historical preservation

PHOTOGRAPHED 15 NOVEMBER 2024

The Old Fire Station on Dorset Street: A Restored Gem Revealed

I’m currently dedicating a significant amount of my time to documenting Dublin’s architectural heritage, capturing images of old buildings before they potentially vanish. This has become particularly crucial now that Dublin appears to be entering a new development boom, which could lead to the disappearance of many historic landmarks.

One building that recently caught my attention is the old fire station on Dorset Street. For years, it was obscured by the Dorset Street Flats and Mary’s Place Flats, a large complex of social housing that had unfortunately become a hub for anti-social behaviour. Thankfully, these flats are now being demolished, with the final stages of this process nearing completion. This demolition has finally revealed the fire station in its entirety, offering a fantastic opportunity to photograph it before it becomes integrated into its new, modern surroundings.

Interestingly, it took me a decade to uncover the history of this building. My initial misconception that it was located on Bolton Street rather than Dorset Street, despite living in the immediate area for 21 years, highlights how easily we can overlook familiar surroundings.

The building is a handsome fire station designed by the renowned city architect, C.J. McCarthy, in 1901. It was one of a series of fire stations designed by McCarthy throughout Dublin, with others located on Thomas Street, Tara Street, and Buckingham Street. None of these buildings remain in use as fire stations today. The Dorset Street fire station is particularly noteworthy as it is set to be incorporated into the new development planned for the site, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Additional Information:

C.J. McCarthy: Charles J. McCarthy was a prominent Dublin City Architect in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He designed numerous significant public buildings in Dublin, including fire stations, libraries, and schools. His work often featured a distinctive blend of Victorian and Edwardian architectural styles.
Dorset Street Flats Redevelopment: The redevelopment of the Dorset Street and Mary’s Place Flats site is a major urban renewal project by Dublin City Council. The project aims to provide 163 new social housing units, along with community spaces. The inclusion of the old fire station within the new development is a positive example of how historical preservation can be integrated into modern urban planning.
Property Booms and Crashes in Dublin: Dublin has experienced several cycles of property booms and busts in recent decades. The Celtic Tiger boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s saw rapid property price inflation, followed by a dramatic crash in 2008. The current development boom is driven by a combination of factors, including economic growth, population increase, and a shortage of housing supply.