DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has announced that 26 city streets will close on Sunday 21 September so children can play outside to celebrate the anniversary of ‘Car Free Day’.

The ‘play streets’ in neighbourhoods across the city will be closed to traffic between 1pm and 4 pm.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam said that this initiative will offer Dubliners a chance to “reclaim their streets for play and community”.

The council said that the concept behind the day aims to “revive the childhood experience of street play as a central part of growing up in Ireland”.

Launching the Play Streets Initiative at Harold's Road are Vivien Lennon, Ide Shanagher Hoewer, Aria O'Connell, Eve Heffernan and Isla O'Connell Peter Houlihan : Fennell Photography Peter Houlihan : Fennell Photography

 They added that the connection formed by playing out on the street can have a “profound impact” on children’s wellbeing.

The ‘Play Streets’ will be in Dublin 7, 9, 17, 3, 6, and 8 on the following roads:

Dublin 7

• Annaly Road
• Cabra Drive (Northern & Southern Sections)
• Great Western Villas
• Fontenoy Street
• St Ignatius Road
• Ellesmere Avenue
• Shandon Drive
• Harold Road
• Norfolk Road

Dublin 9

• St Brigid’s Road Lower
• St David’s Terrace

Dublin 17

• Woodlawn Walk

Dublin 3

• Haverty Road
• Melrose Avenue

Dublin 6

• Wasdale Park
• Church Gardens

Dublin 8

• Sandford Avenue
• Donore Road
• Swifts Alley
• Garden Lane
• Margaret Kennedy Road
• Gray Street
• Bulfin Gardens
• Mountshannon Road, Mayfield Road & Maddison Roads
• Warren Street
• Ovoca Road