Dublin City Council (DCC) has today launched a four-week public consultation on the future of George’s Dock, the long-vacant site in the heart of the Dublin Docklands once slated for a controversial white-water rafting facility.
Running until 14 November, the consultation invites residents, community groups, and businesses to share their ideas for how the site should be used. Options floated over the years have included a lido-style outdoor swimming pool, an events space, and water-based or cultural attractions — but none have made it past the drawing board.
Now, the council says it's ready to listen again — but it won’t be paying.
In a report shared with councillors, the council’s Docklands Manager Shelly O’Riordan outlined the city’s approach:
“Transfer the risk to the market or economic operator to ensure the cost remains neutral for the City Council.”
In other words, whatever gets built at George’s Dock will need private backing, not public funding.
This position was reiterated by DCC Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare, who said:
“We’ve got to assess [proposals] in terms of viability. The city council doesn’t have an endless pot of money.”
With significant capital projects already underway — including the redevelopment of the fruit and vegetable market and the new Parnell Square library — Shakespeare said the council must “proceed carefully” with George’s Dock.
Green Party Councillor Janet Horner expressed concern that outsourcing the site to private operators could make it inaccessible to locals:
“They are fairly fixed on the idea, as far as I can see, on a private venture in this space,” she said.
“I think it’s closing it off at the outset to not look at public uses for the site. We should at least be exploring what they could be.”
Despite financial constraints, some councillors — including Lord Mayor Ray McAdam — still support the idea of turning the dock into a lido, or open-air swimming pool. That proposal is still part of the current Dublin City Development Plan, though it may change depending on public feedback.
“I’m interested in Dubliners’ ideas,” McAdam said.
“It’s important to hear what people have to say.”
Earlier this year, McAdam and other city officials visited the Allas Sea Pool in Helsinki, a waterfront lido that includes outdoor pools, saunas, an event space, rooftop bar, and restaurants — all within a site the same size as George’s Dock.
“There is a lot of merit to it,” said McAdam.
The real estate company behind the Helsinki pool, Nordic Urban, confirmed that DCC officials visited the Finnish site “as part of their fact-finding process.”
“We consider Dublin to be a wonderful city which would greatly benefit from a year-round lido such as Allas Pool,” said CEO Raoul Grünstein.
“We expect the city to make a policy decision on the continuation of the process at a later date.”
The company is currently looking to expand internationally, with new pools planned for Cardiff and other cities, according to its website.
In its announcement, DCC listed several potential themes for the site’s future, including:
Cultural events
Water-based activities
Nature-inspired features
Recreational spaces
Public amenities
Lord Mayor McAdam called George’s Dock a “cornerstone” of the Docklands and encouraged broad participation in the consultation:
“This is a chance to reimagine the space as a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable destination for all,” he said.
“Whether through culture, recreation, nature, or water-based activities, our goal is to reflect the spirit of a modern Dublin—dynamic, connected, and welcoming.”
“Together, we can shape a vision for George’s Dock and create a space that future generations will cherish.”
Originally constructed in 1821 and named after King George IV, George’s Dock was once a vital part of the Custom House Docks. It sits near heritage landmarks like the CHQ Building and The Custom House.
Conservation and repair work is due to begin next month, expected to last around four months. The site was also affected by a major fire in August, which damaged a nearby bridge and disrupted Luas Red Line services. The damaged structure is now set for demolition and replacement.
The public consultation on George’s Dock is open until 14 November 2025. You can submit ideas, proposals, and feedback through the Dublin City Council’s consultation portal, which is linked here.
Whether it's a lido, cultural venue, nature retreat or hybrid space, the future of George’s Dock is now back on the table — but Dubliners will need to speak up to help shape it.
