NORTH OF THE RIVER AS EXPERIENCED BY THE URBAN CARTOGRAPHER

Original Images By William Murphy

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QUICK VISIT TO GRIFFITH AVENUE

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SWORDS ROAD TO MALAHIDE ROAD SECTION

In 1914, around the time of the housing enquiries into Dublin’s slum dwellings, Patrick Abercrombie’s plan for Dublin proposed high-density housing at Fairview and a new distributor road extending to the west from the Malahide Road. The project was shelved during the first world war, and Griffith Avenue (originally named ‘the 100-foot road’) was subsequently laid out from 1924–1928 along with the Marino Estate. The development of the avenue was commenced at the southern end of the road adjoining Marino. The avenue spans three electoral constituencies, and is the longest double tree-lined avenue in Europe.

Today I used a Sony FX30 which is not recommended as a stills camera as it is designed for video rather than photography. The problem is that it has an electronic shutter and as a result any movement within the frame can result in blurred or distorted images and today I had to discard many photographs ad they were unusable.

GREEN P&T POST BOX GRIFFITH AVENUE

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PHOTOGRAPHED 13 SEPTEMBER 2023

The Post & Telegraphs (P&T) was the name given to the government’s Post Office services inherited from the UK when the Irish Free State was established in 1922. The official Irish name for P&T is Puist agus Telegrafa.

One of my reasons for visiting Griffith Avenue was to photograph this example of street furniture as I thought that it was a surviving example of a late nineteenth-century British postbox but it is more recent.

Novelist and postal official Anthony Trollope, who lived for a time in Dublin, is credited with introducing post boxes to Ireland in the mid-19th century. The penny post had been such a success that postage volumes were on the increase and having to go into the post office simply to post a letter was becoming impractical.

In 1922. The first act of the new Irish government to order that all post boxes must be painted green (rather than red). It didn’t seem to matter that the boxes also featured the royal cypher symbols – such as ER (Edward Rex), GR (George Rex) or more commonly VR (Victoria Regina) – complete with a large crown still clearly visible through the green paint.

As time passed newer boxes appeared featuring the letters P&T (Post & Telegraphs) and later An Post.

GRIFFITH WOOD

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A NEW RENT-ONLY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON GRIFFITH AVENUE

Griffith Wood development has a prime location on a three-hectare (7.41 acre) site on Griffith Avenue that had been owned previously by the Christian Brothers. I had been, incorrectly, advised that there was a car showroom located here for fifty years and that it had been demolished to make way for this development.

This is new to me. My understanding is that the complex consists of 300 apartments none of which are available to buy. The complex is managed by American developer Greystar who has made the apartments available at very high prices.

To quote from some online publicity material: “We provide a curated living experience for those looking to find new friends and neighbours, with our host of resident events throughout the year, all managed by a dedicated on-site team.”

Griffith Wood apartments are located on Griffith Avenue in Drumcondra, Dublin 9. The site is a 2.2-acre development that was previously occupied by a car showroom. The apartments are set within a parkland setting.

The apartments themselves are a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units. They are all designed to the highest specification and furnished to suit your needs. The apartments also have access to a dedicated concierge service, bespoke gym, residents’ lounge, and co-working space.

Here are some of the amenities that are available at Griffith Wood apartments:

Concierge service
Gym
Residents’ lounge
Co-working space
Secure underground parking
Bike storage
Postal room with secure parcel storage
Pet friendly
Rent for apartments at Griffith Wood starts from €1,950 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, €2,585 per month for a two-bedroom apartment, and €3,900 per month for a three-bedroom apartment.

ORIGIN BY ANA DUNCAN

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SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2023 CATALOGUE REFERENCE No 5

Over the years I have come to recognise Ana’s sculpture and I find her work to be attractive but this was somewhat different to what I have seen before (maybe because it is not bronze).

Ana Duncan was born in Dublin. She works primarily in bronze and ceramic from her studio in Churchtown. Though the female figure has been a subject of focus, a recent body of work was inspired by patterns and forms in the natural world. Her main influences are the work of Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Botero, Picasso, F.E McWilliam, among others, and the simplicity of Brancusi.

HICKS TOWER ON THE COAST ROAD SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THE HEAD

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ROBSWALL MALAHIDE

I was unaware that this was originally unaware that this was originally a Martello Tower,

Former Martello tower, built c. 1805, remodelled c.1911 as Arts and Crafts style detached house. Designed by architect Frederick Hicks. Two storeys to main tower block with two storeys to attic accommodation. Return and stair block attached to rear.

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