Heading to Dublin city for some Christmas shopping? Then you’ll be glad to know that Dublin City Council have decided that shoppers can avail of free on street parking in the run up to Christmas!

This decision is sure to be welcomed by enthusiastic shoppers heading to Dublin for some pre Christmas shopping. It will come into effect in the major shopping streets of the city centre from 2pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday up until 27th December.

1,380 on-street car parking spaces will be made available in the heart of Dublin’s shopping district. Streets included in the free-parking iniative include: Bolton Street, Dorset Street, Parnell Street, O’Connell Street, Gardiner Street, Eden Quay and Capel Street which are all lo cated north of the River Liffey. On the southside, free parking will be available on streets like; Wellington Quay, Aston Quay, Dame Street, Nassau Street, Augier Street, St. Stephen’s Green, Drury Street, South William Street and Clarendon Street. You can view the Dublin City Council’s free parking zone map for more details.

Another way of knowing whether the street you park on is free or not is by looking at the ‘pay & display’ machines which will provide information.

Shoppers and traders have also welcomed the temporary removal of the “bus gate” at College Green. Until now, cars were banned from passing through College Green between 7-10am in the morning and 4-7pm in the evening. While the morning ban still remains in place, the evening restriction has now been suspended until the 15th January.

Let’s hope that these iniatives will help create a more stress-free experience for shoppers in Dublin this Christmas.