ABOUT THE TWO MEMORIALS
Today I noticed that the square is named "Matthew" but the famous priest is "Fr. Mathew". Apparently, in the case of Father Theobald Mathew, both spellings ("Mathew" and "Matthew") were used during his lifetime. While "Theobald Mathew" is the most common spelling used in historical records and references to him, it's possible that the street sign was created with the "Matthew" spelling due to one of the reasons mentioned above.
Father Matthew Square, situated on Church street, is a space with historical significance due to the Church Street Disaster memorial. The square features a memorial sculpture, within an enclosed green area, designed as a street lamp, dedicated to the memory of those who tragically lost their lives in the disaster. In addition, there is a memorial plaque honouring Sean Howard on a nearby wall [I will discuss this in detail at a later date].
The Church Street Memorial: A Testament to Tragedy and Resilience
Tucked away on Church Street in Dublin, Father Matthew Square holds a poignant reminder of a devastating event in the city's history. A plaque details the harrowing events of the Church Street Tenement Collapse of 1913, while a striking ornamental street lamp stands as a silent sentinel.
The square itself, a housing scheme built by the Dublin Corporation in the wake of the disaster, serves as a testament to the city's resilience and its efforts to improve living conditions for its residents. Tenders for the project were invited in December 1914, and work commenced in August 1915.
On that fateful Tuesday, September 2nd, 1913, at around 8:45 PM, two tenement buildings, Nos. 66 and 67, collapsed suddenly, burying their inhabitants beneath the rubble. The tragedy claimed the lives of seven people and left many others injured.
The disaster was a stark reminder of the appalling living conditions endured by many Dubliners at the time. It occurred amidst the backdrop of the 1913 Lockout, a major industrial dispute that highlighted the plight of the working class. One of the victims, Hugh Sammon, was a worker at Jacob's biscuit factory and a member of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union.
The subsequent inquest revealed that the buildings had been inspected and deemed unsafe just weeks before the collapse, raising questions about the effectiveness of safety regulations and oversight.
Today, the memorial lamp and plaque serve as a poignant reminder of the Church Street Disaster, its victims, and the broader social issues it exposed. They stand as a testament to the resilience of the community and the ongoing struggle for safe and decent housing for all.
Father Matthew Square, situated on Church street, is a space with historical significance due to the Church Street Disaster memorial. The square features a memorial sculpture, within an enclosed green area, designed as a street lamp, dedicated to the memory of those who tragically lost their lives in the disaster. In addition, there is a memorial plaque honouring Sean Howard on a nearby wall [I will discuss this in detail at a later date].
The Church Street Memorial: A Testament to Tragedy and Resilience
Tucked away on Church Street in Dublin, Father Matthew Square holds a poignant reminder of a devastating event in the city's history. A plaque details the harrowing events of the Church Street Tenement Collapse of 1913, while a striking ornamental street lamp stands as a silent sentinel.
The square itself, a housing scheme built by the Dublin Corporation in the wake of the disaster, serves as a testament to the city's resilience and its efforts to improve living conditions for its residents. Tenders for the project were invited in December 1914, and work commenced in August 1915.
On that fateful Tuesday, September 2nd, 1913, at around 8:45 PM, two tenement buildings, Nos. 66 and 67, collapsed suddenly, burying their inhabitants beneath the rubble. The tragedy claimed the lives of seven people and left many others injured.
The disaster was a stark reminder of the appalling living conditions endured by many Dubliners at the time. It occurred amidst the backdrop of the 1913 Lockout, a major industrial dispute that highlighted the plight of the working class. One of the victims, Hugh Sammon, was a worker at Jacob's biscuit factory and a member of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union.
The subsequent inquest revealed that the buildings had been inspected and deemed unsafe just weeks before the collapse, raising questions about the effectiveness of safety regulations and oversight.
Today, the memorial lamp and plaque serve as a poignant reminder of the Church Street Disaster, its victims, and the broader social issues it exposed. They stand as a testament to the resilience of the community and the ongoing struggle for safe and decent housing for all.
ABOUT THE TWO MEMORIALS