Re: Re: Destruction of Dublin – 21st century

@J. Seerski wrote:

It was always maintained that the reason why so much of 18th century Dublin survived was the economic stagnation of the city for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, and this was only threatened with the periods of boom in the 1960s. Up until recently, it appeared that the current boom would avoid the repetition of the wanton destruction of Dublin’s heritage.

However, the current property boom is now leading to the destruction of neighbourhoods in no small way. Pubs, churches, terraces, and gardens that were all part of locales for generations are no longer under threat but are being summarily destroyed. What started off as a trickle now seems to be a roaring flood of historical buildings and some pretty fine architecture being flattened, all in the name of Apartments, Apartments Apartments!

I could go into countless examples, but for brevity I will stick to where I grew up.

Glasnevin, specifically around the Botanic Gardens, is destined to be insensitively ruined by the imminent demise of the Addison Lodge. The original building is a quite pleasant victorian lodge with a fine staircase and some plasterwork intact. It is on nicely laid out grounds and while the pub itself was nothing redeeming, the fact it is up for tender for redevelopment is yet again another example of local history being erased – God knows suburbia is bereft of history as it is. Nearby, a terrace of single storey Victorian houses have been flattened at the junction of Finglas Road.

If Glasnevin was an exception I would leave it as such. But unfortunately the same process is underway throughout Dublin. In Crumlin, a pub (The Shaw Arms) that seems to have 18th century origins is heading for the knocking ball. A methodist church was flattened recently. Another pub, The Halfway House at the Long Mile Road is destined for the knocking ball. within five minutes WALK, five (yes FIVE) Petrol Stations are closed and destined for redevelopment – no way particularly worth retaining, but a further example of the relentless march of the destruction of Dublin for short-term gain.

This picture of local facilities, local architecture and local heritage disappearing at breakneck speed is repeated throughout the city. In the 60s up until recently, the efforts and the results of preservation groups were vaunted for their success in conserving the city. However, few, if any, seem bothered with the descent of an already bland suburbia losing all traces of its past and community focus. The march of the apartment block seems unstoppable.

Not is not just a problem in Dublin, it is happening in towns all over the country at the moment