Portland Row pitch saved as An Coimisiún Pleanála rejects housing plan

An Coimisiún Pleanála has rejected the controversial housing plan at Portland Row as the loss of 'The Strand' pitch goes against Dublin City Council's development plan

Comments News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 11:50, 31 Jul 2026 Updated 11:50, 31 Jul 2026 View Image Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald and Councillor Janice Boylan celebrate An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision on the Portland Row pitch in a social media video

An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused planning permission for a housing development on ‘The Strand' pitch at Portland Row.

Plans for Tuath Housing to build 49 units at the iconic Multi-Use Games Area saw major pushback from the local community, representatives, and sports stars like Troy Parrott and Kellie Harrington . Dublin City Council had approved the development last December, but a public appeal refused to quieten and parties involved were notified of its refusal yesterday.

It is understood the decision was that the proposal contradicted the council’s development plan, which seeks to project and develop existing sporting facilities. North Inner City councillors were vocal about the important role the pitch played in the community, which stands out as a space where some of Ireland's greatest sports stars spent their formative years.

Sinn Féin Cllr Janice Boylan said that saving the pitch represents what can be achieved when the community “really comes together”. “We made a conscious choice that we shouldn't be boxed into a situation where we are made to choose between much-needed housing or losing our amenities,” she said.

She believes serious action is needed to tackle the housing crisis and that those in the area are happy to see housing plans approved, but “we are already screaming out for facilities throughout the North Inner City”. Cllr Boylan refuted any suggestion that those opposing the plans were against housing or had a “not in my backyard” mentality.

“This community fully supports housing in their community, but they support housing that comes with developing a community, which brings a community together. And you cannot bring a community together if you don't have facilities for the children that you are hoping to bring into these new homes once they are built.” she said.

The fact that An Coimisiún Pleanála rejected the plan highlights just how essential the Portland Row pitch is to the area's young people according to Cllr Boylan. In the midst of a housing crisis she said people will be more inclined to support any plans that deliver housing, but that this development strayed from the original plan, which was first just going to include the depot next to the pitch.

“It was only supposed to be the depot site, and then all of a sudden, the playing pitch was being taken into the boundary which was widened to incorporate it. That is when people, myself, the residents, and Kellie came together and said, 'This is not good enough’,” she said.

" Dublin City Council need to now start realising that when they are going out to consult with communities, when they are going out to build the much-needed homes that we need because we are still in the middle of a housing crisis, that they need to take on board, first and foremost, that communities will make their voices very, very loud if they feel like they are losing the small bit of resources that they already have.

“We need to be developing plans that incorporate designs that plan for the future, that future-proof the area so that we have the facilities that children and teenagers will need going forward too."

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald described the news as “a huge victory for the local community and for common sense”. She stressed that while there is a great need for housing in Dublin city, it is essential that this is paired with community facilities.

“Communities should never be forced to choose between housing and spaces like this in Portland Row for our young people to play. This pitch is very important for the young people of the local area. It is a place where they can play safely, enjoy games, develop their sports skills and make friends,” she said.

“It’s a place where young people from the area grow up together, and that is everything. Now that the pitch is saved we need to see a plan from Dublin City Council to develop it to its full potential for generations of children from this community.

“This has been a huge community effort to save the pitch and I want to thank everyone involved, particularly local boxing hero Kellie Harrington. All of this shows the power of people coming together standing up for their communities.”

Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington's consistent campaigning to save the pitch ensured the appeal received national attention. She previously spoke on LiveLine about how it was where she first learned to play with friends and was introduced to “other people playing sports while myself and my friends played on the side-lines”.

She said this was the place where “neighbours became role models”. “There’s buildings going up everywhere and space is being taken away day-by-day, we’re losing out. Those kids are going to end up hanging around on street corners, getting in trouble, and getting arrested by the guards. Once that happens you can’t get out, it’s a vicious cycle,” Harrington said.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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