A Guide To Corkagh Park In Dublin

The lovely Corkagh Park (not to be mixed up with Croke Park!) is one of our favourite parks in Dublin.

This is a fine place for a ramble and, thanks to the coffee and tasty treats served up by the Coffee and Donuts truck, you can grab a sip and head for a saunter.

Corkagh Park has been open since 1986 and it boasts 120 glorious acres that are perfect for rambling around.

Below, you’ll find info on everything from parking at Corkagh Park and when it’s open to what to do nearby.

Some quick need-to-knows about Corkagh Park

Although a visit to Corkagh Park in Dublin is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

You’ll find the vast expanse of Corkagh Park out on Dublin’s western fringes and only a few kilometres from the border with County Kildare. It’s around a 30-minute drive from the centre of Dublin along the R810, and there are also a few buses that’ll take you there, including the 13, 68, 69 and the 151.

2. Opening hours

The opening hours for Corkagh Park are as follows (times may change):

• November, December & January: 10.00am–5.00pm
• February & March: 10.00am–6.00pm
• April & October: 10.00am–7.00pm
• May & September: 10.00am–8.00pm
• June, July & August: 10.00am–9.00pm

3. Parking

Corkagh’s main car park is located in the northeast of the park (nearest to the city) and can be found just off the roundabout in-between St John’s Green and St John’s Grove here. There is also a car park in the southwest of the park just off the R136 that provides access to sporting facilities like the cycle track, Adamstown Cricket Club and the National Baseball Facility. 

4. Fishing

Fishing is one of the many activities available at Corkagh and you’ll find the two handy fishing lakes located between the National Baseball Facility and Adamstown Cricket Club. Both are around 4 acres in size and one is a coarse lake, while the other is a trout lake. 

5. Camping

If you want to spend a bit more time in the peaceful climes of Corkagh Park then why not camp? Cormac Valley Caravan and Camping Park offers the chance to do just that and boasts a children’s playground, an all-weather putting green, a shop providing snacks, tea/coffee and ice cream. It’s one of the more popular places to go camping in Dublin for good reason.

About Corkagh Park

Opening to the public in 1986, Corkagh is actually a relatively young park among Dublin’s green spaces. In a previous life, the park was known as Corkagh Demesne and was home to two large houses, although it was probably better known for also being home to a number of gunpowder mills.

Unsurprisingly, explosions were common and a particularly huge explosion in 1787 was heard all the way in Dublin town and destroyed one of the mills completely! Thankfully, things are much quieter now and all 120 acres of the park are free to explore without fear of detonations and suchlike. 

With the River Carmac flowing through it from the northeast, Corkagh Park offers a range of activities and attractions, but there are also plenty of tranquil areas if you just want to come for a peaceful stroll. 

If you’re here on a family visit then definitely try to check out the generously-sized playground. There’s a cafe located just beyond it too, when you’re ready for refreshments. 

For those of a more active mind, there’s loads of space here for cycling, jogging, walking and other sports including cricket, baseball and golf. Also, Ireland’s only purpose-built cycle track is located in Corkagh Park. 

Things to see and do at Corkagh Park

If you’re looking for walks in Dublin, you can’t go wrong with a visit here. Corkagh is a fine spot for a ramble, and there are a couple of trails to choose from.

There’s also a decent cycle track. You can also grab coffee from the Coffee and Donuts truck before you set off.

1. The walk

As you can imagine, there’s a ton of scope here for walking and the Corkagh Walk is a cracking way to stretch your legs and see some of the park’s most beautiful sections. The 4.2 km loop begins in the main car park and heads south along the park’s outer edges before turning west towards the Carmac Valley Camping Park.

The trail then heads north and loops around the western flanks of the fishing lakes, continuing north over the River Carmac before turning west and heading back towards the main car park. The elevation is minimal and is good for walkers of all levels to tackle. 

2. The cycle track

If you’re into your cycling then Corkagh Park will be right up your alley! As Ireland’s only purpose-built cycle track, it’s the brainchild of Mick Lawless from the South Dublin Cycling Club who spent years trying to get the facility built. 

The track is just over 1km of sweeping bends and one nice drag and is available for booking in a minimum of two-hour blocks. That means booking the track gives you sole usage of the facility for the specific time booked.

Things to do near Corkagh Park

One of the reasons that a trip out to Corkagh Park is one of our favourite day trips from Dublin City is due to the endless nearby walks.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Corkagh Park (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. St Catherine’s Park (25-minute drive)

With over 200 acres of woodland and grassland, St. Catherine’s Park is one of the most tranquil settings in Dublin and a lovely spot to come and get away from it all for a while. Straddling the border between County Dublin and County Kildare, it takes around 25 minutes to drive there from Corkagh Park via the R113 and around 30 minutes if you’re cycling (best to take the R136). 

2. Phoenix Park (30-minute drive)

Dominated by the 200ft tall Wellington Monument, Phoenix Park is an enormous space and one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe (the Wellington Monument is also the largest obelisk in Europe!). It’s a 30-minute drive up the M50 then east along the R148. 

3. Kilmainham Gaol (25-minute drive)

Infamous for being the site of incarceration for many Nationalist leaders, Kilmainham Gaol has played a hugely significant and symbolic part in Irish history and the prison is well worth a visit. Lying just south of Phoenix Park, former inmates include Charles Stewart Parnell, Patrick Pearse and Eamon de Valera.

4. Dublin City attractions

Once you’ve had a ramble through the park, reflect on it all over a pint and some food back in the city which will take you no longer than 30 minutes to reach. Drive or hop in a taxi and within no time you’ll be among the life, wit and glorious pubs that make Dublin so alluring. There are endless things to do in Dublin, with something to tickle most fancies.

FAQs about Corkagh Park

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘When is Corkagh Park open?’ to ‘How big is Corkagh Park?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is there much parking at Corkagh Park?

Yes. There are several car parks here and it’s rare, aside from on warm days, that you’ll have hassle getting a space here.

When is Corkagh Park open?

The Corkagh Park opening hours are: Nov, Dec & Jan: 10-17:00. Feb & Mar: 10-18:00. Apr-Oct: 10–19:00. May-Sept: 10–20:00. June, Jul & Aug: 10-21:00.