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A successful conference in support of Moore St.
Last week The Moore Street
Preservation Trust and Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald organised a
conference to support the development of a Historical 1916 Cultural Quarter in
Dublin City centre with Moore Street at its heart.
The conference was uniquely held in
the GPO in Dublin on 24 April, the date on which the Rising commenced in 1916.
It was from that location at the end of Easter Week that several hundred
Volunteers, led by five of the leaders, evacuated the burning GPO to Moore
St. This area is at the heart of our fight for freedom. 16 Moore
Street was the last HQ of the 1916 government of the Irish Republic.
It was in the buildings, streets and
laneways surrounding Moore Street that the Irish Republic was born and where it
was defended for six days by heroic patriots who believed in a better future.
The packed meeting of business and
retail people, local traders and Save Moore St activists, as well as Relatives
of the 1916 leaders heard contributions from a range of speakers including Seán
Antóin Ó Muirí the architect who designed the alternative plan for the Moore
St. Preservation Trust. Seán’s presentation gave us a sense of what is
possible.
Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou
McDonald who hosted the event in association with the Moore St. Preservation
Trust, spoke of the ‘ambitious vision’ that the Relatives and the Trust
have for Moore St. She said: “The Master Plan presented by the Moore
Street Preservation Trust is a plan that weaves together much needed housing,
retail, and cultural experiences throughout the historical quarter. It’s framed
by the idea of the ‘economic of uniqueness’ whereby city centre cores are
revitalised through investment in the unique historical and cultural
characteristics of a city to create compelling experiences.
This modern approach is driving the
regeneration of city centres across the world - creating jobs, delivering new
opportunities, fostering social progress and empowerment, and growing local
economies and tourism sectors in a resilient and sustainable way. This is
what Dublin needs, and it’s all possible, all achievable.”
The opening contribution was by Liz
Gillis historian and James Connolly Heron, great grandson of James Connolly.
The two spoke of the importance of Moore St and cited the campaign to save
Kilmainham Jail. Over the centuries that prison held hundreds of republican
prisoners through a succession of rebellions. It was there in May 1916 that 14
of the leaders, including the five who had been in Moore St, were executed by
British firing squads. In the 1930s there were plans to demolish the building
which remained empty and derelict until the establishment of
the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee in 1958. Hundreds of volunteer
workers persevered for years following 1960 to replace the roof and protect the
buildings. If it had been left to the government Kilmainham Prison would have
deteriorated beyond repair. Today it is the second most popular visitor
attraction on the island of Ireland and is among the top ten museums in the
world.
For Liz Gillis and James Connolly
Heron the lesson of Kilmainham is especially pertinent to Moore St.
Professor Terry Stevens is an
international tourism expert who works with the United Nations in destination
development. In his contribution he described Moore St as a “unique and
remarkable” project that can “deliver something very special to the story of
Ireland and to Dublin” and can “enhance the overall appeal of your capital
city.”
It was a point made time and again in
the course of the conference by local and international contributors.
Paddy Cullivan is a musician,
presenter, historian, comedian and all round entertainer whose successful one
man shows on historical characters like Michael Collins and Wolfe Tone are funny,
insightful and reveal much about our history that others have sought to revise
and hide.
With the use of photographs he
reminded us of the many iconic buildings – Carlow Jail, Kilkenny Workhouse,
Frascati House - and other locations from our past that have been swept away by
developers and planners to be replaced mostly by shopping centres and hotels.
He reminded us that the greed of some has destroyed important parts of our
important historical infrastructure.
Clearly the people of Dublin and
Ireland will be better served by Seán Antóin Ó Muirí’s proposal and
plan for Moore Street than the developers proposal to demolish this battle
field site. If properly developed this unique initiative will generate
jobs and income alongside a sense of pride and respect for the men and women of
1916.
Michael Murphy is an architectural
designer, educator and writer. He designed the National Memorial for Peace
and Justice in Montgomery Alabama which includes the National Lynching
Memorial. It is a striking monument which commemorates a dark time in US
history but which has also significantly contributed to the economic
regeneration of Montgomery. Michael flew in from Boston to support The Trust’s
plan.
Others who contributed to a very
successful day were Stephen Troy a fifth generation butcher on Moore St, Harry
Connolly from Fáilte Feirste Thiar, Caroline Alwright a fourth generation
market stall owner and Jean McCabe of Retail Excellence Ireland.
All in all it was a hugely
informative day. The choir from Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire sang a rousing
version of ‘Óró, sé do
bheatha abhaile’ and Uachtarán Mary Lou
McDonald called on the government to “withdraw its backing for the
Hammerson plan and instead throw its weight fully behind the vision for Moore
Street as set out by the Moore Street Preservation Trust. It should also
progress and action the Ceathrú Chultúir 1916 Bill drafted by Aengus Ó Snodaigh
and passed unanimously by the Dáil in 2021.”
Her comments were echoed by James
Connolly Heron and the Relatives of the Signatories who attended the conference
and by the Preservation Trust. In a statement at the end of the conference and
in a letter to An Taoiseach Simon Harris, James Connolly Heron advocated
the alternative plan, and asked for a meeting with Mr. Harris “to present the
alternative plan to you in person at the earliest opportunity. We believe
that a meeting with you to discuss this alternative vision for Dublin Central
will be of benefit in progressing a plan that will have the support of all
interested parties.”
It’s now over to An Taoiseach.
Mass graves an act of barbarism
At
the weekend Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill was in London to address a
massive pro-Palestinian march. She described what is happening in Gaza as the
“gravest human rights violation of our time.” Michelle called for "an immediate, unconditional and
complete ceasefire. We need to see an end to genocide, ethnic cleansing,
and collective punishment. All hostages should be released immediately and all
aid for Gaza must be delivered immediately, and Israeli forces must withdraw
from Gaza and the West Bank.”
Her call follows on the devastating reports that
mass graves have been found at two hospitals, Nasser and al-Shifa in
the Gaza Strip containing the bodies of 400 women, children and the elderly, as
well as doctors and nurses. Many had their hands tied and some were buried
alive. They were all executed by the Israeli military.
The Falls
I love photographs. Especially old photos. Particularly black
and white ones. Bill Kirk is a veteran photographer. The Falls is
his most recent collection, some twenty years after Images of
Belfast. It captures a time and a neighbourhood which has gone. As
Robin Livingstone in the Foreword says, ‘It is a
vital and compelling historical archive, describing in rich detail the people
and places where the latest conflict in the shared and troubled history of
Ireland and Britain took place.’
Well done Bill Kirk and Frankie Quinn, Director of the Belfast Archive
Project. I really enjoyed trawling through Bill’s images, spotting old friends
and associates as well as places where I spent my childhood.
I wholeheartedly recommend THE FALLS.
THE FALLS
is availible from An Fhuiseoig, Falls Road.
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