Unique street view of Dublin’s origins will have you riveted
Local historian Donal Fallon’s fascinating new book reads like a gentle stroll
Three Castles Burning – A History Of Dublin In Twelve Streets Donal Fallon New Island Books €13.99 ★★★★★
Telling the history of a city in 12 streets is an ambitious task, even for an historian of Fallon’s experience and talent, though as he says himself the book is not intended as a definitive, academic chronicle of the streets; rather a potted peek into the past of some of the streets in the capital – ones that played major roles in the development of the city, whether financially, culturally, historically or socially.
The book seeks to give the reader an insight to these streets and their rise and sometimes fall within the ever-changing landscape of an emerging modern city; it’s much more like a lovely Sunday afternoon stroll than a history lesson.
‘In Henrietta St MacEoin rented studios to artists at reduced rates’
The journey begins fittingly enough in Henrietta St, the first Georgian terraced street in Dublin. The height of fashion when completed in the 1750s but within two centuries it had become one of the worst tenements in the city, neglected and dilapidated. The 1911 census shows there were 835 people living in just 15 houses.
In the 1960s an architect and former internee for his staunch republican sympathies started buying properties in Henrietta St, as well as other Georgian properties around the city. Uinseann Mac Eoin became one of the principal advocates to preserve Georgian Dublin.
In Henrietta St he rented studios and accommodation to artists at reduced rates, creating a vibrant community. A true patron of the arts, it was MacEoin who kickstarted the historic street’s rejuvenation.
Fallon introduces us to many people who had a role in the development of the city – for all sorts of reasons. Henry Moore, Earl of Drogheda, owned land around the centre of now O’Connell St. After laying out the streets he proceeded to name them after himself; Moore St, Henry St, Earl St and Drogheda St, now part of O’Connell St roughly where the Spire stands. Not wishing to waste a single word in his title, he even named a lane that joins the top of Henry St to Moore St ‘Of Lane’, now Henry Place.
However if anyone involved in the development and improvement of Dublin city deserves a street named after him it is Herbert George Simms, Dublin Corporation’s first dedicated housing architect from 1932 until his tragic death in 1948. Simms was responsible for building 17,000 houses in areas like Cabra and Crumlin. Recognising that not everyone wanted to live in the suburbs, and that people should be able to live in the city, he set about building a series of flat complexes.
These are the Art Deco complexes we find all through the city – Henrietta House, Chancery House, Emmett Buildings, amongst many others. Take a close look at his buildings as you pass them. They have beautiful Art Deco touches and Simms insisted they were constructed from the best of materials. These flats may need to be retrofitted for modern needs, but they must be preserved and celebrated not just for their architectural importance , but as a testament to the work Simms did to improve living conditions for working families of the time.
It is obvious the extent of research the author has done given the level of detail in this book. There is a full index, endnotes and bibliography included which makes the book very accessible.
Anyone with even a passing interest in Dublin city or urban development will love this fascinating book, which leaves one wondering about buildings in the city today that need care and attention. As the author says: ‘In Dublin, like all great cities, the past and the present are in constant interaction with one another. It is also a time for thinking about the future.’
Yes indeed it is!