View from Dillon Park. Photo: Pinky Brand
View from Dillon Park. Photo: Pinky Brand

Dalkey is a lovely village and Irish Heritage Town south of Dublin.  Killiney is a smaller village further to the South. The DART will get you to Dalkey in about 25 minutes and you can bring your bikes with you, or take the long spin from Dublin following the coastline into Dalkey through Monkstown, Dun Laoghaire, and Sandycove.

As you will notice, the area is so flashing that there’s no wonder celebrities like Bono and Enya have residences here. But there’s no guarantee that you will see them.

In addition to visit the great Killiney Hill Park, some “hidden” beaches and viewpoints can be discovered.

BikeTrip_100wBasic data

Map

Dalkey-Killiney-Dalkey

Things to see and do

  • Hawk Cliff: Kind of a hidden local swimming spot. Not as famous as the Forty Foot, but that’s part of the charm—far less people, if any. It’s hard to find the path that leads to it off of Vico Road, but worth walking your bike down the path, then across a bridge over the DART tracks, and then further down a winding path that has a few picnic tables and sweeping, if not very windy, views of the bay.
  • Bono’s home: Shortly after the DART station, near the cross between Strathmore Rd and Vico Rd, is the supposed location of Bono’s Ireland home. Big double gate on your right (if you are heading north) is to Bono’s mansion. There’s really nothing to see other than big gate and a rock wall, but you never know who might step out the gate. Just before the gate on your right is a stepped walkway that goes down to the beach. The walkway parallels what is thought to be Bono’s estate.
  • There is a little cafe located just inside when you enter the park (Killiney Hill Road). Good spot to rest for a bit.
  • Leave your bike, or ride it on the tarmac and walk up to the obelisk for a stunning view of the bay. It’s a short walk up but well worth the views.
  • The Tramyard: A popular place kind of back from the main road in Dalkey to have a pint or two. Sometimes they have live music on the weekends and is generally a fun spot to be outdoors if the sun is shining.
  • Finnegan’s Pub: If a nice day a great spot to have a pint outdoors or inside. Good selection of whiskeys. They offer a pub-type lunch. This is reportedly Bono’s “local” and a firm favorite among the locals. Great people watching. Can get very crowded on sunny days.
  • Colliemore Harbor: Beautiful little harbor where the locals fish and swim.

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