The Iveagh Markets, Dublin 8.
Harry Warren writes:
A cheeky grin adorns the face of an excellent sculpture that winks at you as you walk past the Iveagh Market building in the Liberties area of Dublin 8. Beautifully detailed, the limestone carving is one of eight very individual faces of various ethnic groups that peer out upon the street at passers-by. Who or what do they represent?
There are various theories but according to Samantha L. Martin-McAuliffe, a lecturer in the School of Architecture at University College Dublin, they are described as being representations of the nationalities that traded with Ireland at the turn of the twentieth century, as noted in The Ethics of Giving and Receiving: a Study of the Iveagh Markets, Dublin.
According to the Irish Georgian Society, following the demolition of buildings in what is now St Patrick’s Park, next to St Patrick’s Cathedral, “Street traders lost their traditional market rights”
As a result, Lord Iveagh, Edward Cecil Guinness, built the iconic building of 30,000 Sq. ft on Francis St. and John Dillon St. to house their trading stalls and on completion handed it over in trust to Dublin Corporation.
The markets consisted of, “two covered markets for the sale respectively of old clothes and fish, fresh fruit and vegetables”. The building of the Iveagh Markets began in 1902 and were completed in 1906.
Like many modern building projects costs soon over ran the budget. Originally budgeted for £45,000, the final cost was about £60,000 a very substantial sum in those days. For many decades the Iveagh Markets once housed a bustling market activity of new and second-hand clothing as well as a food market selling grocery and meats.
Over the years the markets were gradually allowed to fall into disrepair by Dublin City Council. In 1997 they were closed and sold to a private developer. Disgracefully, for twenty years the market building was left to rot instead of being developed.
In January 2018, Dublin City Council repossessed the market site, now in an advanced state of dereliction but apart from securing the building no further development has happened.
Dublin and Dubliners deserve better. So, the next time you pass by look up and enjoy the sculptures and wonder at the inaction of Dublin City Council allowing an architectural gem fall into ruin.
Pics by Harry Warren
Harry, you’re the best thing about Broadsheet these days.
(no pressure!)
you hear that, millz?!?!
Something tells me Harry won’t have another man’s baby any time soon.
so he kept ownershiop,but wanted the state maintain it,oh
” on completion handed it over in trust to Dublin Corporation.”
how noble.
and control.
you guys are still paying Lord Iveagh.
https://www.theiveaghtrust.ie/
..The Guinness Trust extended its objectives outside London in 1962 and today operates in all parts of England as a member of the Guinness Partnership, a group of housing associations. However, the Iveagh Trust became a separate organisation in 1903 with responsibility for activities in Ireland. It was given a statutory legal basis by the “Dublin Improvement (Bull Alley Area) Act” of 1903.[1][2] Today it is run as a charity under Irish law and liaises with such bodies as Dublin City Council and the Homeless Agency…
wiki.
a charity so no estate tax-hm.
nice pics.
…only the brits would boast bout ripping off the dump paddies,CPO the whole thing and lord pembrokes estate,too.
FIFTEEN 15 HUNDRED UNITS SAY 250,000 EACH – 375,000,000 portfolio.
they own a property portfolio possibly worth lets say 350 million,built on stolen land,upon which not one penny in tax or compensation has ever been paid to the sate.
-income producing and they spend fook all on maintenance never mind capital improvements
Lord Iveagh nah Slumlord Iveagh.
“Over recent years the Trust has made creative use of Irish Government funding”
ain’t that the truth.
https://www.theiveaghtrust.ie/about-us/
I lived directly in front of this for a few years, real pity it’s not used for something. The area is great. I miss a pint in the Thomas House.
Property is a right, and also a responsibility.
DCC needs a compulsory purchase order on this for the sake of the city
Yor ma buys yissers clothes der
That used to be a real interesting place to hang out in (cold though). So, it was sold by Dublin City Council and bought back in desrepair by DCC – what happened inbetween.