Dublin 8 named ’15th coolest neighbourhood in the world’

Dublin 8 has been voted the 15^th coolest neighbourhood in the world by Time Out magazine.  

Stretching from Kilmainham, through Inchicore and Islandbridge all the way to the Liberties and Portobello, the Dublin district has been placed ahead of popular areas in Amsterdam, Shanghai and Sydney in the rankings.  

“Dublin 8 captures the essence and charm of the Irish capital to a tee,” says Time out magazine. “The neighbourhood brims with vintage and bric-à-brac shops, street art, markets, homey cafés.” 

“I’m not surprised at that,” Con McEnnis of Portobello told The Liberty. “It is a cool, scenic spot for walking during the day and at night it’s a great spot to hangout and have a drink by the canal. 

“In the Portobello area alone there is a great selection for pubs, coffee shops and places to eat. It’s definitely the coolest spot in Dublin,” McEnnis added. 

On the popular Newstalk radio show The Hard Shoulder, host Kieran Cuddihy and reporter Emma Tyrell, residents spoke about the quirkiness of the area, reminding listeners that Dublin 8 even includes the luxurious green space of the Phoenix Park.  

“Dublin 8 captures the essence and charm of the Irish capital to a tee.”

TIME OUt Magazine

“The Time Out piece captures some of the good things of Dublin 8, but misses the fact it’s more than just a tourist destination,” local Green Party TD Patrick Costello told The Liberty. “It’s a deep-seated community with close ties, but a community under pressure from excessive amounts of unaffordable purpose-built student accommodation, from too many hotels, from a lack of affordable housing for residents.”

Time Out is a global magazine founded as an event guide in London in 1968, now claiming a circulation of 7.4 million. The readership of the magazine extends to 328 cities in 58 countries internationally, says timeout.com. 

Costello says touristic kudos are not enough for Dublin 8. “It’s critical that everyone engages with the Dublin City Council developments plan that’s being developed to ensure planning meets the needs of the community, not just tourists.”