One of the biggest urban regeneration projects in the country has officially opened today in north county Dublin.
Locals say the €15m revamp of Balbriggan’s Quay Street and harbour area has already improved business in what is Ireland’s youngest large town and one of the most diverse places in the country.
Once a fishing and textile town, the now commuter area of north county Dublin has a third of its population under the age of 17, the average resident is 30 years of age, and more than a quarter of residents were born outside of Ireland.
Hotel and pub owner Andy O’Neill, CEO of the Choice Hotel Group, has invested €2m in the area since 2023 – off the back of the wider regeneration project – with a new cocktail bar among his most recent enterprises.
“Five years ago there were only really two or three pubs, one restaurant, and not a lot of choice. There are five or six great pubs now and live music every night and there are now a number of good restaurants. That is unique for a town of its size,” said Mr O’Neill.
Extending across 19,300 square metres, Harbour Square has a civic plaza, linear park, community spaces designed to host markets and cultural events along with new toilet and changing facilities. A 400-seater concert hall, The Lark, was also opened in the area in recent years.
The regeneration of Quay Street and the harbour area, which took just over two years to construct, is one of the biggest projects funded by the Government’s Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, with additional financial support from Fingal County Council.
The local authority said its part of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme 2019-2030 will see more than €50m invested in the town.
Once a fishing and textile town, Balbriggan has a third of its population under the age of 17
Andrew O’Neill opened the Her Upstairs cocktail bar is recent months as a result of the wider investment in the area.
“We’ve made the close to €2 million investment into Balbriggan in the last three to four years as it’s a really strong up-and-coming town, with a young population.
“It’s critical to our business that we see infrastructure projects in the town and when we decided to buy here, we saw a lot of investment that was going to come through the councils.”
Dr David Begg, chair of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group, said the development would attract visitors, businesses and jobs.
“We are seeing improved infrastructure, new businesses opening, and a stronger sense of identity. Renewed confidence has encouraged investors,” he said.
“When I first came to Balbriggan many, many years ago there was a population here of around 5,000. Between 1991 and 2002 that population expanded by 215%.
“There’s now nearly 28,00 in the town now so it has been a massive change. With all the development that went on over years with the new houses and so on the public space was kind of neglected a bit,” he said.
CEO of Fingal County Council Annemarie Farrelly says investment in the area has been limited for many years, but the regeneration project is a response to the level of growth.
“Balbriggan is a place that has seen a lot of housing development in the last decade and more. So it’s really important that we look to the town, build the community, the sustainable piece around where people want to live, sense of place, have a really nice place to visit, and to make it the focal point of the town centre.
“Towns like Balbriggan, a great heritage town, but the investment has been limited for many years. The Urban Regeneration Fund helps us develop our project and ultimately, I suppose, deliver a better place for people to live.
“Harbour Square is a landmark investment by Fingal County Council, Government and the people of Balbriggan. It will transform the waterfront, attract new opportunities, boost tourism and help shape a strong future for the town,” she said.
Independent Councillor for Balbriggan and Mayor of Fingal, Tony Murphy said he believed the regeneration would help grow the town, saying harbour square will be the heartbeat of Balbriggan.
“It creates a vibrant new destination at the heart of our waterfront. It will bring people together, support local enterprise and showcase the very best of Balbriggan,” Mr Murphy said.
“It’s actually transformative to see the difference now as a public civic space. But I think in reality, what it does is it builds a confidence,” he added.
Minister for Housing James Browne said the Balbriggan regeneration is one of the biggest and best examples of the State’s investment in urban regeneration.
“I think what they’ve done is wonderful. Brought some old buildings like the old RNLI lifeboat house back into being as well. Beautiful architecture there as well, but a kind living space that people can really enjoy.
“This is what we want to see.
“This transformative project has revitalised a key part of the town centre, creating attractive public spaces, enhancing accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, improving environmental resilience along the River Bracken, and celebrating Balbriggan’s rich maritime heritage,” he said.
“Only last Monday I announced over €400 million for more projects like this, shovel-ready projects.
“This is an example of those types of projects that we see happening now right across the country.”