THE DERELICT HOUSE AS IT WAS IN DECEMBER 2018
The Crumbling House on Main Street
Chapelizod, a Dublin village steeped in history, finds itself amidst the buzz of modern development. Yet, even as new apartment complexes sprout on its fringes, the spectres of forgotten buildings linger. One such haunting sight is 34 Main Street. This three-story Georgian house, built circa 1740, stands in stark contrast to the medieval bell tower of Saint Laurence's Church. Once a possible inspiration for Sheridan Le Fanu's "The House by the Churchyard," its grandeur is sadly a distant memory.
When I photographed it in December 2018, the house lay derelict, its wounds a testament to neglect. Fast forward to 2023, and a new element of decay is painfully visible – stark steel girders brace its crumbling facade in a desperate attempt to hold it together. These metallic supports are a grim reminder of the structure's instability.
"All the floors inside have collapsed on one another," a local resident laments. His words paint a picture of internal ruin. Rain seeps through the damaged roof, a death sentence for the interior. The house has become a haven for feral pigeons, their presence adding to a sense of abandonment. The contrast between past literary associations and the current desperate state of this once-proud home is heartbreaking. Efforts to revive the crumbling relic of 34 Main Street seem to be frustratingly stalled.
Chapelizod, a Dublin village steeped in history, finds itself amidst the buzz of modern development. Yet, even as new apartment complexes sprout on its fringes, the spectres of forgotten buildings linger. One such haunting sight is 34 Main Street. This three-story Georgian house, built circa 1740, stands in stark contrast to the medieval bell tower of Saint Laurence's Church. Once a possible inspiration for Sheridan Le Fanu's "The House by the Churchyard," its grandeur is sadly a distant memory.
When I photographed it in December 2018, the house lay derelict, its wounds a testament to neglect. Fast forward to 2023, and a new element of decay is painfully visible – stark steel girders brace its crumbling facade in a desperate attempt to hold it together. These metallic supports are a grim reminder of the structure's instability.
"All the floors inside have collapsed on one another," a local resident laments. His words paint a picture of internal ruin. Rain seeps through the damaged roof, a death sentence for the interior. The house has become a haven for feral pigeons, their presence adding to a sense of abandonment. The contrast between past literary associations and the current desperate state of this once-proud home is heartbreaking. Efforts to revive the crumbling relic of 34 Main Street seem to be frustratingly stalled.
THE DERELICT HOUSE AS IT WAS IN DECEMBER 2018