Dublin councillors pass motion for restoration of O’Rahilly’s home
DUBLIN city councillors have endorsed a motion calling for the restoration of the historic former home of 1916 leader Michael O’Rahilly, which was demolished last week to make way for an apartment complex.
Councillors approved a joint emergency motion tabled by Sinn Féin and the Green Party at last night’s monthly council meeting that “deplores” the demolition of the house at 40 Herbert Park in Ballsbridge by developer Derryroe Ltd in order to build 105 apartments.
The house was the former home of Michael Joseph O’Rahilly – known as The O’Rahilly – the revolutionary leader who was killed during the 1916 Rising.
Councillors had intended to hold a debate on the controversial demolition but were cut short because of time limits at the meeting due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, Green Party councillor Donna Cooney summed up the general consensus among councillors that the demolition was a serious blunder.
“This is a very significant house and what happened to it was disastrous,” she said.
“It’s not just where he died but where his family continued to live.”
The council, meanwhile, is to take legal action against the developers but declined to say whether any law has been broken, pending legal action.
The motion “calls for the immediate restoration of the house” after councillors had begun the process to have the house listed as a protected structure.
Sinn Féin councillor Daniel Céitinn, who initiated the motion, claimed the developer had tried to pre-empt the process to list the house as a protected structure.
Derryroe received planning permission for 105 apartments at the site after An Bord Pleanála granted a Strategic Housing Development application on September 8. But on September 14 councillors voted to list the building as a protected structure.
However, council officials said they were unable to complete a conservation report, citing no response for permission to visit the site.