Grangegorman has been well described as the “Forgotten” quarter of Dublin, perhaps unsurprising given the often grim history of workhouses, asylums and fever hospitals that cover -and historically define- this area. Accordingly it’s a district many of us barely know. That’s all set to change with huge, city-shaping transformations afoot, massive new infrastructure, new transport and a whole new University campus all being created. This is a timely moment to explore, discover and discuss this remarkable, and historically resonant corner of Dublin, about to change forever.
Meeting, 11.25 (departing 11.30PM sharp) Meet outside the front door of Hugh Lane Gallery, (Dublin Municipal Gallery) on Parnell Square North. Tickets should be booked in advance please, see the link to Event Brite top right of this page or simple follow this link. Tour is several kilometers and takes takes 2 – 2.5 hours. Please wear suitable and robust walking footwear and please dress for the weather on the day.
Our group will meet outside front door Hugh Lane Gallery 2.15PM, Saturday 13th May (2017). From there, walking gradually North and west, we’ll view historic civic, residential and ecclesiastical buildings on our way to the park in front of Gandon’s magnificent Kings Inns. From that vantage point, we will view another masterpiece, John Skipton Mulvaney’s sublime Broadstone station and consider the extraordinary developments currently taking place here, including the new LUAS light railway extension and the future cycle track: both vital new links connecting the city to Grangegorman district and campus.
From there we’ll loop down to Kings St then Brunswick St, pausing at stages to discuss local history and architecture and social housing. Then up Grangegorman Lower, arriving at Francis Johnston’s Clock Tower (the former Richmond Penitentiary) and- just across the road- the stunning new DIT campus. Here, for the last part of our tour, we will explore this remarkable adaptation of the old Richmond Asylum (formerly St Brendan’s Mental hospital) and the manner in that architects, planners and designers have triumphed using a mix of re-purposed 19th century buildings (including two splendid Victorian chapels) mixed with built and planned modern architecture to create this brand new University campus, exploring how it all fits into the large urban context of its immediate area and community, into Grangegorman and indeed, into Dublin as a whole.
From being the forgotten quarter, it now looks set to become one of the most fashionable, thriving and dynamic areas anywhere in the capital. This is a rare opportunity to see an area on the very cusp of transformation, and to see how cities evolve, develop and reinvent.
This Dublin Decoded city walking event is open to all, promises to be a remarkable tour. We look forward to seeing some of you there. Tickets should be booked in advance via the link to Event Brite, at the top right of this page. If you can’t see or find it top right then you can also access our EventBrite ticket page here.
Briefing documents: below: look at these maps before our tour, they’ll help you understand the content better, how the streets, square and institutions connect and how they relate physically and spatially.
1- a wide shot, a detail from John Roque’s famous 1756 map of Dublin, this section showing Rutland Sq (now Parnell Sq) Dominick and Bolton and Henrietta Streets as they were then, as well as the old Yarn hall and Linen hall buildings.
2- an amazing and rare view of the old Broadstone harbour, before it was filled in. With views of the city behind and below it!
3- in this oddly orientated but still useful map, West is down and East is up! But it still very usefully shows the spatial relationships between the old Broadstone harbour and terminus; the canal spar leading to the basin; the Linen hall; the work house (North Dublin Union) and seen here as – the semi circular building on the left- the Women’s Penitentiary .
4- across the road- across Grangegorman Road, from the Women’s Penitently was the asylum, known to many Dubliners as St Brendan’s. Here are the men’s quarters as they appeared in the 19th century.
Tour it all with us and in company from 11.30am Sat 13th May, 2017. We look forward to seeing some of you on the day. Please help spread the word. Sharing buttons for social media just below. Thank you. You can access the EventBrite ticket page for this event here.
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Arran Q Henderson 
This was a lovely blogg post
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