Ard-na-Gréine is a leafy Irish housing estate about seven miles from the centre of Dublin City - the capital city of the Republic of Ireland.

Ard-na-Greine Residents association has been in existence almost since the estate was built back in 1973. It is a vibrant collection of neighbours with a strong commitment to looking after the environment in positive and practical ways. There are regular formal committee meetings but the emphasis tends to be less on words than actions that will improve the neighbourhood.

The motto is "think globally, act locally" and if there is graffiti to be dealt with, litter to be cleared or green areas to be looked after then members of the Association are empowered to take action as individuals or as groups of individuals. The underlying belief is that if the area looks cared for it will be safer as well as more beautiful. Also, it's a way of getting to know your neighbours.

This blog focuses on the history of Ard-na-Gréine and how it has changed over the years.

If you would like to know more about Ard-na-Gréine Residents Association then just drop us a line at ardnagreineblog@gmail.com We will be delighted to hear from you.

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).