Its illegal to drive on footpaths, cycle paths and park on grass verges, but after one resident made countless calls to the Garda and emails to the South Dublin County Council, little has changed outside sports pitches on the Firhouse Road in Dublin.In many cases in images and videos provided to IrishCycle.com, a number of offences are apparently committed, including parking on grass verges, which can result in an 80 fine; driving on footpaths and cycle tracks, which comes with one penalty point and a 60 fine if paid within 28 days; and, in some cases, parking dangerously, which attracts three penalty points and a 80 fine if paid within 28 days. The offence of parking dangerously could include blocking the line of sight of road users entering and exiting side roads or otherwise obstructing other road users in a way that could cause extra danger.Eamonn OBrien, who uses the cycle paths on the road, said the illegal driving and parking centres around matches at Ballyboden St Endas GAA club and the council-owned Cherryfield pitches. OBrien said: The parking and driving is a high-risk safety concern during sports events, notably at the lead-up to some games and when games are finishing. Events, both sporting and social, staged in both Pairc UI Mhurchu and Cherryfield pitches in the park opposite, are the main issue. Vehicles park on both sides of the cycle lane, which doubles the risk of an accident.IMAGES: Examples of the illegal parking with one visible reg blocked out to protect the member of the public who took the photos. I have encountered on several occasions cars accessing the ramp at the entrance to Cremorne estate, mounting footpaths and cycle lanes to park on the grass areas on both sides of the junction. I have witnessed, at the end of matches, cars reversing from grass areas onto the cycle lane, to drive along the cycle lane to get out onto the road, he said.OBrien said some motorists have acted aggressively when hes tried to gather evidence of this long-term problem, which has gotten worse since the cycle route was upgraded as part of the Dodder Greenway project.I have been challenged by drivers when I took video and photo footage of the parking. I have been told to F off and get a life. I have been told to F off, I am here with my daughter by a home fan. I have been told to delete my vehicles photo off your phone, pal, he said.He said that before the Dodder Greenway project, it took several years for the council to act, but the bollards were not replaced post recent road upgrades, allowing for Free access now to park vehicles where they want.OBrien said: I have witnessed cars accessing the cycle lane within proximity to the pedestrian lights outside GAA club to park partially on cycle lane and fully on grass areas. This occurs from the junction at Cremorne up to the pedestrian lights / main entrance to the GAA club.He said motorists parked the same way at the Green Acre Court junction, west of the GAA club entrance, but South Dublin County Council recently installed new bollards that have proven successful there.OBrien said: I had sent several communications to the local authority over a few years about this and action was taken to finally put in the bollards, possibly with some enforcement input. However, recent communications with the local authority about current parking behaviours within the vicinity of Cremorne were met with a response that stated this is an enforcement issue and outside the remit of the local authority.He describes enforcement as having a very weak impact. He said: I have continued to ring the local Garda station on the day of the incidents, usually rerouted my call to emergency services who instigate a call-out at some stage, and I rarely see a police car on the scene.OBrien said contact with the community Garda has, again, little or no impact, and generally There appears to be a relaxed approach to his parking and driving safety concerns once vehicles are not blocking or obstructing a carriageway or residential entrances. He said the GAA club continues to send out communications to visitors to park appropriately, but that has not helped.A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said they are aware of vehicles parking on the grass verge adjacent to Ballyboden GAA Club during busy match and event times.To help address the problem, the council installed bollards in June 2026 at the junction of Green Acre and Firhouse Road to restrict vehicle access to the grassed area and discourage illegal parking on the verge. The council will continue to monitor the location and assess whether any additional measures may be required, the councils spokesperson said. The councils spokesperson said: In relation to enforcement, illegal parking on public roads is a matter for An Garda Sochna, which is the statutory enforcement authority. The council will raise the matter with An Garda Sochna and request that enforcement activity be considered during periods when parking issues are known to occur.They added: SDCC remains committed to protecting pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and ensuring that active travel facilities can be used safely and as intended by all road users.A spokesperson at the Garda Press Office said: An Garda Sochna and local Traffic Wardens are tasked with enforcing regulations concerning illegal parking and the unauthorised stopping of vehicles on public roads. Local authorities employ traffic wardens to monitor and address such violations within their jurisdictions.In April 2024, the Garda Commissioner issued a directive to all members to conduct 30 minutes of high-visibility roads policing operations during each tour of duty. This directive remains in place. The primary objective is to increase Garda visibility, which is proven to moderate driver and road user behaviour. Enhanced enforcement all road traffic offences, including parking regulations is a direct benefit of this initiative, the Garda spokesperson said. The spokesperson quoted the Commission on the Future of Policing, which they said highlighted that During some of our public consultations, we encountered a misperception that An Garda Sochna should be policing routine parking violations. This should not be a function of police, but rather of parking wardens employed by local authorities. Police should only need to deal with illegally parked vehicles if they constitute a risk to public safety.The Garda statement, including reference to routine parking violations, was a copy of what was provided to the Leinster Express/Laois Live late last year. In an article published by the newspaper, a mother using a pram explained to the newspaper that, I have to walk onto the road most mornings, and Ive seen elderly people nearly killed stepping out. How is a person in a wheelchair meant to go past that? while pointing to an SUV blocking a footpath.The mother told the newspaper, Ive lived here ten years and its always been like this, making the parking, like that in on the Firhouse Road, both routine and often dangerous too. The Garda spokesperson added: An Garda Sochna remains committed to improving road safety on our roads and examples of enforcement activity and operations related to illegal parking can be found on our social channels, including @gardatraffic #operationenable.