Dublin home of 1916 Rising leader demolished

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0929/1168260-orahilly-house-dublin/

Dublin City Council is investigating the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the former home of a 1916 leader.

O'Rahilly House, at 40 Herbert Park in Ballsbridge, was bulldozed early this morning to make way for luxury apartments.

It comes after city councillors voted to list the building as a protected structure last month.

Honestly I think it's a bit of a stupid argument, the house was a derelict and falling apart, if it's so important it should have been bought and restored, realistically though what's the point in maintaining or listing structures that are of absolutely no use at all.

It was the house of someone killed in the easter rising but that's all it was, a house. It has no real historic value, nothing of noteworthyness, nothing of real value it was just a house owned by someone from the rising.

I honestly think if there's buildings that have real historic value then it should be maintained but some building's are being listed purely for the sake of it but are in such a delapidated and degraded condition that it would be better to just knock em and be done with it if noone is willing to restore and repair them. What's the point in maintaining an eyesore if it has no real value?

whisky_galore wrote: »

Some defining moments of a nation happened within it's walls but yeah, it's like saying what's the GPO only an auld post office.

I dont think there was much scope in preserving this property on the grounds of its link with the O Rahily. Apart from that link it is of little importance.

However I do believe that the Moore St area where O Rahily fell in action and was the scene of much military action, meeting of the Volunteer leadership after leaving the G.P.O. should be preserved. It would not take much imagination by the right architect to redevelop part of the area while incorporating a "Freedom Trail" through the development

Nexytus wrote: »

An interesting character The O'Rahilly. Possibly his greatest achievement was getting people to use his name in the The_______ format.

The jammy git

We have an abundance of museums, libraries and statues in this city. His history is well recorded, and the destruction of this place does nothing to harm that.

On the other end of the scale, we have a notable lack of available accommodation, largely due to being a city that hasn't actually been bombed flat since the road plan was originally laid out by farmers herds pushing through scrub to get to the water. (See also lacks of public transport and actual planning).

What, if anything, was there about this derelict building that was informative, cultural, architecturally interesting or commemorative that can't be recaptured in full by a plaque on whatever replaces it?

Humans are too short lived, numerous and violent to keep on making hallowed ground of the dwellings of every rebel and revolutionary.

The building should have been kept for posterity and historical significance.

markfinn wrote: »

What exact significance did the house have? Was it not simply a roof and some walls used for shelter for the actions being taken which had actual significance and are recorded in the written history? Did its architectural form affect the nature and outcome of the rising? Was the decor somehow either inspired by or an inspiration for some important part of the culture leading up to or following the rising?

In short, what would have been different about our history if all the actions associated with this building had occurred in a completely different house with completely different form and decoration 2 and a half miles down the road?

That's a redundant question.

But anyways, I am of the firm belief that buildings of historical significance should be preserved. The O' Rahilly was a fascinating character in and of himself. He lived there, hence the importance.

Then again, 16 Moore street is under constant threat of demolition and it's fate is fairly unclear despite it's obvious historical significance, so I can't say I am entirely surprised.

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

The O' Rahilly was a fascinating character in and of himself. He lived there, hence the importance.

"The O'Rahilly", a self proclaimed mythical title he bestowed upon himself :cool:

He was an interesting character. I went to a play about his life around the time of the 1916 centenary celebrations and it remains one of the most emotional pieces of art I've ever seen. He had an incredibly romantic back story regarding his marriage and as he lay dying he wrote a note to his wife which is now displayed in the form of a plaque opposite the doorway where he died. British soldiers refused to allow an ambulance attend to him and he bled to death over several hours. When his family received his body it was minus an expensive watch.

I have no idea whether the house was worth keeping or not, but I do think this episode if typical of how we treat our history in this country. Moore Street, could be the biggest tourist attraction in the country, it could be preserve/restored and used to run re-enactments for tourists. One of the biggest events in the history of our nation happened in our capital city's centre and apart from the basement of the GPO you wouldn't even know it

whisky_galore wrote: »

Some defining moments of a nation happened within it's walls but yeah, it's like saying what's the GPO only an auld post office.

What defining moments specifically?

Steve012 wrote: »

They don't give a flying fck about our heritage .. Just once they can throw up way overprices rabbit hutches. Apartments seem to be like weeds on the southside, just popping up everywhere, there is spare land. Way Anchors.

I'm sure interesting people have lived in houses everywhere at some stage or another..

Should all houses always be preserved?

Phoebas wrote: »

What defining moments specifically?

Technically on the steps outside I suppose but we declared we wouldn’t be yoked by the cold chains of bondage anymore.