Éire Go Bragh Statue, College Green –This easily overlooked statue is one of my favourites in Dublin, not only for its aesthetics, but for the spirit in which it was erected. The statue is the work of Edmund Sharp & Joseph Pearse, father of Patrick & William Pearse, both of..~1
whom were executed for their role in the 1916 Rising. Erected in 1889, the sculpture depicts Éireann, sitting holding a harp, with an Irish wolfhound to her right & items of trade, symbolising commerce to her left.
While being an exquisite example of Celtic Revival art, its..~2
position in the city was also a statement of intent. Opposite the statue sits what once was the Irish Parliament. After the 1801 Act of Union which abolished Irish Parliament, the building was purchased & used by Bank of Ireland. Irelands subservience to the British Crown was..~3
further highlighted by the carving of the Royal coat of Arms above the main entrance.
However, in 1845, Daniel O’Connell set up The National Bank at 34 College Green, as a way to help Irish Catholics, its location almost a challenge to British Rule. Its nationalist pedigree...~4
was further highlighted when the current statue was placed above it in 1889, at a time when the Home Rule movement was growing.
The phrase Éire/Érin Go Bragh (Ireland Forever) 1st came to prominence through the United Ireland organization in the 1790s & has been used by..~5
Irish Nationalists throughout the world. John Reily & his “Batallón de San Patricio” who fought for Mexico against the US during the Mexican–American War (1846–48) are said to have used a flag with the motto.
In the 1906 Olympics in Athens, Peter O Conner won silver in the...~6
long jump for Ireland. At the flag raising ceremony, when the Union flag was being raised, O Conner scaled the flag pole, ripped down the Union flag & replaced it with an Irish flag bearing the Érin Go Bragh motto (the Tricolour was not widely used by this time). Other Irish...~7
& Irish-American athletes defended the flag as it flew – the 1st instance of an Irish flag being flown at the Olympics.
Next time you're in College Green, take a moment & cast your eyes up to the statue, as she forever stares across at the Royal Coat of Arms in defiance.
~End
Swastika Laundry, Shelbourne Rd. – Leaving Herbert Park, & heading up Shelbourne Rd you come across a beautiful, modern glass building called “The Oval” incorporating an early 20th Century red-brick chimney. Amazingly, this is the only remnant of the previous building which...~1
stood here, called the Swastika Laundry! Founded in 1912, the symbol is actually that which is used in a myriad of Eurasian religions as a symbol of good luck. It was only usurped by the Nazi´s in the 1920´s. Still, the fact that this laundry had a fleet of red vans driving...~2
around Dublin with a Swastika on its side is still mind boggling. (the vans were electric – very forward thinking!) In fact, the famous German writer Heinrich Böll was shocked to see it when in Dublin in the 50´s, until he realized it pre-dated the Nazi party. The laundry,...~3
(Site of) The O Rahilly House, Herbert Prk – At No. 40 Herbert Park, The "O Rahilly", who fought & died in the 1916 Rising, lived here. His final letter to his wife, written as he lay dying in a doorway after being shot covering a retreat from the GPO, is immortalised on a...~1
plaque just off Moore St. Critical IRA decisions during the War of Independence (the burning of the Customs House) were taken in this house. It was a meeting place for monumental figures in Irish history, including Dev & Michael Collins. And now it is gone! Wiped from the...~2
face of the earth (2020) to make way for luxury apartments, which are still not built. One of the reasons I set up this account was to keep a log of the sites around Dublin that are sometimes hidden, sometimes forgotten, but none the less critical parts of our history &..~3
Donnybrook Cemetery, Donnybrook Rd – My nomination for cult Irish historical Villain lies here (#3👇). Dating from 800A.D. the cemetery was once the location of an old Celtic church founded by St. Broc (Domhnach Broc-Donnybrook). A later church dedicated to St. Mary was built..~1
c1181-1212, standing for 600yrs until it was rebuilt in 1720. Due to the congregation increasing, a new church was built at the corner of Angelsea Rd/Simmonscourt Rd, & St. Marys was demolished. A small wall in the centre of the cemetery is thought to be from this church. ~2
The entrance today was erected by the Dublin Stock Exchange in 1893 in memory of Thomas Chamney Searight. Many notable people are buried here, but I want to focus on one – Leonard MacNally. MacNally is a fascinating character, worthy of a Hollywood film. Depending on your...~3
Magnetic Observatory/O’Kane Film Centre, UCD – While this building is over 180 years old, it has only occupied this site in UCD for the last 40 odd years. Built in 1837 in the form of a classical Grecian Doric temple, it was originally situated in the Provost’s Garden of...~1
Trinity College. Due to the nature of the magnetic research that was to take place within, all the materials used in its construction had to be devoid of magnetic influence, so copper, brass & gun-metal were substituted for iron. Humphrey Lloyd, Rev. Prof. of Natural &...~2
Experimental Philosophy, & Provost of Trinity itself from 1867–1881 carried out his research on the earth's magnetic field here. His work with Edward Sabine was the 1st to confirm the link between solar activity & magnetic disturbances here on Earth. Lloyd had a remarkable...~3
Casino at Marino – the casino (from the Italian for “Little House”) is all that remains of James Caulfeilds (1st Lord Charlemont) 18th Century demesne at Marino. Completed in 1775, its neo-classical design is a masterpiece of deception! Designed by William Chambers, it takes...~1
the form of a Greek Cross, appearing as a single roomed building. However, it consists of 16(!) rooms across 3 floors. The Roman funerary urns at the top are actually chimneys, 4 of the columns are rainwater drains & the door at the front – only 2 panels are the actual door. ~2
Inside, the illusions continue. The vestibule has a semi-circular apse which gives a false sense of height, the zodiac room is accessed through a secret door in the wall of the Blue Room. I wont go into too much detail, but suffice it to say, the interior is as grandiose as...~3
Marino crescent, Marino - A long thread, this one, but worth it. Built in 1792 by Charlie Ffolliott, basically as a giant “f**k you”, resulting in the row of houses to be called ‘Spite Row’ or ‘Spite Crescent’. The reason for this? One James Caulfield, The Earl of Charlemont...~1
the owner of Marino house (& the Casino in Marino), who really liked his views! Ill do a piece on the Casino at a later date, but suffice it to say, Caulfield had built the Casino so he could view out across his magnificent gardens & Dublin bay. He even had tunnels built so...~2
his servants could bring the refreshments from his Marino House without disturbing his view.
So when developer Charlie Ffolliott announced plans to build homes on Caulfield's sea view, the Earl did everything in his power to stop him - including jacking up the price on the...~3