December 2017

Contact us:

Man and the Biosphere Programme

Biosphere Reserve since 2015
Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay Biosphere Partnership member organisations

www.dublinbaybiosphere.ie
Dublin Bay

Things to do
Discovery

biosphere@dublincity.ie

United Nations
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Cultural Organization
Popular activities for both local people
and visitors within Dublin Bay Biosphere @dublinbaybiosphere
include walking and hiking, swimming,
sailing, birdwatching, boat trips, guided @dublinbiosphere
tours, kayaking, kite surfing, windsurfing,
stand up paddle boarding, cycling, golf and
photography. Dublin Bay has several attractive
and historical coastal villages, including Dalkey,

Have Your Say

Dun Laoghaire and Howth, where you can dine
Centre
on delicious seafood and other local produce.
This leaflet is printed on FSC certified paper using
vegetable-based inks.
UNESCO Images courtesy of Tim Carey, Jason Clarke, Dublin City
Council staff, Dublin Port Company, Filte Ireland, Justin
Ivory, Maria Long, Richard Nairn, Pure Magic, Clowie
Russell, Clive Timmons and Anthony Woods.
UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre

UNESCO
Dublin Bay
Discovery Centre
- Bull Island

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the

importance of Dublin Bay by
designating North Bull Island as a
Biosphere because of its rare and
internationally important habitats
and species of wildlife. The Biosphere
was expanded in 2015 and now
covers Dublin Bay, from Killiney Hill
to Baldoyle Bay and Howth Head,
thereby reflecting the significant
environmental, economic, cultural and
tourism importance of the Bay.
UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre

Biospheres, so designated by UNESCO, are places where

nature and culture connect. They are internationally
recognised for their biological diversity yet are also
actively managed to promote a balanced relationship
between people and nature. Dublin Bay is a part of a
UNESCO worldwide network of over 600 designated
biospheres.

Dublin City Council is planning an exciting new visitor

interpretative facility at Bull Island The UNESCO Dublin
Bay Discovery Centre.

What is special about

North Bull Island?
North Bull Island is nestled along the northern edge of
Dublin Bay and is managed as a nature reserve by Dublin
City Council. It is a low-lying sandy spit, with Dollymount
Strand on the seaward side, and salt marsh fringing its
mainland side. Between the Island and the mainland are
intertidal mud and sandflats. The Island is connected at
two locations to the mainland by Causeway Road and the
Wooden Bridge.

The location of North Bull Island in such close proximity

to the capital City makes it a unique public amenity.
The Island is used daily by walkers, bathers, kite-
surfers, beachgoers, bird-watchers, nature enthusiasts,
and many others. There is a long history of citizen
engagement on the Island, and it has been viewed with
affection and as a precious place to both enjoy and
protect by the local and wider community for many
years. In addition, the proximity of the Island to schools
and universities make it an important outdoor classroom
and study site.

The Island supports a significant number of

internationally important habitats, a range of protected
fauna including overwintering wildfowl and wading birds
including Brent Goose, Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed
Godwit, and fourteen other species which regularly
occur in nationally important numbers including
Shelduck, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Oystercatcher.

What is the Discovery
Centre?
The UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre will play a vital
role in the understanding, interpretation and protection
of this national resource. A review of similar wetland
centres in Ireland and abroad identifies the benefits
these centres have brought to their respective sites in
terms of: management of site access and human impacts,
increased public awareness, increased recreational value
and ultimately enhanced protection and conservation.
Where will it be located?
A number of locations for the sighting of the Discovery
Centre were examined in detail as part of a feasibility
study, commissioned by Dublin City Council, against
a range of environmental criteria. The site considered
most appropriate following this analysis is an area of
former landfill at the junction of the causeway and
the island on a parcel of land that is amenity grassland
unrelated to the fauna for which the Bull Island is
designated.
UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre
Section Diagram along
the causeway
What is the purpose the
Discovery Centre?
The centre will tell the story of the evolution of the Bull
Island and Dublin Bay, demonstrating the dynamics
of the natural processes and eco systems which make
North Bull Island and Dublin Bay such a special place. The
concept of the Discovery Centre is strongly focused on
providing a range of views of the landscape. As the visitor
goes through the Discovery Centre the entire island
becomes visible. The centre will explore through exciting
exhibits, interactive displays and guide engagement the
islands history, flora and fauna. The Discovery Centre
will include a research centre, an education wing, an
exhibition/event space, auditorium, caf and restaurant,
and retail space.
There will be a strong emphasis within the Discovery
Centre on Learning from Seeing, different viewing
points will make the entire island and bay visible, linking
all of the themes of the Bull Island together.
UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre
What will the Discovery
Centre look like?
Due to the nature of the site and the delicate context
of flora and fauna, the concept for the design is to have
a minimal footprint, creating a gateway effect to the
island and providing exceptional views over the island
and Dublin Bay for visitors. It is intended to appoint a
highly skilled and experienced design team to provide
a building of the highest architectural standard that will
endure, enhancing over time the coastline heritage of
Dublin Bay.
It is an ambition of the project to ensure a
comprehensive design approach towards sustainability,
excelling in environmental performance both during
construction and performance of the Discovery Centre.
Strategies will be evaluated to achieve a full net-zero
energy / CO2-balance for the centre and its operation.
What Happens Next?
Over the coming months, Dublin City Council will
further develop the design for the centre through
the appointment and management of an integrated
design and planning team. In tandem with this process
of design development, Dublin City Council will begin
the process required to gain planning permission for
the construction of the Discovery Centre. Throughout
these processes we will consult widely with all interested
parties.
Concept Design for the Discovery Centre
Dublin City Council intends entering into discussions
with a range of other bodies (including philanthropic
organisations) to co-fund the project with construction
costs estimated at 10 million. The Discovery Centre
will operate as a cost-effective centre responsible
for its own financial sustainability, working to a strict
budget and with a commitment to achieve targets for
educational programming, community outreach and
conservation.
Other benefits
The Discovery Centre will compliment existing tourist
and visitor attractions in the region, while acting as a focal
point for a range of associated activities around Dublin
Bay. It will be promoted in association with attractions
such as St. Annes Park, Howth, Malahide, Marino etc. The
Centre will keep visitors in the area for a longer period
of time, providing local business with other commercial
opportunities.
The Discovery Centre will add significant facilities to the
locale, including exhibition/interpretation education
and research opportunities and a multi-use event space.
In addition it will provide essential support services and
facilities to the existing programme of events within the
UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere.
The Discovery Centre will support Dublins appeal to both
international and national cultural tourism, which supports
Filte Irelands strategy to support Dublin A Breath of
Fresh Air.
 on delicious seafood and other local produce.
Dun Laoghaire and Howth, where you can dine
and historical coastal villages, including Dalkey,
photography. Dublin Bay has several attractive
stand up paddle boarding, cycling, golf and
tours, kayaking, kite surfing, windsurfing,
sailing, birdwatching, boat trips, guided
include walking and hiking, swimming,
and visitors within Dublin Bay Biosphere
Popular activities for both local people

Things to do
What are your views?
Dublin City Council are now seeking engagement and views from the public to inform the proposal in advance of
design development and lodgement of a planning application

We would like to know:

What are your views on the project?

What do you think of the proposal?

Is there anything else the proposal

Russell, Clive Timmons and Anthony Woods.
Ivory, Maria Long, Richard Nairn, Pure Magic, Clowie
Council staff, Dublin Port Company, Filte Ireland, Justin
Images courtesy of Tim Carey, Jason Clarke, Dublin City

should include?
All feedback received will be reviewed by the Project Team and used to inform the next phase of the project. There will
be ongoing public engagement prior to commencement of statutory consultation which could begin in Spring 2018.

It is intended to lodge a planning application in Autumn 2018.

Please send your submissions to the

UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre by email
to parks@dublincity.ie.

Or by post to

UNESCO Dublin Bay Discovery Centre,

Culture, Recreation & Economic Services Department,
vegetable-based inks.
This leaflet is printed on FSC certified paper using

www.dublinbaybiosphere.ie

Contact us:

Dublin City Council,

Ground Floor Block 4,
@dublinbiosphere

@dublinbaybiosphere

biosphere@dublincity.ie

Civic Offices, Wood Quay,

Dublin 8.
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designed by

designed by

United Nations Dublin Bay

Educational, Scientic and Biosphere Reserve since 2015
Cultural Organization Man and the Biosphere Programme