Our mission
Dodder Action is an umbrella group of volunteers who want to maximise the potential of the River Dodder as an amenity for the people of Dublin.
News, upcoming events and activities
Who we are
We organise working groups to go out and clean the river banks with equipment from Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Dublin South County Council.
We partner with UCD's Citizen Science projects.
We have built a vigilant community along the river to safe-guard this wonderful resource for the enjoyment of the hundreds of walkers, anglers, dog-lovers, naturalists and cyclists who use it every day.
Find out how to volunteer with Dodder Action
About the Dodder River
The river runs some 24 km from its source at Kippure in the Wicklow mountains to the sea at Grand Canal Dock. It flows through communities from Tallaght to Firhouse, Templeogue, Rathfarnham, Dartry, Milltown, Donnybrook, Ballsbridge, Ringsend and Grand Canal Dock.
Its name comes from the Irish word "Dothra" which means turbulent, and that's what the river becomes every time there's very heavy rain. Its powerful torrents once provided energy for industrial mills all along its course. Now, unfortunately, they sweep junk and plastic into the banks and into the trees and vegetation.
What we've achieved
Dodder Action was the winner of the South Dublin County Council Community Sustainability Initiative.
We published Christopher Moriarty's Down the Dodder in eBook format. This is the most comprehensive guide to the Dodder River, from mountains to sea. Free to Dodder Action members.
Monthly volunteer clean ups along the River Dodder
Dodder Monsters Competition
Community of more than 1,400 river custodians, volunteers and followers
Submission on the Dodder Greenway Plan to Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council
Talks on the ecology and conservation of the Dodder River to primary school children
Partnership with UCD Citizen Scientist initiatives
Over to you!
Whether you've two minutes to spare or two days, we would love you to join in protecting the River Dodder.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”