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Your Neighbourhood is a new series of local area guides from TheJournal.ie, presented by KBC. We’re bringing you the best of city neighbourhoods combined with the latest property data.
PHIBSBORO HAD ITS first heyday in the 19th century, when the rail and canal terminus at Broadstone brought what was then a fringe of the city to life. The imposing St Peter’s Church was built in 1862, and several of the area’s landmark Victorian pubs followed shortly afterwards.
In the last few decades, Phibsboro has been an up-and-coming area of the Northside – often a little scruffy, but full of charm. It’s helped along by its characteristic redbrick terraces and a wealth of facilities – from Dalymount Park to the Mater Hospital. Recent years have seen a new focus on community life in the neighbourhood with initiatives like local festival Phizzfest.
Today the neighbourhood is centred around Doyle’s Corner, a crossroads that follows the time-honoured Dublin tradition of being named after its largest pub. The Phibsboro Shopping Centre – a much maligned piece of 1960s tower-block architecture that nonetheless has its dedicated fans - provides the commercial hub. (The shopping centre, along with Dalymount next door, is currently amid a long-running redevelopment saga.)
Phibsboro is bordered to the north by Glasnevin, to the west by Cabra and Grangegorman, and to the east by Drumcondra.
Take me there! OK, here you are at Doyle’s Corner facing down towards St Peter’s church.
So what’s the big draw? It’s a lovely old area within minutes of the city centre, rich in history (both Eamon de Valera and James Joyce lived here) but also full of life today. As we’ve said, it’s also an area on the up. Significant new investment – in the shape of the Luas service, the TU Dublin city campus at Grangegorman, and a planned MetroLink station just across the canal – is likely to only increase the area’s attractiveness.
What do people love about it? It’s a vibrant young neighbourhood in a great place, says resident Jamie Burke.
You feel part of Dublin city, but it’s also easy to remove yourself from the city madness with a stroll in the Phoenix Park or the Botanic Gardens. Dublin 7 feels young – lots of students, new Irish, young families. I think many residents and non-residents aren’t aware of the beauty of the Phibsboro stretch of the Royal Canal.
While Ronan Fox highlights the sense of community.
The major thing we love here is community. It’s our experience that people really do look out for each other in this neighbourhood.
And… what do people NOT love about it? The village centre has a potential which isn’t fully realised at the moment, says Ronan:
Phibsboro has the potential to have a real village centre feel about it, much like Ranelagh or Sandymount. There are some great cafes, eateries and businesses – but the euro and charity shops and the eyesore that is the very run-down shopping centre severely dilute that potential.
Architecture-wise, it’s an old neighbourhood – which means it’s not built for lots of cars, says Catriona Barrett.
Not many properties in Phibsboro have driveways so all parking is on-street. A lot of this on-street parking isn’t metered 24/7, which means residents sometimes don’t have a spot beside their house/apartment. This can be a headache, but if you don’t use your car everyday then it’s not an issue.
What’s the story with house prices? The average asking price for a property in Phibsboro is €396,186 at the end of 2017 according to Daft.ie. That’s almost exactly the same as the all-Dublin average of just under €395,000. Prices here have more than doubled since the recession, one of the biggest increases anywhere in the city.
How long will it take me to the city centre? It’s a 20-25 minute walk from Doyle’s Corner to Henry Street – but the new Luas will get you into the city in just eight minutes.
Alternatively Phibsboro is extremely well-connected to the Dublin Bus network. Routes 4, 9, 38/A/B, 46A, 83, 83a, 120, 122 and 140 all pass through, and any of them will get you into the city inside 10-15 minutes if the traffic isn’t horrendous. (We cannot guarantee that the traffic won’t be horrendous.)
Where should I get lunch? Two Boys Brew serves up excellent coffee and equally excellent lunches and brunches, on the North Circular just by the crossroads. Be ready for a queue at weekends.
Alternatives: If it’s something more traditional you’re looking for, Woodstock Cafe is a local institution that’s been doing scones and dinners for the good people of Dublin 7 since the 90s. Bang Bang Café on Leinster Street serves up pastries and sandwiches using local produce, and Legit Coffee Co on the North Circular offers great brunches.
And what’s my new local? There’s a wide selection of good pubs to choose from. The Back Page on the Phibsboro road does a warm welcome, fine beer and a ping pong table – as well as frankly excellent pizza.
Alternatives: The Bohemian is a venerable Dublin pub of the best possible sort, all dark wood and locals. The Hut is another good spot for a pint.
Schools and supermarkets? There is a smallish Tesco in the Phibsboro Shopping Centre. Beyond that, your options are the much larger Tesco in Cabra, Lidl in Glasnevin, or the Aldi and Lidl on Parnell Street.
There is only one primary school in Phibsboro proper: St Peter’s (Catholic, mixed). However, more options are nearby in Cabra, Glasnevin and Grangegorman.
Secondary schools, too, are in Cabra and Stoneybatter.
Anything else I should check out? The Blessington Basin, between Phibsboro and O’Connell Street, is one of the secret gems of the inner city. A former reservoir tucked away behind walls, it’s a beautiful secluded spot where herons can sometimes be seen nesting on the central island.
OK, I’m sold. Give me one piece of Phibsboro trivia to impress a local. Phibsboro hosted Bob Marley’s one and only Irish gig. He played one night at Dalymount Park in 1980 with the Wailers, on his last tour, shortly before being diagnosed with the cancer that would kill him the following year.
Do you live in Phibsboro? Let us know your opinion in the comments!
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Every murder of a Garda is an atrocity,a Capital offence..an attack on the State and all its citizens.
Bro , very well said ..
Thanks Sis…im old fashioned…and one of my granddads was a copper in the 40′s and witnessed 2 guards being machine gunned….coppers should be untouchable…but accountable.
Full respect to your grandfather .I’d say he had some interesting stories to tell … can’t have been easy for him ..
Stories Sis…theres 2 official versions of what happened that day on Rathgar Rd….the net has nothing.he died when i was a child..if only id known how valuable his recollections would have been.
Bro , as kids we don’t realise these things until it’s too late .. shame really ..
its is befitting that the vile subhumans of SF/IRA will never get their united ireland, its absolutely perfect that all the degenerates will die with no brits out and no united ireland :)
regular internment and waterboarding for terrorist supported is not only needed it would also be hilarious :)
Blow your whistle and not just every orange flute in Supremacist central lodge!
I think the plaque somes it up perfectly, ‘lost his life in the line of duty serving the people of Ireland’ as opposed to the cowardly murderers who threatened the very existence of this state. Jerry McCabe was a true Irish hero
didnt the vile shinners give jerry mc cabes murderers a standing ovation no less?
So sad, RIP Gerry, we should never forget.
This murder really summed up what sort of people the IRA/SF are. Yet there is so many on here go to all length defending this cold blooded murder of an innocent Garda. In the past SF have used the Good Friday agreement excuse to have these pure evil s-bags freed, it was a brutal robbery. SF has never condemned the killers and Gerry Adams forever defending these low life’s. To think that Co Kerry re-elected the convicted guns runner Martin Ferris is totally beyond me, Ferris was first on the scene to transport the killer, McCauley home. How in the name of God can anyone defend these people, please try as I would love to see the excuse for this robbery and murder. The red thumbs show what sort of morons we still have in this country. Fair play to Ann McCabe for being so strong for her family, it must of been a horrible nightmare.
It must be very difficult to stomach that her husbands killers walked free. And no justice for the murder of Garda Donohue. She is right to be angry
I’m sorry Tommy but who on this site goes to “all length defending this cold blooded murder of an innocent Garda”. I’ve been reading the Journal a long time and never seen any comments defending this murder.
Am sorry too but I have seen people saying that these killers should of been released as per the Good Friday agreement on numerous articles especially around the time when one of the killers went back to jail for strangling his ex wife in front of her children. Asking for these people to be released early in my book that it was part of the troubles in the north is defending the murder, maybe I could be wrong on that, this murder had nothing to do with the troubles, it was a robbery and SF defended these low life’s to the bitter end.
http://www.thejournal.ie/pearse-mcauley-sentenced-2478979-Dec2015/
Just one of the articles
In fairness they were eligible for release under the GFA. Do you support the GFA or do you not?
No one is defending this murder but in terms of ‘moving forward’ this one goes in the same heap of all the others. The greater good shall prevail at the expense of the fallen.
Petr the high court didn’t think so.
This Murder by the IRA/SF lowlifes had nothing to do with the GFA, it was a robbery carried out by the IRA in the republic ,SF lobbied to get them out using the GFA- explain what the GFA had to do with the robbery and murder of this hero Garda?
Ann mc Cabe is a hero in my eyes. She has been so dignified over the last 20 years. She continued to bring up her family, who also turned out to be lovely people. I never met her, but she seems to be an absolute lady. I could never imagine what she went through, but she has given hope. She resounds positivety out of a most terrible loss. She should be commended for that alone. What a lovely woman.
I agree wholeheartedly Jenni, this lady is a real hero. To raise a family and yet keep the spirit of her husband very much alive,and to do so with such dignity. Never met this lady but she is an inspiration.
Paul
Clever wording to try and obfuscate the truth. As you well know people on here defend SF and try and push a story that they are working for the people. Your ignorance and stupidity shines through with your idiotic post trying to act unaware of what is being posted. SF are murdering fcukers and should have nothing to do with politics in Ireland
I do support the GFA but I’m appalled that Garda murderers were set free and supported by IRA\SF.
whenever a sf person says moving forward or going forward I throw a boot at the TV. 1346 tv smashed but great satisfaction ensued
Well said jenni….a lovely lady.
are sure isnt the provos just a paedo ring anyways? would you leave any provo subhuman past or present alone with a child of yours?
Sp Jenni and Tommy, you agree with Mrs Mccabe that her husbands murders were nothing more than common criminals and should have never been released ?
Of course I agree with Mrs McCabe. IRA Murdered a hero Garda during a Robbery in Limerick, SF lobbied using the GFA to get the murderers sentence reduced or squashed. What other way is there to look at this? SF gave them a standing ovation FFS? SF were there to pick the Murderers up from prison? How else can you justify this situation? Mrs McCabe is a hero here.
Why the red thumbs?
SF/IRA supporters defending their glorious freedom fighters I would imagine Louise. Disgusting
Shinnerbots are extremely well organised Louise – it is almost military ……
Gardai should be heavily armed like in most global jurisdictions to be able to protect themselves and the public from criminals and thugs who have no conscience. It’s time to give our Gardai the equipment and training they need and deserve to do their job.
the british goverment had the right idea in Gibraltar, pull up in a car and empty a full clip into the vermin- no questions asked. thats the best way to deal with the terrorist sunhumans :)
@Tommy, I am no supporter of attacks on Gardai (Im ex PDF for 13 years), nor am I an advocate of terrorism, but that latest statement of yours proves that you are no better than the ‘Shinners’ you clearly despise. That was a stupid, childish and ignorant comment that proves you know nothing about the real troubles and how it affected people on all sides. Gibraltar was just as bad an act of terror as the killing of Jerry and caused awful pain for families involved. You have let yourself down there good lad… Why not spend some time and educate yourself before spreading hate like that…
@Louise
I guess you haven’t been on for long.
They will be along soon with some ” whataboutery”
Sorry, typo, meant Jerry.
And yet Sinn Féin and its Irish Bolshevik friends have the nerve to lecture An Garda Síochána about the law. I read in The Sunday Times last week that the criminal who made allegations to Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny has since retracted them.
Kevin Walsh used exactly the same type of gun to murder Detective Garda Jerry McCabe as was used by the perpetrators of the Paris attacks.
in fairness who would believe a shinner about anything?
Interesting how Sinn Féin and IRA complained about British “shoot to kill” policy and then proceeded to “shoot to kill” Irish Gardaí. Talk about speaking out of both sides of ones mouth.
Shinnerbots: “But the McCabe murder wasn’t sanctioned by the IRA….”
Normal person: “So do they have some kind of corporate governance where they keep records and submit them to auditors…”
It’s genuinely hard to comprehend how brain washed SF supporters are.
have your say