Opening of Motocross Track at Alfie Byrne Road

I was delighted to be present at the opening of the Motocross Track on Alfie Byrne Road this morning. This is the first such Motocross track in Dublin and is the result of a successful collaborative effort between the local community, the Gardai and Dublin City Council.
The track will provide a sporting and social outlet for the young people of the community.
This time last year on my final day as Lord Mayor, I officially "turned the sod" of the new track. It is really great to see this project now come to frutition.


Link to sod turning ceremony last year

Your City - Your Voice - Win a Helicopter Tour of Dublin City

Dublin City Council has recently launched the second ‘Your Dublin Your Voice’ Survey.

The survey asks about your views on Dublin’s social scene. How do you like to spend your time in Dublin? Do you like shopping in the city? Do you like to spend your free time in the city centre or the suburbs? Do you think it’s expensive to go out in Dublin compared to a year ago? These are issues everybody has an opinion on and ‘Your Dublin Your Voice’ is giving you a chance to express them.”
Completing the survey is easy and only takes five minutes. To join the survey go to: www.yourdublinyourvoice.ie

The Survey should be completed by 31 July 2011.

Spun Out - Academy of Activism

I spent yesterday afternoon with a really intersting group of young people at the SpunOut Acadamy of Activism discussing politics. Senator Catherine Reilly (SF) and myself tried to answer their questions on why we got inolved, what political life is like and what we hope to achieve.

We discusssed a range of issues - including student politics, Inner City regeneration, gender quotas, feminism, the possiblilities and limitations of the political system.

I was quite energised by the engagement of the group and really enjoyed the discourse.

Young People Need to be Politically Active to Change the World

Innovation Dublin - Call for Events

The successful Innovation Dublin Festival, now in its third year, will run from 17 October to 18 November.

The festival celebrates innovation in the city across the spectrum: business, the arts, education, science, sports, the environment and lots more! Whatever the field, if it involves new ideas and fresh, creative thinking, it's innovative!

The City Council has launched a call for events for the Festival - in any format: conferences, exhibitions, workshops, debates, interactive dialogues, online events, theatre, film, etc.

For further information check out the Innovation Dublin Website

Submission to Luas BXD Oral Hearing June 2011,

It is proposed that the Luas BXD line will run from St Stephen's Green to Broombridge, via Dawson Street, Parnell Square, Dominck Street to Broadsone and the DIT Campus at Grangegorman; from Broadstone it will follow the old railway cutting through Phibsborough and Cabra on to Broombridge Station.
An Bord Pleanala hss just concluded an Oral Hearing for a Railway Order for the the LUAS BXD.

Joe Costello TD and I made a comprehensive submission to the oral hearing. The full text of our submission can be downloaded here:

Sumbision to An Bord Pleanala Oral Hearing for LUAS BXD