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THE TWO MINISTERS heading up the State’s 1916 centenary celebrations paid a visit to the site of a planned new commemorative centre on Moore Street in Dublin today.
Work has now commenced at the National Monument site at 14-17 Moore Street, where the decision to surrender to British forces was made.
The row of houses was declared a National Monument in 2007 – but the question of what should be done with the site was the subject of fierce debate for years with plans suffering a number of setbacks.
The government finally stepped in and acquired the site in March of this year. However, ministers have conceded that work on the commemorative centre won’t be finished in time for the 2016 celebrations next spring. It had been hoped the project could be completed before the main programme of centenary events.
The Labour Party / TwitterMinisters Ó Ríordáin and Humphreys announce @Ireland2016 restoration works of 14-17 Moore Street commencing pic.twitter.com/1ePu8GFaxx
— The Labour Party Ireland (@labour) November 10, 2015
“It’s expected the restoration project will be completed in the centenary year,” arts and heritage minister Heather Humphreys said in a statement.
“I am conscious that there will be considerable interest in Moore St next year, so it is planned to allow access to the site for a commemorative event during April 2016, to coincide with Ireland 2016, the official State programme to mark the centenary of the Rising.”
Officials hope access to the site may be possible around Easter weekend next year, when the main commemorative parade will take place – however, the agreed plan is to allow access at the end of April to mark the anniversary of the surrender.
“The Moore St Commemorative Centre will be just a few minutes’ walk from the new major visitor centre being developed at the GPO,” Humphreys noted.
“It will be a fantastic addition to Dublin’s historical map, and should attract considerable visitor numbers.”
She added:
“The conservation work will reveal the period architectural detail, the living conditions and, above all, the imprint of the insurgency. The primary focus of the work is to reveal the buildings as they were during the Rising, allowing them to illuminate that period in our history.”
Relatives are being consulted regarding ongoing work on the centre, the minister said.
“I have also met with representatives of the Moore Street Traders, who are in favour of the development and who we will continue to work with in the months ahead.”
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In fairness to them though, they only got a hundred years notice that 2016 was coming up next year.
Like the millennium spire that wasn’t ready till 2003 or the M50 that was years late and hundreds of millions over budget. You couldn’t trust them to open an envelope with any degree of alacricity unless it was a brown one stuffed with cash.
And yet people still want the state to run our schools.
More money down the drain, knock it ffs
Lesser of two evils IMO, Wrath of Cheyney.
Left it a bit late there lads. Rush job coming up.
What a laugh…
It reminds me of when Cork was awarded European Capital of Culture .
They opened an information office on the event mid summer of that yr.
Not even Corkonians knew what the event had to offer or was going to offer.
They couldn’t get a helium balloon off the ground in this country but by Christ they’d sell the ground from under you before you could say..hey, that’s mine !!!
Piss-up and brewery are the first things to come to mind.
Great to see it being done, but pity that it won’t be done on time. I’m sure the new owners have other long term plans for it
Seems like an afterthought to me.. Literally the allowing of the Marriage Equality Referendum to be held is the only good thing I can think of that this Government has done.
Hard to bate Ireland for an ould delay wha?
How ironic that Gayodhan O’Queerdan should be leading this effort the very man who through his actions has sought to limit freedoms the men and women of 1916 fought to win. He is also a major proponent of the importation of non-nationals in an attempt to dilute and degrade Irish heritage and culture.
Wow haha cheers for that valuable input
Such bigotry. They are the new Irish. They will embrace the culture and heritage just like it’s worked out in all the major cities of Europe. Enrichment is good.
There pockets are about all that will be enriched.
Cheney why the need to stoop so low to make a point, I wouldn’t be O’Riordans biggest fan but no need for the petty name calling.
I have a feeling there is gonna be a lot of money wasted that could go to a lot better use.
Haha. The 2016 ministers. I’ll give them until the likely feb election.
Surely Minister Humphries forbearers sympathies lay on the other side, just like Enda to put a person from that side in charge of organising celebrations.
Sure that will make everything grand.
What’s the “other side” Joey? No lover of FG but last time I checked, Heather Humphries was a citizen of the Republic. Keep your bigotry for those who want to hear it.
Qsimple, the ones opposing the Republic, or, is irony just lost on you?
Bigotry, try living in the occupied part!
But why Humphries in particular? Don’t try to cover your bigotry in a patriotic cloak.
Seriously, look at what I wrote and, if you need help, try National School again, you can then read just what I wrote, not what you sought to see!
I’m well aware of what you wrote Joey and I’m also pretty confident of what you meant, hence my comments.
Heather humphries…..
Scarr….I think the same…I shouldn’t…but I do…
This is ridiculous. They’ve only had 100 years to prepare for this huge commemoration and of course the last HQ of the provisional Government won’t be ready on time. This government couldn’t care less about 1916. Lip service.
The state of them with their hi vis and hardhats….and their entourage of 300+ out of view….
Do they think it will be ready next year?. Leaving it late as usual
It looks like one of these graffiti guys have been paid by taxpayers to paint mini pillars around town. €200 to paint ice cream cones on a pink background. It is defacing public property.
Karl should be thoroughly ashamed of himself
Ah sure, twas a laugh!
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