Dublin City Council undertakes major cleaning programme of Liffey walls

Dublin City Council is undertaking a major cleaning programme of the Liffey Quay walls. Over 6km of granite quay walls between The Custom House and Heuston Station are being cleaned as part of a wider drive to enhance the riverside.

Dublin’s quay walls are an impressive legacy of the 18th & 19th centuries and are constructed of Leinster granite, while the riverside is further dominated a series of beautiful and for many, iconic, bridges. However, the quays are also busy traffic routes and the impacts of traffic fumes, splashback from the carriageway and general wear and tear have diminished the appearance of the walls in many places.

Stephen Coyne from Dublin City Council said, “Some sections of the quays closer to the city centre, such as Bachelors Walk, are cleaned regularly, however this is the first time in a long while that we have tackled the full length of the city quays.  In some places, like Usher’s Quay for example, where traffic volumes are quite high and the quay is narrower, the build-up of dirt and grime is more visible and is tackled less often.  Some of the sample cleaning we undertook here last year was revelatory. The aim now is to have a consistent appearance to the full length of the quays.”

The work is confined to the road-facing side of the walls. Cleaning of the quay walls will be completed in mid-March. Work is being undertaken in phases and at night to minimise disturbance.

A further phase of work later in spring will see the impressive granite and cast iron balustrade at Inns Quay, in front of the Four Courts, refurbished. In 2023, the Council commissioned repainting of the balustrades of three nearby bridges – O’Donovan Rossa Bridge, Fr Mathew Bridge and Mellowes Bridge – with an historically appropriate colour.  This will be continued in Inns Quay, with its impressive 220m sweep of balustrade. 

“The Four Courts, the bridges and the quay side, all form a spectacular architectural ensemble in the centre of our city, which people often overlook,” said Stephen. “The cleaning and refurbishment work we are undertaking, combined with the ongoing restoration of the Four Courts dome by OPW, will greatly improve this beautiful set piece.”

ENDS