New traffic management measures for Dublin City's Westland Row have come into effect
THE NEXT PHASE OF the Dublin City Transport Plan has come into effect.
From today, a traffic change will be implemented at the junction of Westland Row and Pearse Street.
The new restrictions will be in place 24/7.
It means only public transport, taxis and cyclists will be allowed to turn left from Westland Row onto Pearse Street.
A new right turn for general traffic, such as cars and delivery vans, will be introduced at this junction.
In addition to this, the section of Pearse Street from Westland Row to Sandwith Street will be made two-way.
Advertisement
Existing traffic measures and access from Lombard Street East and Sandwith Street Upper are also maintained.
Graphic outling the new changes
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Access will be maintained to Westland Row for traffic due to the height of other railway bridges in the area. This will allow the use of Westland Row by high sided vehicles while ensuring that public transport will be prioritised.
Westland Row will no longer be a through route to Pearse Street and there are no changes to disabled bays, loading bays or taxi ranks.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said that the 'anticipated reduction in general traffic resulting from this measure will allow for these streets to be reimagined with better walking and cycling facilities'.
The measures are being implemented as part of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan 2023.
A spokesperson said this plan seeks to 'address the fact that 60% of general traffic in the city centre is not stopping, working or shopping but is simply travelling through the city'.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Meet Brendan, the new AI tour guide that promises ‘distinct Dublin wit'
Brendan, an AI-generated snood-wearing young Dubliner with reddish hair, can be accessed by selecting Dublin in the CityMe AI travel guide app. Brendan will offer 'a new way' for visitors to explore Dublin, says Dublin City Council (DCC), by delivering AI-powered audio content about more than 500 cultural and historical sites across the city. Its creators promise to deliver the AI content in a 'warm, locally-inspired storytelling style', which is tailored for each location on the tour. 'This is a novel project for Dublin, where technology and culture intersect to create a unique experience for visitors,' said Nollaig Fahy, smart Tourism Manager at the Dublin City Culture Company. 'With Brendan, we are not only embracing the future of tourism, but also reaffirming our commitment to sustainability, innovation and making cultural access more inclusive than ever.' The AI city guide is currently in a pilot phase for Dublin, joining many other similar digital personalities created by CityMe, like Laia for Barcelona, Charlotte for Paris, and Liam in New York. Later this summer, Brendan will expand to include Spanish as a language option, with plans in motion for an Irish-speaking guide down the line too. Brendan was developed between Dublin City Council and Smart Dublin, in partnership with AI giant OpenAI. Launched in 2016, Smart Dublin is an initiative of the four Dublin local authorities which aims to use technological solutions to improve services and quality of life in the capital. 'We are excited to partner with Smart Dublin to bring this vision to life,' said Guido Schinocca, CityMe AI founder. 'Brendan represents the future of city exploration, blending the latest in AI technology with the rich history and culture of Dublin,' he said. The CityMe app divides Dublin into six tour locations: Stoneybatter/Smithfield, The Liberties, City Centre North/O'Connell Street, Old City/Temple Bar, St Stephen's Green/Portobello and Trinity College/Docklands. When a user clicks on an area, a brief AI-generated audio introduction is given, followed by a map of all the landmarks within that zone. Each landmark gives an audio description of the site and its history, delivered with a Dublin accent, along with a picture. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
A 26-year-old man has begun a first-of-its-kind swim around Ireland (100km down, 1,500km to go)
TEN DAYS SINCE Daragh Morgan began his swim around Ireland's coastline, he is now 105km in. Having begun the challenge to swim the 1,600km that encompass Ireland's coastline on 31 May, the 26-year-old is attempting the world's first tidal-assisted swim around Ireland in support of both the Simon Community and RNLI. The Dublin-born man hopes to complete the challenge in four months. Speaking to The Journal , Morgan said that he has been training for the momentous swim over the past five years. Having always been around the sea growing up, he had the idea to undertake the coastline swim several years ago. He has spent the last number of months intensely preparing for what is roughly six hours of swimming per day to cover between 10 to 14 kilometres, when permitted. He and his small crew set off from Galway, where he has lived for the past seven years, and have since travelled through the Aran Islands and past Clifden. Swim Éire / Instagram Swim Éire / Instagram / Instagram The swim is incredibly dependent on the weather, Morgan explained, speaking on a day off from the water due to inclement conditions. He alongside the rest of the three-strong crew, who are following alongside in a small fishing boat, have been 'roughing it' as they undertake the challenge. Advertisement As they move along the coastline, they have taken to staying with friends and camping. 'We're doing it kind of a different way and but it's working,' he said. 'We're coming back to a kind of base most of the days, gearing up, getting the boat ready, going, doing the swims, and coming back, and then getting ready for the next day if it's permitted.' Morgan and his crew hope that the swim, titled Swim Éire , will raise valuable funds for both the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Simon Community. They chose the homeless charity as they believe housing to be a 'basic right' and that it is a rising issue in Ireland. Funds raised will firstly go towards supporting the swim, such as equipment needed and operational costs, and any funds beyond that will be split between the two charities. The team are hoping to raise €55,000 . 'A massive strong point of it is we have people who really know the area, who are so passionate about the area. I think for me, one of the main things that this swim is really showcasing is the passion and love of the people in area,' he said, highlighting areas in Galway such as Conamara. 'This has been in progress for so long, and it's just brilliant that we can actually see miles on the clock and the needle moving forward,' he said. You can follow along with Swim Éire here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
28-05-2025
- The Journal
Irish government watching J1 visa situation 'closely' but says applications are still open
THE DEPARTMENT OF Foreign Affairs has said that while it is 'aware of reports' that the US has instructed its diplomatic missions to pause appointments for interviews in certain visa categories, including J1 student visas, it understands that existing appointments in Ireland haven't been cancelled. A spokesperson told The Journal that it further understands that new J1 visa applications can still be submitted. They added that DFA officials have been in contact with the US embassy on this matter, in order to 'assess possible impact on our citizens, in particular on students planning to travel in the coming months.' 'We will continue to monitor this unfolding situation very closely,' the DFA spokesperson added. They further said that it is important to note that US immigration policy 'is a matter for the US authorities'. Roughly 5,000 Irish students avail of the J1 visa programme every summer. Speaking on RTÉ' Radio One's Morning Ireland this morning, Michael Doorley, the owner of the Sayit Travel agency, said that Irish students who have already received their J1 visas for the United States should not be impacted. Advertisement He added that he has spoken to students currently in the US, who haven't experienced any issues. Doorley said that 'practically all' of the students intending to travel to the US this summer are already through, so this pause on interviews won't have a big impact on students this year. It's been reported that US embassies around the world have been told that social media vetting for student and foreign exchange visa applicants will be ramped up. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that guidance is to be issued on the screening process, and that interviews should be halted until a review on how this process will work has been completed. Doorley today said that his travel agency is issuing advice to students for the first time about their social media use while in the US. He said that if students have a 'history on their mobile phones, of some, maybe, social activity that wouldn't please the American situation, just delete it or whatever.' Doorley added that students are vital to the tourism sector in many places in America and highly valued by employers. Trinity College said that it will be in contact with any students travelling to study in the US in the coming autumn, and will offer meetings with them to discuss any concerns they may have. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
