Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council
Current PARKS BYE-LAWS (2003)

(from http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Parks/Parksbyelaws.pdf)

Definitions
a. In these Bye-Laws the word Park refers to Blackrock Park, Blackrock; Beach Gardens, Dun Laoghaire; Cabinteely Park; Deerpark, Mount Merrion; Kilbogget Park, Ballybrack; Moran Park, Dun Laoghaire; Marlay Park, Rathfarnham; Shankill Park; the Peoples Park, Dun Laoghaire; Ballawley Park, Dundrum; Crosthwaite Park, Dun Laoghaire; Dillon’s Park, Dalkey; Hyde Park, Dalkey; Killiney Hill Park; Loreto Park, Rathfarnham; Shanganagh Park, Shankill; Sorrento Park, Dalkey; St. Patrick’s Park, Dunedin; Park between Leopardstown Avenue and Torquay Wood; Royal Terrace Park, Dun Laoghaire; Leopardstown Park, off Brewery Road/Leopardstown Oaks/Grove.

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4.   Animals

1. No person shall turn out to graze in the park, or allow or suffer to stray or remain in the park, any cattle, sheep, horse, or other animal without the  consent in writing of the Council.
2. No person shall lead, walk or ride a horse in the park without the written permission of the Council and only then on such routes as may be designated by the Council for this purpose, from time to time.
3. No person shall take into or allow to remain in the park (other than Killiney Hill Park) any dog unless it is on a leash.
4. Every person in charge of a dog in the park shall prevent it from causing annoyance to any person using the park or worrying, chasing, injuring or disturbing any animals, birds or other creatures in the park.
5. Every person bringing a dog into the park shall be responsible for its conduct and shall be liable for any damage or injury which may be caused by it. Any person bringing a dog into the park must remove it from the park if so directed by an authorised employee of the Council.
6. If a dog defecates in the park, the person in charge of the dog shall remove the faeces and deposit it in a litter bin or other receptacle which may be designated for this purpose. Guide dogs for the blind are exempt from this bye-law.
7. A person shall not cause or allow any dangerous dog, as defined in the Control of Dogs (Restriction of certain dogs) Regulations, 1991 or any subsequent amending Regulations or Act, in their charge to enter or remain in the park unless such dog is kept muzzled and no person shall, in any portion of the park where a notice prohibiting the admission of dogs is exhibited, cause or allow any dog in their charge to enter or remain there.

Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council
Current BEACH BYE-LAWS (2009)

(from http://www.dlrcoco.ie/aboutus/publicationsandleaflets/beachbyelaws2009/)

Definitions
Bye Laws Governing Beaches at Booterstown, Blackrock, Seapoint, Sandycove, Forty Foot, The Ramparts/Hawk Cliff, White Rock, Killiney & Corbawn Lane and other designated areas along the coastline of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown in the County of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown

BYE LAWS MADE BY
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in the exercise of its powers conferred under Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001; the Local Government Act 2001 (Bye-Laws) Regulations 2006; the Maritime Safety Act 2005; the Control of Horses Act 1996; Litter Pollution Acts 2003; Control of Dogs Act 1986 as amended; the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts 1878-1964; the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 as amended, the Casual Trading Act 1995, Bye Laws made regarding the Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place 2003, and such other enactments, hereby makes in the interests of the common good, the following Bye Laws for the purposes of regulating the use of beaches adjoining and within the functional area of the County of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.

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11.   Animals

1. No person shall take or allow to enter on a beach any animal which is under their ownership or control, during the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 pm June to September inclusive.
2. Without prejudice to i. above, a Person in charge of a dog shall at all times ensure the following
   1. it is on a leash and under adequate control;
   2. it is not causing annoyance to any person using the beach or worrying, chasing, injuring or disturbing any animals, birds or other creatures on the beach;
   3. its faeces is removed and deposited in a litterbin or other receptacle, which may be designated for this purpose.
3. This Bye-Law shall not apply to guide dogs for the blind.
4. Persons bringing any animal onto the beach shall be responsible and liable for any damage, injury to property or persons which may be caused by it.
5. Persons in charge of specified classes of dogs must ensure that they comply with the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and the 1992 Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act and the Statutory Instruments S.I. No. 442 of 1998 Control of Dogs Regulations.

Where can you walk your dog off leash?

This is the sign (which appeared in about March 2011) that launched a thousand⁺ protests!

• On Killiney Hill. The proposed review of this park as a ‘designated off-leash area’ has been postponed by DLR County Council for the moment . . . All interested parties need to keep an eye on this situation.
• On a 300-metre stretch (328 yards) of Killiney Beach, which is over 1 mile long. This area has been allocated by DLR Council on a trial basis only (since August 2011) and was achieved through the Dogs Unleashed campaign. See map
• In 4 designated dog pens in DLR public parks – Marlay, Deerpark, Cabinteely and Shanganagh. Maps below show extent of park outlined in BLUE and approx. size of dog pen in RED. As dog walkers, we have to ask our Council – Is this proportionate? Is this fair? We think the illustrations speak for themselves . . .

Despite the statement in DLR’s 2010 Open Space Strategy document, ‘We also want to ensure that dog owners, who are valuable users of our parks, will continue to have a varied choice of open spaces, close to their home for dogs to socialise and exercise’ – the Council has not provided dog walkers with a ‘varied choice of open spaces’ in which to exercise healthy and well-adjusted dogs. Dogs pens are a welcome additional facility, but are not adequate as the only facility. See forthcoming ‘News’ article on the ‘Pros and cons of dog pens’, which will be compiled through YOUR input (so send us your thoughts now).

Marlay Park (.pdf file)

Shanganagh Park (.pdf file)

Cabinteely Park (.pdf file)

Deerpark (.pdf file)