R105 road

R105 road
Eric Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Country	IRL
Route	105
Length km	17
Terminus a	Dublin
Terminus b	Howth

R105 road

The R105 road is a regional road in Ireland connecting central Dublin to the coastal suburb of Howth on the Howth Head peninsula. It serves as a principal suburban arterial through northern Dublin Bay suburbs including Drumcondra, Fairview, Clontarf, Killester, Artane, Raheny and Balcurris before reaching Howth harbour. The route links with national and regional routes, facilitating access to maritime services at Howth Harbour and recreational destinations such as Howth Summit and the Baily Lighthouse.

Route description

The route begins near Dublin City Centre at a junction with major radial routes adjacent to O'Connell Street and proceeds northward via Drumcondra Road, skirting landmarks such as Croke Park and the River Tolka estuary. It continues northeast along coastal corridors including Clontarf Road and Seafield Road passing the Bull Island causeway and the North Bull Island conservation area. Further east the road traverses suburban centres including Killester Road and Howth Road, intersecting with commuter rail stations on the DART network at Bayside, Raheny railway station and Howth railway station, before terminating at the harbour near Howth Castle and the Baily Lighthouse visitor area.

History

The corridor follows older coastal and commuter thoroughfares that developed during the expansion of Dublin in the 19th and 20th centuries, paralleling the growth of suburban railways by companies later amalgamated into Great Southern Railways and nationalised under Córas Iompair Éireann. Sections adjacent to Bull Island were affected by 19th-century engineering projects associated with the North Wall and the construction of Dublin Bay defences. Post-war suburbanisation and road classification reforms under the Roads Act 1993 formalised the current regional designation, while local authority improvements in the 1990s and 2000s addressed capacity and streetscape near conservation areas such as Clontarf and the environs of Howth Castle.

Junctions and landmarks

Key junctions include intersections with radial and orbital routes feeding Dublin Port, such as connections near Eden Quay, links with the M50 motorway via distributor roads, and junctions serving the Portmarnock and Baldoyle corridors. Notable landmarks along the route encompass sporting and cultural sites like Croke Park and neighbourhoods with heritage assets such as Clontarf Golf Club, the Martello Tower defenses, and the maritime Howth Harbour with its pier, fish market and ferry services to Ireland's Eye. The road provides access to ecological and recreational points like North Bull Island, the East Pier (Howth), and historic estates including Howth Castle and the demesne gardens.

Public transport and cycling

The R105 corridor is paralleled and intersected by commuter rail services on the DART and suburban rail, with high-frequency stops at Bayside, Raheny railway station, Harmonstown, and Howth railway station supporting multimodal journeys to Connolly Station and Dublin Connolly. Several Dublin Bus routes operate along sections of the road, providing links to Heuston Station and suburban termini. Local authorities have implemented segregated and advisory cycle lanes connecting to the Dublin Bay Cycle Route and greenway initiatives that interface with the Royal Canal and coastal cycling networks, promoting active travel to destinations such as Howth Summit and nature reserves on Bull Island.

Traffic and safety

Traffic volumes vary from high urban flows near Dublin City Centre to seasonal peaks driven by tourism at Howth Harbour and recreational sites on weekends and summer months. The corridor has seen targeted road-safety measures including pedestrian upgrades near schools and parks, junction signalisation projects at busy intersections, and speed management schemes informed by assessments from An Garda Síochána and local traffic engineering units. Collision hotspots have been identified at several junctions linking with radial routes and near popular pedestrian access points to maritime attractions, prompting community-led campaigns and municipal interventions to improve signage and crossing facilities.

Future developments

Planned interventions include streetscape and cycling enhancements coordinated by Dublin City Council and adjacent municipal authorities under regional transport strategies linked to the National Transport Authority modal-shift objectives. Proposals envisage further integration with rail improvements promoted by Iarnród Éireann, expansion of active-travel corridors connecting to the Dublin Bay Biosphere initiatives, and targeted junction upgrades to ease access to Dublin Port and ferry services. Environmental assessments and heritage reviews will inform any interventions near protected sites such as Howth Head and North Bull Island, ensuring compliance with conservation designations and tourism management frameworks.

Category:Regional roads in the Republic of Ireland Category:Roads in County Dublin