SMITHFIELD MARKET AREAS OF DUBLIN
I live nearby and I have been disappointed by every attempt to upgrade or redesign Smithfield Market [also known as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Plaza] and it would appear that such attempts have been impacted by anti-social behaviour but to be fair it would appear that things have improved somewhat during the last few years and especially since the banning of the traditional monthly horse fair. Personally I find the square to be visually unattractive but I certainly would recommend the Lighthouse Cinema.
There is still a horse fair but it is now limited to twice a year and it is much better managed. The changes to the fair had to be introduced because of an incident in March 2011 during which shots were fired at the event, while a teenager was attacked with a slash hook. The following month saw three separate arrests when attendees tried to steal a horse.
Smithfield Market was laid out in the mid 17th century as a marketplace. Until its renovation in the early 21st Century, the square was lined with inner city 'farm yards' housing livestock. In 1964 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent time here, as Burton worked on the film set in Smithfield for the film adaptation of John le Carré's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Smithfield featured as Checkpoint Charlie in the movie.
Smithfield was rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan). An architectural competition was held and won by McGarry NiEanaigh Architects in 1997. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them.
Contemporary architecture and twelve 26.5 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2-metre flame, now flank the square. Although the flames are rarely lit, the lighting mast shades can at times be seen in different colours, reflecting cultural events throughout the year.
There is still a horse fair but it is now limited to twice a year and it is much better managed. The changes to the fair had to be introduced because of an incident in March 2011 during which shots were fired at the event, while a teenager was attacked with a slash hook. The following month saw three separate arrests when attendees tried to steal a horse.
Smithfield Market was laid out in the mid 17th century as a marketplace. Until its renovation in the early 21st Century, the square was lined with inner city 'farm yards' housing livestock. In 1964 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent time here, as Burton worked on the film set in Smithfield for the film adaptation of John le Carré's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Smithfield featured as Checkpoint Charlie in the movie.
Smithfield was rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan). An architectural competition was held and won by McGarry NiEanaigh Architects in 1997. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them.
Contemporary architecture and twelve 26.5 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2-metre flame, now flank the square. Although the flames are rarely lit, the lighting mast shades can at times be seen in different colours, reflecting cultural events throughout the year.
I live nearby and I have been disappointed by every attempt to upgrade or redesign Smithfield Market [also known as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Plaza] and it would appear that such attempts have been impacted by anti-social behaviour but to be fair it would appear that things have improved somewhat during the last few years and especially since the banning of the traditional monthly horse fair. Personally I find the square to be visually unattractive but I certainly would recommend the Lighthouse Cinema.
There is still a horse fair but it is now limited to twice a year and it is much better managed. The changes to the fair had to be introduced because of an incident in March 2011 during which shots were fired at the event, while a teenager was attacked with a slash hook. The following month saw three separate arrests when attendees tried to steal a horse.
Smithfield Market was laid out in the mid 17th century as a marketplace. Until its renovation in the early 21st Century, the square was lined with inner city 'farm yards' housing livestock. In 1964 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent time here, as Burton worked on the film set in Smithfield for the film adaptation of John le Carré's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Smithfield featured as Checkpoint Charlie in the movie.
Smithfield was rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan). An architectural competition was held and won by McGarry NiEanaigh Architects in 1997. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them.
Contemporary architecture and twelve 26.5 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2-metre flame, now flank the square. Although the flames are rarely lit, the lighting mast shades can at times be seen in different colours, reflecting cultural events throughout the year.
There is still a horse fair but it is now limited to twice a year and it is much better managed. The changes to the fair had to be introduced because of an incident in March 2011 during which shots were fired at the event, while a teenager was attacked with a slash hook. The following month saw three separate arrests when attendees tried to steal a horse.
Smithfield Market was laid out in the mid 17th century as a marketplace. Until its renovation in the early 21st Century, the square was lined with inner city 'farm yards' housing livestock. In 1964 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent time here, as Burton worked on the film set in Smithfield for the film adaptation of John le Carré's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Smithfield featured as Checkpoint Charlie in the movie.
Smithfield was rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan). An architectural competition was held and won by McGarry NiEanaigh Architects in 1997. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them.
Contemporary architecture and twelve 26.5 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2-metre flame, now flank the square. Although the flames are rarely lit, the lighting mast shades can at times be seen in different colours, reflecting cultural events throughout the year.
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