For the first time, visitors and residents in Dublin can explore the city’s Docklands through immersive augmented reality discovery trails. The Dublin Discovery Trails app, created by Peel X and supported by Failté Ireland and Dublin City Council, brings the Docklands’ rich maritime and industrial past to life. Once among the world’s largest dock complexes during the 19th and 20th centuries, the Docklands saw countless ships arrive and depart daily and hosted a bustling community of workers and traders whose lives shaped Dublin’s history.
© Dublin City Council
The app’s inaugural route, Doors into Docklands, offers three curated options: a main route of about 2.5 miles, an extended route just under 3 miles, and an accessible extended route of 3.1 miles. GPS-enabled navigation lets users follow the walking trails at their own pace while discovering the neighbourhood’s stories and landmarks.
Augmented reality characters, portrayed by live actors, guide users through different eras of the Docklands. These immersive figures recount personal stories and historical moments—Captain Bligh describes surveying Dublin Bay in the 19th century, while Maggie Doyle recounts life as a docker’s daughter—creating a vivid blend of past and present as users visit beloved sites and attractions.
© Dublin City Council
Highlights of the trail include animated scenes of Guinness barges on the River Liffey and a recreation of the Crimean Banquet held in the CHQ building. The app also explores the story behind the famine statues along the riverbanks, offers a 360-degree perspective on the 1921 Custom House fires, and depicts port workers operating in the Diving Bell beneath the waterline. These layered experiences give a tangible sense of the Docklands’ social and industrial heritage.
The Dublin Discovery Trails app is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play, enabling both tourists and locals to embark on self-guided, historically rich walking tours through one of Dublin’s most evocative neighbourhoods.