NORTH OF THE RIVER

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HENRIETTA LANE HAS BEEN RESURFACED

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TO THE SIDE OF AND BEHIND 4 AND 3 HENRIETTA STREET

I photographed this laneway because a very large of road engineers have been on site for almost a week and they had lots of heavy plant and road surfacing equipment.

Until recently it was a little used [except by a few horse owners] laneway off Henrietta Street and it is named Henrietta Lane. It is of interest because became an entrance to a new 380 bed Student Accommodation Complex on Upper Dominick Street which replaced the Michael H textile factory. The complex owned by UK student accommodation provider Ziggurat is now fully operational. I would describe it as being off Henrietta street and it is L-shaped with a section running parallel to Upper Dominick Street. I have noted that a number of old warehouses and unused plots on the lane are now on the market.

I came across the following, somewhat dated, description: No. 4 and the adjoining site were leased by Nathaniel Clements in 1747 to John Maxwell until his daughter married Owen Wynne of Hazelwood, Co. Sligo, who subsequently built this house. Recently stabilised by Dublin City Council the house is in the early phase of a comprehensive programme of conservation works. The interior retains some good plasterwork including an unusually deep coved plaster ceiling to the rear bowed room. The original open-well staircase was removed c.1830 with the secondary staircase retained along with much original joinery and forms part of what has been described as ‘Dublin’s Street of Palaces’ while the ongoing conservation work will no doubt contribute to the improving fortunes of this remarkable streetscape. Laid out by Luke Gardiner in the 1720s, Henrietta Street is a short cul-de-sac containing the finest early Georgian houses in the city and was named after Henrietta Crofts, the third wife of Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton and Lord Lieutenant in 1717-21. The street developed in a piecemeal fashion and set the trends of scale and design in domestic architecture.

Restoration of no 3 began in 2016 and took over 2 years to restore to its former glory. It now operates as an upmarket hotel under the name Henrietta Suites.

CHURCH STREET DISASTER MEMORIAL AT FATHER MATTHEW SQUARE

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LOCAL HISTORY

Today I used an iPhone 12 Pro Max and some of the images suffered from lens flare and there was also the annoying green dot that is common when using smartphones … now that I have mentioned it you will begin to notice it everywhere [maybe I should not have mentioned it]

I suspect the few Dubliners are aware of what happened on Church Street in September 1913.

There is a little park in Church Street at Father Matthew Square which contains a plaque with details of “The Church Street Tenement Collapse” as well as an attractive monumental street-lamp.

Father Mathew Square is a housing scheme for Dublin Corporation by the City Architect on site bounded by Church Street, Beresford Street, Mary’s Lane and North King Street consisting of 4-roomed houses, 3-roomed houses and 2-roomed houses. Tenders invited, Dec 1914. Work started in August 1915.

Tuesday 2 September 1913. At about 8.45pm two houses, Nos 66 and 67, collapsed. The rubble fell across the width of the street as far as the door of the Father Matthew Hall on the other side.

Later evidence to the coroner’s inquiry stated that there had been a rumbling noise, after which No. 66 collapsed suddenly, followed soon afterwards by the fall of No. 67. All seven who died in the tragedy had lived in No. 66, a four-storey building in which 26 people had lived. One of the inhabitants, Mr Sammon, who survived the collapse, told reporters the heroic story of how his son Eugene had died: ‘Eugene took the youngest child (Josephine), aged one year and eight months, and brought her out safely. Then he went back for the other children, and got out with them alright, but it was when he was coming away with Elizabeth that they were struck by the falling masonry and killed’.

Hugh Salmon worked at Jacob’s biscuit factory and was a member of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ and it should be noted The Church Street Disaster happened only days after some of the worst disturbances of the labour strikes of 1913, which saw the deaths of two men during a baton charge by the Dublin Metropolitan Police.

It appears that the chimney gave way, crashing through the house as it fell and pushing the front wall out into the street. Immediately following the collapse of the two houses, a great cloud of dust enveloped the scene, and for some time it was not possible to see the magnitude of what had just occurred. Soon units of Dublin Fire Brigade arrived at the scene and took control of the rescue work. By now the street was dark, except for some dim street lamps. Numerous lighted lanterns and candles were held aloft by a body of willing assistants. Throughout the night rescue workers pulled the bodies of the injured and dead from the rubble. The next morning the sun shone brightly, and only then could the full magnitude of the damage be appreciated.

Fifteen people were trapped in the rubble: six died, and at least seven were seriously injured.

Those killed were Hugh Sammon (17), Elizabeth Sammon (4½), Nicholas Fitzpatrick (40), Elizabeth Fagan (50), John Shiels (3), Peter Crowley (6) and Margaret Rourke (55).

An inquest held into the collapse revealed that the Dangerous Buildings Inspector had examined the houses at the beginning of August, and ordered that immediate renovation work be carried out. In a follow-up visit on 15 August, the Inspector passed the buildings as safe, although he admitted to the Coroner’s Court that he could not see whether a new supporting beam had been fitted because it was blocked at the time. The Church Street disaster was not the first time tenements had collapsed, but the numbers killed and injured were unparalleled.

CUCKOO LANE IN DUBLIN 7

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UNTIL TODAY I DID NOT REALISE THAT THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS

Lána na Cuaiche is the Irish name for this laneway and if you are in the area you should visit St Michan’s Catholic Church and the more famous Church Of Ireland Church, also named St Michan’s, on Church Street.

The school building, now home to a wholesale business, which was located on this very narrow lane was associated with the nearby Roman Catholic church of Saint Michin’s, this was one of several primary schools in the area, and is of significance as a repository of memory for local people who attended. Its current use by a long-established fruit and vegetable wholesalers continues the markets tradition of the area.

Halston Street Parish – St Michan’s Catholic Church: Work began on the Parish Church as it stands today in 1810 and was completed in 1817. The entrance onto Halston Street expresses a Gothic feel with its imposing tower and castle-esque design. The North Anne Street entrance is a more subdued. The modest doors hide the elaborate plasterwork and detailing within.

The Church was constructed prior to Catholic Emancipation (1829) and wasn’t allowed an entrance that opened onto a main street. The presence of Green Street Courthouse and Prison had elevated the importance of Halston Street at the time and so entry to the church was through, the less important North anne Street to the rear.

Seventy years after Catholic Emancipation, the Halston Street extension, design by Architect George Ashlin, was built in a Tudor Gothic style. The extension included a chancel, two side chapels as well as a tower and belfry.

The church contains a number of impressive stained-glass windows by German stained-glass designers and manufacturers, Mayer & Co. as well as a window attributed to Harry Clarke in the Mortuary Chapel.

Today the church is used daily and is at the heart of parish life. Mass is celebrated Monday to Friday at 10am with weekend Masses on Saturday evening at 6pm and Sunday afternoon at 12pm. It is, in the native tongue, ‘a little gem’.

CAPEL STREET LOOKS SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED

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WORK IN PROGRESS

According to Dublin City Council: “Since making of Capel Street traffic free, we have witnessed a remarkable increase in foot traffic and cycling activity. Pedestrians have increased by 12%, while cyclists have seen a 24% rise. These figures indicate a successful transition towards a more sustainable and people-friendly urban environment.” Personally, I find the Electric Bikes to be a bit of a pain.

Some people have objected to Capel Street being traffic free. The main objections are:

Increased traffic congestion on surrounding streets: Some businesses and residents have complained that the closure of Capel Street to traffic has led to increased congestion on surrounding streets.
Reduced access for deliveries and emergency vehicles: Some businesses have also expressed concern about the reduced access for deliveries and emergency vehicles on Capel Street.
Negative impact on businesses: Some businesses have argued that the closure of Capel Street to traffic has had a negative impact on their business, as it has made it more difficult for customers to reach them.
However, it is important to note that the majority of people who have responded to public consultations on the Capel Street traffic-free proposal have been in favour of it. A recent consultation by Dublin City Council found that 89% of respondents wanted to see traffic-free measures on Capel Street.

The City Council has also taken steps to address some of the objections to the traffic-free proposal. For example, they have increased the number of loading bays on Capel Street to facilitate deliveries. They have also worked with the emergency services to ensure that they have access to Capel Street at all times.

Overall, the decision to make Capel Street traffic free has been a popular one, but there are some people who have objected to it. The City Council is working to address these objections and to ensure that the traffic-free proposal benefits all users of the street.

A LOT GOING ON NEAR THE SEAN O’CASEY BRIDGE

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ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE LIFFEY ACROSS FROM CHQ

The CHQ Dublin building is a retail and events hub on the banks of the the River Liffey and George’s Dock in Dublin City centre. CHQ stands for Custom House Quay.

When I visited today I was surprised to see so many people to board the Spirit Of The Docklands riverboat and I was also surprised to discover that Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) building on Custom House Quay had been demolished.

Seán O’Casey Bridge is a pedestrian swingbridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland, joining City Quay in the Grand Canal Docks area to North Wall Quay and the IFSC.

Designed by architect Cyril O’Neill and O’Connor Sutton Cronin Consulting Engineers (for which they won an Institution of Structural Engineers Award for Pedestrian Bridges in 2006), the bridge was built in 2005 as part of a large-scale urban renewal scheme under the Dublin Docklands Development Authority to link the north and south quays and rejuvenate both. The swing bridge spans approximately 100 metres and has two balanced cantilever arms that swing open to permit boats to pass up river. Around 2010 the remote control that operates the swing bridge was misplaced, and the bridge was unable to be opened until the control system was reprogrammed in 2014.

The bridge was opened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in July 2005. It is named after the playwright and Irish Citizen Army member Seán O’Casey (1880–1964) who lived in the North Wall area of the city.

Dublin’s tour service on the River Liffey. The bright red, glass-roofed tour boat, ‘Spirit of Docklands’ operates between the city centre and the Docklands, exploring the historical sites and landmarks along the River Liffey.

A tour guide delivers entertaining snippets on Dublin life specific to the Liffey and Docklands throughout the journey, offering passengers an intriguing insight into Dublin folklore and history. The script has been developed by leading Dublin historian Pat Liddy. The tour departs from a landing station at Bachelor’s Walk, passing under O’Connell Bridge downstream past the Custom House in Docklands. It reaches the East Link Toll Bridge and the Grand Canal Basin before passing the IFSC and returning to Bachelor’s Walk.

‘Spirit of Docklands’ arrived in Dublin in June 2005. Built in Sweden by boat builders Westers Mekaniska, it can accommodate 50 passengers, is 23 metres long and capable of travelling at 9.5 knots. It is wheelchair accessible and suitable for young and old alike.

The service is the latest of a number of initiatives under the Docklands Authority’s River Regeneration Strategy to bring back life to the River Liffey to give Dubliners and visitors alike an alternative view of the city.

The Liffey River Cruises operates daily, with a journey time of approximately 45 minutes.

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