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DUBLIN’S LORD MAYOR has warned that the city is facing a “deeply worrying pattern” of vandalism after a newly installed playground in Coolock was destroyed in an arson attack on Sunday night.
The playground at Oscar Traynor Park, which had only opened in June, was left severely damaged after a fire tore through the site shortly after 9pm on Sunday.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the main frame and slide were completely burned out, with other equipment also scorched. No injuries were reported.
The Kilmore West Playground! I am absolutely FUMING 😡 the only thing for the kids around here, and they Love it. Isn’t it no wonder we don’t get anything? Some dragged up little pricks around here!! 🤬can’t have anything nice in this KIP!!!!!! @DubCityCouncil @OCallaghanCian pic.twitter.com/H9fmFVlFAN
— Amanda Lynch 🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸 (@Ontheboldstep) November 16, 2025
The attack follows a number of recent arson incidents, including a fire at a playground in Castlegate Park in Lucan in September.
A similar incident also occurred at a playground in Sandymount in September.
Dublin Bay South TD James Geoghegan condemned the blaze, estimating the damage at over €100,000.
Newly installed public toilets in St Anne’s Park were also damaged by fire in late October.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam has since condemned the rise in vandalism, and said those responsible were targeting valued public spaces used by children and families.
“Let me be absolutely clear: this is mindless, idiotic criminal behaviour,” McAdam said.
To those responsible I say this: grow up and cop on. You are not impressing anyone.
“It is not ‘a bit of messing’, it is not a prank – it is the deliberate destruction of safe, public spaces that belong to children and families.”
McAdam said he is in contact with senior gardaí and Dublin City Council officials about the recent attacks.
He added that efforts are underway to increase visibility at public sites and to reassure communities, while also ensuring damaged facilities can be made safe and reopened quickly.
Dublin City Council confirmed that the Oscar Traynor Park playground is closed until further notice.
An assessment is underway to determine the extent of the repairs and whether any part of the site can reopen in the short term.
Local Social Democrats councillor Jesslyn Henry said she was “absolutely disgusted” by the incident.
“Councillors have been fighting for this playground for more than a decade, and it was only recently opened. Now it’s destroyed,” she said, adding that local schools had been using the facility “almost daily”.
Chair of Dublin City Council’s North Central area committee, councillor Daryl Barron, said the destruction in Coolock was part of a wider trend of vandalism being carried out by “young delinquents, mindless thugs” seeking online “clickbait”.
He estimated the damage at the Oscar Traynor Park site could reach €100,000 and told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that other new amenities in the area had also been targeted in recent months.
Barron said the council would have to “seriously look” at expanding CCTV at public facilities, and urged gardaí to visit local schools to warn young people directly about what he described as “mindless and absolutely disgusting” behaviour.
“We have to mitigate against this, we have to look at ways and measures to mitigate against this, and I think realistically education is one thing. But also dealing with the CCTV technology is going be very important,” Barron said.
Dublin Bay North TD Barry Heneghan also condemned the recent series of attacks, calling for CCTV and GDPR laws to be updated, saying current rules are “outdated” and complicating enforcement.
Gardaí are investigating the Coolock fire and have appealed for witnesses or footage from the area on Sunday night.
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