Dundalk

[GrahamH]

Punchbowl, yes, yes it is.



*pats Punchbowl on the back* There there now.

[Punchbowl]

Punchbowl, yes, yes it is.



*pats Punchbowl on the back* There there now.

What a tragedy. Punchbowl will be sleeping with the lights on tonight...

[rumpelstiltskin]

You know the more pictures you post, the more you back up my point. You can't expect every business and resident in the country to be cursed with ugly, badly maintained, squat, and badly laid out little sheds because of the irrational architectural fetish of a tiny minority - especially when they are extremely unpleasing to the eye to begin with, like most of this crap in Dundalk. I mean, by what stretch of the imagination could that depressing grey slab of houses be called a "magnificent Georgian terrace"?

[gunter]

rumpel! your're not a senior planning official, by any chance?

[GrahamH]

Lol. The phrase saving the Irish from themselves springs to mind.

However unremarkable or modest the architecture of Irish towns may be, it is still a vernacular heritage that expresses the origins of place. Just because the sun doesn't beat down on ranks of red tiled roofs, doesn't mean our buildings are any less plain than those of a typical Italian town or village - indeed quite the opposite in many instances. Sadly, what does make our buildings unworthy is when they are decimated in a manner that strips away everything that makes then interesting and readable: the hand crafted windows hacked out, the chimneys lopped off, the stone roof slates replaced, the facade decked out in plastic, and faux heritage additions that are neither aesthetically pleasing or historically appropriate. Is it any wonder these buildings, and more specifically the streetscapes they inhabit, are undervalued.

To be a little more upbeat, here is a rare complementary, contemporary addition to a grand classically proportioned building of c. 1860, in the form of a crisp new shopfront.




Okay the polished stone may be a tad luxurious, but the proportionality and simplicity is there. A matching shopfront on the other side, a lick of paint and some restored upper floor fenestration and we'd be onto something.




A couple of doors down and these fine late Georgian houses have just been painted a very interesting palette of colours. Arguably the last house should not have been treated the same, but no matter.




The torquoise of the walls has been picked up in a satisfyingly robust splash on the doors and railings, while the windows and reveals are a lovely sea-green white. Extremely striking.



Though a shame the beautiful limestone of the carriage arch wasn't stripped back. Never mind.

These fine knobbly railings feature all over Dundalk from the early to mid-19th century.




Strangely, the steps of this house's front door step down at an angle - not quite sure what's going on there. Great bootscaper.




On a less positive note, this little charmer with attendant grounds as shown here before was recently refused permission for demolition and the construction of apartments on the site.




All well and good, but this is the site today




They may have reapplied, but things aren't looking good...

[GrahamH]

Also, some Christmassy scenes from the delightfully straight-laced St. Mary's Road, which exudes an air of Protestant decency with its grand old houses, trim gardens and well-thumbed net curtains.



(I had to be restrained from pulling Santy out of the flower bed)









And the 'night soil' laneway.

[GrahamH]

Just taking a closer look at that Georgian and yikes, things do not look good at close quarters.



There is an impressive rubble stone mill-like building to the rear, so it would explain the grand merchant character of the house.

This was lying forlornly in the shop window...



In fairness now, the Salon of Carton House was not exactly the best choice of cover photograph for engendering in the typical novice reader an appreciation of the modest charms of architectural heritage...

Like this incredible nearby street of tiny urban vernacular cottages for example; one of the most unique streetscapes in Ireland.




As you walk along Mary Street North, the eaves of the houses are almost level with your head. Alas, in spite of being an ACA for the past five-plus years, this is now the solitary house on the street in original condition. A crying shame.




Curiously, the houses appear to have been built with rather gradiose chimney pots. The vast majority have been replaced in recent years, so it's almost impossible to tell which are the originals, but the predominance of this square type above all others suggests this yellow teracotta pot is it.




A stack with notions indeed.








Also, just to record it for posterity, as we all know what's going to happen, this beautiful little vernacular house and shop, with typically Irish classical shopfront and attendant grounds, survives a short walk away.




The house next door appears to be a later addition entirely, rather than a modernised house.




What can we say other than RIP?

[gunter]

. . . . And the 'night soil' laneway.

??

Whatever about odd street names ?, Dundalk would seem to be in the running for the oddest public banner with this:



. . . . something to do with the Eucaristic Congress, or perhaps an endangered gorilla?

[Paul Clerkin]

In 1846, Dundalk was granted by Royal Charter the right to maintain a town primate. The primate was brought to town borough meetings where it was chained to the alderman's chairs. Under the charter, male primates were called Albert, while females were called Victoria. This practice survived the foundation of the Irish state and was continued until 1962, when it was discontinued after complaints from the ISPCA.

It would seem that this photo dates from the later years of the practice when it was under fire from animal lovers.

[tommyt]

In 1846, Dundalk was granted by Royal Charter the right to maintain a town primate. The primate was brought to town borough meetings where it was chained to the alderman's chairs. Under the charter, male primates were called Albert, while females were called Victoria. This practice survived the foundation of the Irish state and was continued until 1962, when it was discontinued after complaints from the ISPCA.

It would seem that this photo dates from the later years of the practice when it was under fire from animal lovers.

Could possibly date from the local Pioneers protest against the ill conceived local bye-law, (as voted for by the UDC in 1944) that the sitting simian shall receive a ration of 40 Major and a quart of McArdles on a daily basis, unfortunately I can't make out the communiqué on the sandwich board under the banner which would no doubt contribute further information.

[Paul Clerkin]

In the late 40s the primate was used in a series of Carroll's print advertisements with the byline "he wants to be a real man too"