2008 Dublin Milestones

A number of structures in the capital are hitting anniversaries this year. Any others you can think of?

It’s definitely a banking year, with Ireland’s three most famous bank buildings celebrating birthdays.

1688
Royal Hospital Kilmainham complex is 320 years old, finally completed with the finishing of the Chapel (tower added in 18th century).

1738
Newman House begun, the grandest detached mansion yet built in Dublin.

1748
Leinster House was completed 260 years ago (though one suspects the painters had yet to arrive).

1788
Lower Sackville Street nearing completion.

1808
Were it still around today, Nelson’s Pillar would be 200 years old this year, its foundation stone laid in February 1808.

1808
Bank of Ireland College Green is at last 200 years old in its current form, the four year conversion project by Francis Johnston from Parliament House completed following acquisition in 1804 (and incidentally to be preserved in amber ever since).

1818
The General Post Office celebrates its 190th birthday this year, again taking four years to build, and again designed by Francis Johnston 🙂

1828
Sean Heuston Bridge/Kings Bridge completed.

1858
The Deane and Woodward alterations to the Old Library of Trinity College got underway 150 years ago this year, taking two years to complete.

1878
South City Markets begun, again to take about two years to build.

1958
The massive ten-year ‘restoration’/reconstruction of Dublin Castle was begun half a century ago, and completed 40 years ago.

1968
The Royal Dublin Hotel was begun. An illustrious moment indeed.

1978
The Central Bank was finally completed after a protracted building debacle.

1978
Bank of Ireland’s Baggot Street HQ was finished in its entirety with the completion of its third block.

1988
St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre throws open its doors/lets down its gangway.

1988
Also the year for many civic and public domain improvements around the city as part of the 1988 Dublin Millenium. Michael Scott also passes away.

1998
National Gallery of Ireland was extensively refurbished.

A rather damb squib ending, but I can’t think of any others! Most of Temple Bar was mid-90s. Suppose you could chuck in a few Custom House Quay/IFSC cubes.