In 1942, the quarry's first recorded climbs were made by members of the Irish Mountaineering Club (IMC), and a handwritten guidebook was published.
These were the first steps in the development of rock climbing in Ireland; many of those first climbing routes remain in use by today's climbers.

Throughout the following decades, clearing of vegetation and loose rock by an increasing number of climbers uncovered more climbing routes, and improvements in climbing techniques and equipment increased grades.
The latest guidebook, published in 2005, lists about 300 routes, at grades up to E7.
The online guidebook contains over 350 routes with grades to E8 6c, Indecent Assult.
The number and density of routes in Dalkey Quarry is high given the size of the quarry (e.g. Fair Head's 5 kilometre-long cliff has circa 450 routes, and Ailladie's 1 kilometre-long cliff has circa 200 routes), however, it is due to its position as the most accessible outdoor rock climbing area for the entire city of Dublin.
 
Dalkey quarry routes are almost all single-pitch, between 10m and 35m in length.
Routes vary in nature, with steep finger-cracks and bare slabs featuring prominently.
Being granite (with some bands of quartz), friction is usually good, but being quarried, not as good as fully weathered granite.
Protection varies but is generally good; in accordance with local ethics, there are no bolts on any climbs in the quarry, and the few remaining pitons are rarely replaced when they break.
In 1942, the quarry's first recorded climbs were made by members of the Irish Mountaineering Club (IMC), and a handwritten guidebook was published. These were the first steps in the development of rock climbing in Ireland; many of those first climbing routes remain in use by today's climbers.
Throughout the following decades, clearing of vegetation and loose rock by an increasing number of climbers uncovered more climbing routes, and improvements in climbing techniques and equipment increased grades. The latest guidebook, published in 2005, lists about 300 routes, at grades up to E7. The online guidebook contains over 350 routes with grades to E8 6c, Indecent Assult. The number and density of routes in Dalkey Quarry is high given the size of the quarry (e.g. Fair Head's 5 kilometre-long cliff has circa 450 routes, and Ailladie's 1 kilometre-long cliff has circa 200 routes), however, it is due to its position as the most accessible outdoor rock climbing area for the entire city of Dublin.  
Dalkey quarry routes are almost all single-pitch, between 10m and 35m in length. Routes vary in nature, with steep finger-cracks and bare slabs featuring prominently. Being granite (with some bands of quartz), friction is usually good, but being quarried, not as good as fully weathered granite. Protection varies but is generally good; in accordance with local ethics, there are no bolts on any climbs in the quarry, and the few remaining pitons are rarely replaced when they break.
Dalkey Quarry