REDISCOVERING MEETING HOUSE LANE

AN ALLEYWAY STEEPED IN HISTORY

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I have visited this lane a number of times in search of street are and sometimes I was lucky but I did not devote any time to investigating the history of what appeared to be nothing more than a back lane.

Dublin’s Meeting House Lane might seem unassuming at first glance, but this small passageway holds centuries of fascinating stories. It offers a tangible connection to the city’s grand medieval past and to the changing religious landscape of Ireland.

The Rise and Fall of St. Mary’s Abbey

Founded in 1139, St. Mary’s Abbey was a powerful Cistercian monastery, rising to become the wealthiest religious house in Ireland. It was a stage for pivotal moments in Dublin’s history, such as Silken Thomas’s 1534 renunciation of his allegiance to King Henry VIII. Yet, the winds of the Dissolution of the Monasteries swept through Ireland, and St. Mary’s Abbey was forcibly closed in 1539.

A Landscape Transformed

The once-mighty abbey fell into ruin, and its lands were dispersed. Buildings rose and fell over the centuries, and the area’s character shifted. Yet, hidden beneath the layers of time are surviving remnants of the abbey’s Chapter House – a place where monks would gather for daily meetings and important decisions.

The Legacy of the Meeting House

The name “Meeting House Lane” offers a crucial piece of history. On Rocque’s map of Dublin from 1756, a Presbyterian meeting house is visible in this laneway. This reflects the changing religious makeup of the area after the decline of the Catholic abbey.

Preserving the Past

Though Meeting House Lane has seen better days, an enduring sense of history lingers. The Chapter House remains offer a physical link to Dublin’s medieval past. Conservation efforts are crucial to protecting these fragments, ensuring that future generations can appreciate the rich tapestry of their city.

A Call to Rediscovery

Meeting House Lane might not initially command attention. However, upon closer inspection, it tells a story of Dublin’s evolution – from a Catholic monastic center to a place of Presbyterian worship. These shifts highlight the importance of preserving the stories woven into our urban spaces.

Next time you’re in Dublin, consider taking a detour down Meeting House Lane. Allow yourself to imagine the echoes of the past that still resonate within this unassuming passageway.

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IS IT TRUE THAT A HOTEL IS TO BE BUILT AND THE END OF THE LANE

When I visited Meeting House land I noticed a derelict or semi-derelict warehouse and decided to conduct an online search and I received the following response:

Yes, there are significant redevelopment plans in the works for the area around Meeting House Lane, including the building/warehouse you mention. Here’s what I found:

The Project: The plans involve transforming the site into a 9-story mixed-use development. It will feature a boutique hotel, restaurant spaces, and a rooftop garden.
Developer: Details on the specific developer are often available in redevelopment planning documents or local news sources. A bit of searching with keywords like “Meeting House Lane Dublin redevelopment” could reveal this.
Planning Permission and Status: It seems the project has received planning permission. You can usually find detailed information about such plans and their progress on the Dublin City Council planning website (https://planning.agileapplications.ie/dublincity). Search using the address or “Meeting House Lane.”
Timeline: Depending on the planning permission date, you might find an estimated start date and completion target for the project.

Where to Find Information

Dublin City Council Planning Website: The most reliable source for detailed plans, approval status, and possibly timelines.
Architectural Firms: If the developer has commissioned an architectural firm for the project, their website might have information and visualisations.
Local News Sources: Dublin-based news outlets may have covered the redevelopment plans, especially if there was public discussion or community

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A further search eventually found the following information:

22nd of June 2022 – Plans by London architects Studio Anyo for a new €15 million boutique hotel and leisure facility in the heart of Dublin will go ahead after the project got the green light following an appeal.

“The development will be on a site surrounded by a number of significant buildings and property, including nearby offices and shops in The Capel Building, a popular local fruit market, and the former Cistercian St Mary’s Abbey Chapter House.”

“Studio Anyo has created an ambitious, contemporary design that will see a nine-storey mixed development featuring a hotel and restaurant complex with a spacious glazed roof-top eco-garden. The current basement roof will be removed along with the interconnected second storey building to the rear, internal floors and walls to facilitate the core structure of the new-look property