Here’s a run-down of what’s planned and what’s happening in Marlay Park for 2024. Marlay Park is such a fantastic amenity for our area and I feel lucky to live within walking distance of it. I’m continuing to press the council to make improvements to the park, including the sports facilities, and better supporting the traders and artists in the courtyard.
The council makes approximately €1m in revenue from the Marlay Park concerts each year and I want to see that money put directly into the park and immediate surrounding areas in the coming years.
Playgrounds
The main Marlay Park playground is one of the best in the county, providing inclusive play equipment across a range of ages and on-site toilet and baby changing facilities.
The Marlay Park “junior playground” has reached close to its end of life and the council are drawing up plans to fully refurbish it following consultation with the public in late 2023. I would hope that the refurbishment would happen by the end of 2024/early 2025.
Sports facilities
There have been some improvements to sports facilities in Marlay Park over the past few years, with the opening of the putting green and the boules court providing more variety for people looking to stay active around the park.
There are also plans to upgrade the sports facilities, which I’ve been pushing the Parks Department to develop more quickly in consultation with local clubs and groups.
I’ve asked for timelines on the development of the new cricket ground, skills wall, padel courts, realignment of the pitches and the reopening of the public Marlay Golf Course and received the below answer. Unfortunately, the council are continuing to put this on the long finger, despite the financial resources being in place.
I am also conscious that any proposed reopening of the golf course is done to the highest environmental standards:
Marlay Park trees and biodiversity
One area that is going well in Marlay Park are the efforts to plant more trees and biodiversity areas. 713 new trees were planted in Spring 2023 and 866 new trees are due to be planted in Marlay Park this Spring 2024.
Efforts to reduce algae in the pond have worked well, which is an often under-appreciated way of encouraging wildlife and biodiversity.
There’s also the Marlay Park Habitat Improvement Scheme, which you can read about on signs around the park.
The Marlay Park meadow is another example of giving some space over to allow nature to take its course:
Marlay Courtyard and Studios
The Marlay Courtyard and Studios are an integral part of Marlay Park at this stage and I have been seeking to support its development and continued success. There are a few barriers to the Courtyard reaching its full potential at the moment that I’ve been working with council officials and traders to resolve.
A lot of this revolves around formalising the leases for all traders, as tenants of the council.
There will also be new signage and better communications going forward between the council and traders, particularly around days when the park is closed for concerts and other events.
Marlay House
Marlay House is a 17th century big house with an interesting history. There are going to be guided tours for the month of April every Thursday and Sunday, see full details below.
Feedback and suggestions
Do you have any feedback or suggestions on how to improve Marlay Park? Please send them onto me by email as I continue the conversation with our Parks Dept to further improve this great amenity we have on our doorsteps.
