Councillor Ciaran O Meachair has called for lighting at Sundrive Park in Crumlin during the winter months to make it available for running clubs after work and to address safety concerns
13:09, 15 Jan 2026Updated 13:43, 15 Jan 2026
A push for lighting at Eamonn Ceannt Park after dark aims to improve safety and visibility for women and running clubs during the winter months.
A joint motion from Councillors Ciaran O Meachair, Noelle Brown and Lesley Byrne has called on Dublin City Council to address the lack of functioning lighting at the Crumlin park known locally as Sundrive Park. While Cllr O Meachair stated at the latest South East Area Committee that The Liberties Running Club got great use out of the park over the summer, he said it essentially becomes a “ghost town” during the winter.
“This is a problem that exists right across Dublin. That public facilities are effectively out of use for anyone who works 9 to 5 for half the year because they are in complete darkness,” he said. “Like a lot of other running clubs, The Liberties Running Club has a lot of members who are women and for obvious reasons they would like to be running on a well lit up track rather than in darkness over the winter months.
“The fact is there are lights here but they don’t work. So, there’s obviously no historical marker against having lights here and I know some people will point out wildlife issues, but the reality is nobody is asking for the lights to be on all night. We’re only talking about a couple of hours from 6pm to half 7 or 8 to allow people to have a bit of exercise and socialise after work.”
Cllr Hazel Chu cited a 2023 Transport for New South Wales survey which found 59% of female respondents felt unsafe walking after dark and said it is the council’s obligation to provide public facilities that are “safe for all citizens.” She said that, while there are often wildlife concerns when it comes to after dark lighting, there should be “a happy compromise that makes sure we protect wildlife but also our public.”
The council’s response was initially reluctant, as they said Cycling Ireland, the anchor tenant of the park’s velodrome, had not requested the floodlights be made operational. They stated introducing more running clubs into the velodrome could create “additional congestion to a park that is already at capacity.”
However, Cllr O Meachair expressed frustration at the response as he said he’d already communicated with Cycling Ireland who reportedly have no interest in using the track in winter and do not oppose running clubs using it. “This would largely be a measure for the local running clubs, there are several across Dublin 12 and Dublin 8 that are at full capacity and crying out for resources,” he said.
A subsequent response from the council stated that any expanded facilities at Eamonn Ceannt Park must be done “in full consultation and agreement with Cycling Ireland.” They stated that if Cycling Ireland and the Liberties Running Club were to make a joint approach to the council about having floodlighting installed in the velodrome “the cost of such an installation would have to be justified by evidence of evening time demand.”
The motion saw widespread support from representatives with Cllr Fiona Connolly stating she’s “fully supportive of anything that gives people an opportunity to get moving.” She highlighted the recently established Sports Forum as a group set up to maximise all the amenities the council has to offer, such as Eamonn Ceannt Park.
Cllr Pat Dunne recalled the huge level of facilities and international events taking place in Eamonn Ceannt Park after it was first developed during the 1960s as a “forward thinking” amenity. He said it’s been disappointing to see how its offerings have been “greatly reduced” over the years and suggested the topic be brought to the Friends of Eamonn Ceannt Park committee, of which Cycling Ireland is a part.
The provision of lighting would not only benefit running clubs but also help address broader issues that affect parks after dark according to Cllr O Meachair. “In the winter months they become dangerous places as they are kind of handed over to anti-social behaviour because we don’t organise things or make use of them,” he said.
The council will consider the provision of floodlighting and expanded usage of the park by running clubs once they have been jointly approached by Cycling Ireland and The Liberties Running Club. They further outlined their plans to expand park facilities around the area:
“We have recently finished assessing tenders for the upgrade of floodlighting, track surface and infield area of Donore Harriers and have informed the preferred bidder in relation to this contract. The project is expected to proceed early in 2026. There are also plans to upgrade the 200m cinder running track in Bunting Park early in 2026. Bunting Park track is open, accessible and available to use by any club,” Brid Brosnan, Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer stated.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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