THE 2024 PHOTO BLOG

GOOGLE MAPS DESCRIBE THIS AS THE 1916 SITE OF THE ROTUNDA RINK

March 16, 2024 by infomatique

BUT ON THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE THE DATE IS 1913

I used a Sigma 14mm lens and unfortunately lens flare can be a problem and this was evident when I photographed this much ignored memorial.

Google Maps describes this as “1916 Site Of Rotunda Rink” but on the copper plaque the date is 1913. Of course the plaque is correct. The Irish Volunteers were indeed founded at the Rotunda Rink in 1913. This is a crucial date in Irish history, marking a pivotal moment in the nationalist movement.

The Rotunda Rink: Birthplace of the Irish Volunteers

Dublin’s Rotunda Rink holds a unique place in Irish history. The site, located within the grounds of the famous Rotunda Hospital, wasn’t merely a skating rink but a pivotal location in the lead-up to the transformative events of Ireland’s early 20th century.

In 1913, tensions were high across Ireland. The prospect of Home Rule (limited self-governance) had brought divisions to the forefront, particularly between those who supported the idea and those vehemently opposed it in the North. Eoin MacNeill, a scholar and Gaelic League leader, recognising the need for a nationalist counterbalance to the newly formed Ulster Volunteer Force, published a seminal article titled “The North Began”. It ignited a wave of support for the creation of an Irish nationalist volunteer force.

On November 25th, 1913, the Rotunda Rink, then the largest hall in Dublin, became the stage for the inaugural public meeting of the Irish Volunteers. Thousands of men, inspired by MacNeill’s call and the prospect of defending Irish interests, crowded into the rink.

The meeting was a resounding affirmation of the nationalist spirit of resistance. Speakers like Arthur Griffith, Tom Kettle, and Sean MacDermott passionately articulated the vision of a self-governing Ireland and the need for an organised force to defend those aspirations.

Legacy

The Rotunda Rink witnessed the birth of a movement that would profoundly change Irish history. The Irish Volunteers, although eventually splitting in the lead-up to World War I, played a crucial role in the Easter Rising of 1916 and the subsequent fight for Irish Independence.

The site of the Rotunda Rink, while no longer standing, retains a powerful symbolism. It serves as a reminder of a pivotal moment when the Irish people took concrete steps towards self-determination – a journey that would bring both struggle and ultimately, the birth of an independent Irish state.

Additional Notes:

The Rotunda Rink was part of the Rotunda Gardens, a pleasure garden attached to the Rotunda Hospital.
Some notable figures like Countess Markievicz and Dr. Kathleen Lynn, both associated with the Easter Rising, worked within the Rotunda Hospital complex.

THE CURRENT STATE OF DORSET STREET FLATS AND ST MARY’S PLACE FLATS

March 16, 2024 by infomatique

FRIDAY 15 MARCH

Anti-social behaviour in certain Dublin public housing flat complexes has been a significant concern

I have lived in the area for about thirty years and were lead to believe that there were plans to revitalise the area and in general there was little or no improvement and in many way things went downhill. Despite everything I like living in the area.

Dorset Street Flats: Dublin city councillors are calling for a review of the timeline to demolish the Dorset Street Flats in the north inner city amid ongoing open drug dealing and anti-social behaviour. The current units have been found to have poor energy efficiency with sub-standard kitchens and bathrooms. There is also a poor site layout that officials say has facilitated anti-social behaviour.

St Mary’s Place Flats: Dublin City Council proposes to redevelop the Dorset Street and St Mary’s Place Flat Complex. The new development would be built around two enclosed courtyards. Enclosed courtyard design is intended as one of the ways to address problems with anti-social behaviour.

As for the City Council’s plans, they have published a Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026. The council is moving away from demolition and plans to renovate and deeply retrofit those flat complexes that need substantial work going forward. The council is assessing all of its 199 flat complexes across the city to work out which ones are most in need of renovation and retrofitting. The council is also undertaking an extensive scheme which involves securing and clearing out all empty units and access to detenanted (I have not encountered this word before) landings.

These measures are expected to help resolve the issues that have a negative impact on the general area. However, the effectiveness of these measures will need to be evaluated over time.

Dominic Street Flats: The vacant Dominic Street Flats and an associated car park are due to be boarded up to prevent “extreme” drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour1. Dublin City Council will secure the walkway and car park along the flat complex on Dominick street Lower following requests from local residents and gardaí. The council hopes stopping access to the site will prevent further anti-social behaviour and protect the public from the adverse effects of the vacant site. To the best of my knowledge this project has been completed.

I checked – “Detenanted”: This word is uncommon but technically correct. It means vacated by tenants. You could substitute “vacated” or “formerly occupied” for clarity.

HOME TO THE FAMOUS CROKE PARK GAA STADIUM

March 15, 2024 by infomatique

JONES’ ROAD IN DUBLIN – 15 MARCH 2024

Jones’ Road in Dublin is a street where sports, history, and a touch of urban legend all intersect. Here’s what makes it noteworthy:

Croke Park – The Heart of It All

GAA Headquarters: Jones’ Road is synonymous with Croke Park, the iconic stadium that serves as the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). This sporting organisation plays a pivotal role in Irish culture, promoting traditional sports like hurling and Gaelic football.

Sporting Spectacle: The stadium, with its capacity of over 80,000, is the epicentre of thrilling matches, electrifying crowds with its unique energy during major finals.
Historical Ground: Croke Park weaves itself deeply into Ireland’s history. Its site witnessed significant events like the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1920, showcasing how sport and national identity intertwine.

How Did Hill 60 Become Hill 16

When Croke Park was first used for Gaelic games, the Railway End of the park was little more than a mound of earth. Its name was originally “Hill 60”. That name came from a hill of the same name in Gallipoli on which the Connaught Rangers suffered heavy casualties in late August 1915. Contrary to common belief, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers did not participate in the Battle of Hill 60, although the latter regiment did lose heavily during the wider Gallipoli campaign (including at ‘V’ Beach, Cape Helles, the previous April).

“Hill 60” was used as a name throughout the 1920s and 1930s, until senior GAA figures decided it would be inappropriate to have a section of Croke Park named after a battle involving an Irish unit of the British Army. So “Hill 60” became Hill 16, a name that would link it instead to 1916, and the story emerged that it had been built from the ruins of Dublin’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street.
The Hill traditionally lags behind the rest of the stadium when it comes to comfort. It was only in 1936, when the Cusack Stand was redeveloped, that the turf and mud of Hill 16 was replaced with concrete terracing.

After the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final between Dublin and Galway, when overcrowding on Hill 16 caused a few supporters to suffer injuries, the GAA decided to rebuild the Hill.[1] That work was completed in 1988, allowing a capacity of 10,000 spectators.

In the mid-1990s, the GAA came up with a masterplan to rebuild the whole stadium. It was envisaged that Hill 16 would be replaced with an all-seater stand; however, this idea met with opposition from supporters of Dublin. Dublin fans have adopted Hill 16 as a spiritual home over the years. On matchdays the hill is often a sea of blue and navy and has been said to be intimidating to opposition players.

Plans were also hindered by the presence of the nearby railway line and the fact that the GAA does not own any of the land behind Croke Park. The plans were redrawn and a new – terraced – area built at a cost of €25 million to replace the old Nally Stand – named after Pat Nally – and Hill 16. The new Railway End, which includes Hill 16 and the Nally terrace, is capable of holding more than 13,000 spectators.

In 2006, the Hill was renamed Dineen Hill 16 in honour of Frank Dineen, who purchased the grounds for the GAA in 1908.

Residential Mix: While Croke Park dominates, Jones’ Road is also a residential street in Dublin’s inner city. It offers a blend of houses, apartments, and some local businesses.

City Access: Its location provides proximity to the city centre, with the added bonus of being slightly removed from the densest crowds and activity.

Bloody Sunday Bridge

This bridge, crosses the Royal Canal, and it connects Russell Street to Jones’s Road and to be honest I did not know that it was named “Bloody Sunday Bridge”. The last time I was in the area I was told that it was Clonliffe Bridge.

Bloody Sunday Bridge, formerly known as Clonliffe Bridge, is a Dublin bridge with a sobering name that commemorates a dark day in Irish history.

Bloody Sunday 1920: The bridge’s name is a direct reference to the tragic event of November 21st, 1920, known as Bloody Sunday. During the Irish War of Independence, British forces opened fire on a crowd at a Gaelic football match taking place in Croke Park. 14 people were killed, including Jerome O’Leary and Patrick Robinson, two young boys shot dead at the bridge.
Remembrance: The renaming of the bridge serves as a permanent reminder of the innocent lives lost on that fateful day, ensuring this sorrowful chapter of Irish history is not forgotten.

Croke Park’s Shadow: Bloody Sunday Bridge lies near Croke Park stadium, crossing the Royal Canal on the route that many GAA fans would take as they approach the stadium.
Constant Reminder: This location near Croke Park is particularly poignant. The bridge is a somber symbol for those attending sporting events, serving as a reminder of the bloodshed that occurred just steps away.

CATHEDRAL STREET WAS ONCE NAMED ELEPHANT LANE

March 13, 2024 by infomatique

AT ONE STAGE IT WAS TYRONE PLACE

Fiction Or Fact: Some 330 years ago, Dublin’s very first Elephant lived on then Elephant Lane, now known as Cathedral Street. The animal used to be brought across the River Liffey to nearby Parliament Street where people would pay to see the animal in a viewing booth. Unfortunately on the 17th of June 1681, the poor beast died when the viewing booth caught fire causing the Elephant to perish.

Cathedral Street is a thoroughfare located in central Dublin, running from O’Connell Street Upper to Marlborough Street.

Formerly known as Elephant Lane and Tyrone Place, this street has a rich history that intertwines with Dublin’s architectural heritage and religious institutions.

Historical Origins

Elephant Lane: On 18th-century maps of Dublin, this street was named Elephant Lane.
The origin of this name is attributed to various theories:
A corruption of Mellifont Lane or Menagerie Lane.
The presence of a tavern with a sign featuring an elephant.

Occupants of Elephant Lane included a plumber, locksmith, job coach establishment, ivory turner, booksellers, and vintners1.

Tyrone Place: In 1870, the street was renamed Tyrone Place due to its proximity to Tyrone House. Tyrone House was a significant landmark, and the street led to it.

Cathedral Street: In 1900, the street was officially renamed Cathedral Street. The historic house Drogheda House, dating from 1751, once stood on the corner of Cathedral Street and O’Connell Street.
The eastern side of the street unfortunately suffered damage during the Easter Rising (1916) and the Irish Civil War (1922).

Religious Significance:

St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral: Situated on the corner of Cathedral and Marlborough Streets, St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral serves as the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. Although Dublin does not possess a Catholic cathedral, St. Mary’s fulfills this role as the pro-cathedral (acting cathedral) for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.

Why Two Church of Ireland Cathedrals?

The presence of two Church of Ireland cathedrals in Dublin (Christ Church and St. Patrick’s) is a legacy of Ireland’s complex religious history. Following the English Reformation in the 16th century, the Church of Ireland, aligned with the Protestant Church of England, took over existing Catholic churches. Christ Church thus became the Anglican cathedral, while St. Patrick’s, founded in the 13th century, also became a Church of Ireland cathedral.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, faced restrictions under British rule. St. Mary’s, initially intended as a temporary solution, became the de facto “pro-cathedral” – a substitute for a true cathedral.

The Legend of Dublin’s First Elephant

Once upon a time, some 330 years ago, in the vibrant city of Dublin, an exotic and majestic creature graced the cobbled lanes. This magnificent being was none other than Dublin’s very first elephant. Let us step back in time to witness this captivating story:

Elephant Lane: Our tale begins on a narrow lane known as Elephant Lane, which later transformed into Cathedral Street. The air buzzed with excitement as curious Dubliners flocked to see this wondrous beast.

The River Liffey Crossing: The elephant was a star attraction, drawing crowds from all walks of life. Its daily routine involved crossing the River Liffey, making its way to Parliament Street on the other side. People eagerly paid to catch a glimpse of this exotic marvel in a specially constructed viewing booth.

Tragedy Strikes: But fate can be cruel. On that fateful day, June 17, 1681, disaster struck. The viewing booth, where the elephant stood, caught fire. Panic ensued as flames engulfed the structure, and the poor beast was trapped. Despite desperate efforts to save it, the elephant succumbed to the inferno.

A Legacy Remembered; The memory of Dublin’s first elephant lives on, etched into the annals of the city’s history. The tragedy of that fiery day remains a poignant reminder of both wonder and loss.

This tale of Dublin’s gentle giant continues to echo through time, a testament to the extraordinary encounters that shape our urban legends.

KING SKEWER

March 13, 2024 by infomatique

NUMBER 8 CATHEDRAL STREET

I had intended to visit the Vintage Teapot “a world of relaxing Chinese tea and stimulating coffee, delicious cake, desserts and treats that will widen your eyes and tickle your tongue with slow-paced life”.

Today I decided to visit only to discover that it had replaced by King Skewer.

Unfortunately, it’s common for smaller restaurants to close without major announcements, especially during challenging economic times.

But here’s some good news if you’re craving a tea experience in Dublin: Their sister restaurants: The Vintage Teapot owners also run M&L Restaurant and Kitchen 85. M&L, an excellent restaurant, is located on Cathedral Street and specialising in Chinese cuisine. You can check those out for a different but potentially exciting dining experience. Note: Kitchen 85 is at Marlborough Place and I know nothing about it.