Dublin Marinas

Alboretto

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A friend keeps his yacht at Malahide in Dublin and keeps reminding me of how much nicer it is to Pwllheli.
He travels over on the ferry every month and stays for 4 or 5 days if weather is good. I like the idea of changing mainly for a change of scenery and cruising ground. It looks like a nice spot online and handy for ferry, Dublin etc. I've spoken with the marina and there is no problem accommodating a 37ft boat on annual contract from 1st April and prices are competitive.
Is there anybody hereabouts with experience of this location and cruising destinations within 50 miles?
What about other Dublin marinas?
Any help is appreciated.
 
it may be nice but it would take the fun out of it for me having to get a ferry every time i wanted to go to my boat i think it would restrict the number of times i went, i thought things were more expensive in ireland ?????

i can see why people would fly to spain to go to their boat for the weather etc but i cannot see the major benifit of moving from north wales to northern ireland

i am not saying you are doing wrong we all have our own opinions i am just saying for me i cannot see the benifits, good luck if you decide on the change
 
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lanerboy; said:
i cannot see the major benifit of moving from north wales to northern island

When did they move Dublin :D

One benefit is that the sea conditions are a little better than North Wales. I have been over several times and always enjoy the area. Dublin Bay Area has 3 marinas

Dunl Laoghaire marina..... Large expensive with good facilities
Pool Beg ..... Up the Liffey river towards Dublin city. Not the prettiest but walking distance to the city. Very friendly.
Howth. ....... Great marina with excellent facilities, that said in a Mobo you will feel like a sheep in a wolves den. Nearly all sail boats.

There is also Greystones about to open this year, Wicklow, Arklow ect ect.

Some care is needed when travelling along the coast as there are some shallows and sand banks but nothing that the average sailor should have any problems with.

I would suggest going over with your mate to test the water :D personally as much as I like the east coast of Ireland it hasn't got the appeal of North Wales especially the Menia and/or the Clyde Estuary which is where I'm off to if this weather ever gets better

Tom.
 
We could not find anywhere worthwhile to go to from Pwllheli, except for just a weekend, so mostly just zoomed over to Ireland, loads of harbours to visit every 20 miles or so, all the way down the East coast and round the South.

Difference now is the fuel costs, but other than that sail the boat across and just carry on with the grand tour. We mainly went to Wicklow and carried on from there.
 
Dublin bay basically has three mobo friendly marinas.
Dun Laoghaire, Malahide and Poolbeg. Howth does not welcome mobos. Greystones about 15 mikes south has a new marina opening ths spring.

Dublin Bay area probably suits you because of ferry, but the No 1 sailing and cruising area in Ireland is Cork Harbour and Cork coast. Many more destinations, fab scenery and dozens of cutesy harbours for overnight visits instead of sterile marina caravan parks. Means flying but nowadays flying is often less expensive than the ferries, but three times quicker.
 
I would go for the Dun Laoghaire Marina - no tide worries - and right beside the car ferry.
DART (Dublin Area Rapid Train) station - 1 minute walk. Access to Dublin & Wicklow area.
Shops, yacht clubs, restaurants and chandlery.

The HSS Fastcraft plies between Hollyhead & Dun Laoghaire
and takes 2 hours & 20 minutes.

Zara
 
When did they move Dublin :D

One benefit is that the sea conditions are a little better than North Wales. I have been over several times and always enjoy the area. Dublin Bay Area has 3 marinas

Dunl Laoghaire marina..... Large expensive with good facilities
Pool Beg ..... Up the Liffey river towards Dublin city. Not the prettiest but walking distance to the city. Very friendly.
Howth. ....... Great marina with excellent facilities, that said in a Mobo you will feel like a sheep in a wolves den. Nearly all sail boats.

There is also Greystones about to open this year, Wicklow, Arklow ect ect.

Some care is needed when travelling along the coast as there are some shallows and sand banks but nothing that the average sailor should have any problems with.

I would suggest going over with your mate to test the water :D personally as much as I like the east coast of Ireland it hasn't got the appeal of North Wales especially the Menia and/or the Clyde Estuary which is where I'm off to if this weather ever gets better

Tom.

Hello Tom.
He has several reasons for moving from Pwllheli and has booked another year in Dublin. Basically sites less hassle with marina, tides, wind and better social life.

I have looked at Dun Laoghaire Marina (how do you pronounce it?) and it is very expensive but walking distance to ferry. Saying that I will be bringing the car so Howth and Malahide not out of the question. I have left a message with Howth as it looks like a very nice village on a very attractive looking peninsula.
Poolbeg looks to be in the port so less attractive especially for SWMBO?
Greystones, Wicklow and Arklow look like cruising destinations from Dublin. So does Carlingford and Strangford.
Shallows don't look so bad on charts. I am used to Pwllheli and Conwy ;)
I agree with you about visiting so I will book the ferry once SWMBO agrees dates.
 
We could not find anywhere worthwhile to go to from Pwllheli, except for just a weekend, so mostly just zoomed over to Ireland, loads of harbours to visit every 20 miles or so, all the way down the East coast and round the South.

Difference now is the fuel costs, but other than that sail the boat across and just carry on with the grand tour. We mainly went to Wicklow and carried on from there.

Agree with you but never brave enough to cross over the Irish Sea. Fuel costs are E1:30 so not so bad. We generally do about 80hrs per year and boat is relatively economical at 25knots.

Yes I am told there are plenty of nice harbours to visit all along the coast and the natives are friendly :)
 
Dublin bay basically has three mobo friendly marinas.
Dun Laoghaire, Malahide and Poolbeg. Howth does not welcome mobos. Greystones about 15 mikes south has a new marina opening ths spring.

Dublin Bay area probably suits you because of ferry, but the No 1 sailing and cruising area in Ireland is Cork Harbour and Cork coast. Many more destinations, fab scenery and dozens of cutesy harbours for overnight visits instead of sterile marina caravan parks. Means flying but nowadays flying is often less expensive than the ferries, but three times quicker.

Cork too far for my boat Oceanfroggy and I don't fly.
Is Dublin and cruising within 50 miles an unattractive proposition in your opinion?

I am told that Carlingford, Strangford, Howth and the city dock are lovely for a weekend.
 
I would go for the Dun Laoghaire Marina - no tide worries - and right beside the car ferry.
DART (Dublin Area Rapid Train) station - 1 minute walk. Access to Dublin & Wicklow area.
Shops, yacht clubs, restaurants and chandlery.

The HSS Fastcraft plies between Hollyhead & Dun Laoghaire
and takes 2 hours & 20 minutes.

Zara

Hello Zara

It seems that I m spoilt with choice of ferries in the Summer to Dublin :)

I will look at Dun Laoghaire as well when I visit.

Thank you.
 
Littleship. I think I recognise your boat from your picture. Are you docked in Holyhead Marina?

Use to be in Holyhead then Port Dinorwic and Conwy...... Once seen never forgotten. :cool:

Not measured on a chart but you may also find that the Isle of Man is around 50 miles from Dublin bay. Now, Howth is the sailing centre of the region and as stated mobs tend not to be berthed there, that said they won't drill holes in your boat if you visit.....least they haven't when I have. Tidal access past Bailey lighthouse can be...... challenging in some wind and tide situations.

Dublin city moorings are not available like they use to be, special permission required now to open the bridges, although you may be able to get under them, depending on what you have.

Enjoy the area and let us know what you think.

Tom.
 
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Hi Alberetto,

Malahide is indeed an attractive village, at least the centre is still so.As Oceanfroggie points out there is some period when the bar may not be crossed, which involves one in some forward planning of weekends.There is an electric commuter train service (DART) which semicircles the bay and goes as far as Greystones (site of new marina being fitted out presently).
Dun Laoghaire is for the summer anyway a once a day Port for the Stena HSS, but other ferries go to Dublin Port nearby,the Irish Ferries Oscar Wilde being vast and the most likely to run in foul weather.Train to Rosslare ferryport is also a way to bring a car along to the SE corner of Ireland to rejoin the boat say in Rosslare (temporary alongside and no good in NW wind) or Kilmore Quay Marina, (small but obliging)
Dun Laoghaire has the aforementioned DART service, 2 good Supermarkets within walking distance of the Marina,a M&S foodstore for treats, a theatre, various street theatre events during the summer season,a library (new one under construction) and as many marine services as Howth, in including a Chandlery adjacent to the Monument to Queen Vic.Restaurants on the site of the former Pavillion gardens,are now terraced over the newly covered railway cutting, to provide a lovely public space from which to view the "sweep of bay" The restaurants are in keen competition here so prices are modest, but upmarket tastes are also rewarded in more gourmet establishments. also adjacent.
Western Marine, chandlery, are a short drive away in Bullock Harbour, which is more suitable for smaller angling boats, picturesque though.
Poolbeg is nearer to the downriver Liffey scene, lots to see, ship movements, traffic noise probably would not be noticed much. Across the road is the artery to the Eastlink bridge.
Using a car here(Dublin area generally) will incur parking charges.Same fate is befalling Howth Harbour, with the yacht club fighting to have some member spaces.Malahide, being surrounded by tall (windbreaking) Apartment blocks, has little parking for anybody else.If there is space its payable.
The website dlharbour.ie has details of rates payable in various areas, the least convenient being cheaper(€4)
If you were planning not to use your car it might be possible to stash it further from the centre(s) and thus avail of free parking.€6/8 a day seems the going rate,
http://irishcruisingclub.com/ will have the necessary guide to the East and North Coasts to help.There is a new book out "Cruising Ireland" by Mike Balmforth and Norman Kean from the same source.Although Mike Balmforth has sadly passed on very lately, the publication is very recent. and he will no doubt be well remembered for it.




A friend keeps his yacht at Malahide in Dublin and keeps reminding me of how much nicer it is to Pwllheli.
He travels over on the ferry every month and stays for 4 or 5 days if weather is good. I like the idea of changing mainly for a change of scenery and cruising ground. It looks like a nice spot online and handy for ferry, Dublin etc. I've spoken with the marina and there is no problem accommodating a 37ft boat on annual contract from 1st April and prices are competitive.
Is there anybody hereabouts with experience of this location and cruising destinations within 50 miles?
What about other Dublin marinas?
Any help is appreciated.
 
Use to be in Holyhead then Port Dinorwic and Conwy...... Once seen never forgotten. :cool:

Not measured on a chart but you may also find that the Isle of Man is around 50 miles from Dublin bay. Now, Howth is the sailing centre of the region and as stated mobs tend not to be berthed there, that said they won't drill holes in your boat if you visit.....least they haven't when I have. Tidal access past Bailey lighthouse can be...... challenging in some wind and tide situations.

Dublin city moorings are not available like they use to be, special permission required now to open the bridges, although you may be able to get under them, depending on what you have.

Enjoy the area and let us know what you think.

Tom.

Thought so. You were berthed inside marina and took my lines from SWMBO when we visited for a weekend.
We had a quick chat before you headed off for the Straits.
SWMBO said you are a gentleman ;)

IOM, no thanks. We always keep the coast in sight ;)
 
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