Meanwhile the "play area" and the entrances leading to it continued to attract antisocial behaviour and provide escape routes for wrongdoers. The rights of way were eventually extinguished after due legal process thanks to the efforts of the Residents' Association, the residents themselves, and also the support of local councillors. It was a difficult process completed with little assistance from officialdom and the support of local councillors was critical to its success.

One good thing that emerged from membership of Dublin City Community Forum was that it enabled Ard-na-Gréine's representative to access a wide range of publications on the subject of antisocial behaviour - a problem that had become of great concern on the estate. Illustrated above is one specially valuable work on the subject which proved to be a very helpful source at what was a particularly problematic time.

This was a lovely cheerful occasion and it highlighted the importance of having a President who was not afraid to get out and mix with people. Of course there was a measure of formality but it was kept to a minimum and the visit left a great feeling of goodwill,

Photo of Social Cluster Meeting ( a Dublin City Community Forum group) attended by representative of Ard-na-Gréine Residents Association (who took this photo before meeting commenced).

One of the many clean-ups organised by Ard-na-Gréine Residents' Association.

The "play area" continued to present problems and remained a centre for antisocial behaviour that impacted on the rest of the estate.

By 2008 remarkable progress had been made and the school and its surroundings looked a lot more attractive.

Looking at a photograph like this one of the local school in 1981 it is not difficult to understand why people in Ard-na-Gréine saw merit in having an active and well organised residents' association. Nonetheless some residents felt it was time to move elsewhere. Those who remained had a long battle to face.

While it was eventually removed the phonebox on Blunden Drive remained a focus for vandalism for a number of years.

Through the eighties and nineties antisocial behaviour became a significant problem and this telephone box was repeatedly singled out for attack.

 

Perhaps you have memories of being in this Scout Unit?

Where children chose to play was near their own houses and not in the designated play area.

It was intended as a play area and looked well in the plans - the reality was very different.

A lot has changed in Ard-na-Greine since this bleak afternoon in 1977 when Blunden Drive was treeless and without public lighting.

Advertising booklet for houses in Ard-na-Gréine - printed circa 1972. A not unusual sales pitch for the time was directed at former city dwellers: "...you live in fresh country peace and quiet". While no longer bordered by farmland to the north, Ard-na-Gréine is indeed a quiet suburb.