

About Stephen Macdonagh:

When asked to join the committee of St Sylvester’s GAA Healthy Club section in 2018 local retired teacher Stephen MacDonagh decided that the best way to contribute would be to form a local walking group to explore looped walks in the area. A group of about twenty walkers set out once a month, with the aim of encouraging people in the locality to get out and walk on a regular basis. Week after week more walkers tagged along and it wasn’t unusual to hear the comment “I’ve lived here for twenty years and I’ve never been down this way before!”

When Covid 19 struck earlier this year, social distancing guidelines meant that walking in groups was no longer practical so Stephen decided to map his favourite walks to enable walkers to get exercise locally and enjoy and explore the wonderful walks we have in our locality.

Posted in Active Travel, Community, CoronaVirus, COVID-19, Environment, Footpaths, Pedestrians, Walks | 6 Comments