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LAST UPDATE | 29 Sep 2020
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL is investigating the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the former home of a 1916 Rising leader in Ballsbridge this morning.
The property at 40 Herbert Park, which once belonged to The O’Rahilly, was bulldozed by a company developing the site at around 6.30am this morning.
The site and two adjoining addresses at 36 and 38 Herbert Park are set to be developed into 105 apartments and the extension of an aparthotel by Derryroe Limited, a company owned by the Kennedy and McSharry families.
Dublin city councillors had passed a motion earlier this month to have the property added to the Record of Protected Structures, which would have prevented its demolition.
However, it is unclear if this application was successful before the house was bulldozed this morning.
In a statement this afternoon, a spokesperson for the local authority confirmed that the council was looking into the destruction of the historic property.
“Dublin City Council is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the demolition of 40 Herbert Park,” a statement said.
“Once the City Council has ascertained the facts, it will take any appropriate action.”
The house was built in 1907 and The O’Rahilly, the only 1916 leader to die in battle, was the first occupant of the property. His widow lived there until her death in the 1960s.
Earlier this month, Derryroe was granted permission by An Bord Pleanála to develop the site, despite objections by local residents, Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews, Dublin City councillor Micheál Mac Donncha, the 1916 Relatives Alliance , and O’Rahilly’s grandson.
An architectural heritage report carried out on behalf of the company found that removing the house would “not represent a loss of significant architectural or historic fabric”.
O'Rahilly House demolished
— Aengus O Snodaigh TD (@aosnodaigh) September 29, 2020
In an act of wanton vandalism of our revolutionary heritage the Herbert Park home of the 1916 Rising leader The O'Rahilly was demolished today, despite a peservation order.
Minister must act to force developer to rebuild as was. pic.twitter.com/V8FRhhtgsQ
Speaking outside the Dáil today, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh described the demolition as an act of “sheer wanton corporate vandalism”.
“The developers, who moved onto the site and levelled the house this morning, attempted to remove any trace of a house that played a very valuable part in Irish history,” he said.
“I think once again we’re seeing what we saw in the 1970s, and after: the sheer corporate greed which will destroy Irish history and Irish heritage in this city if it’s allowed to go unchecked.”
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“yellow snow and wind warnings are in place for the UK tomorrow”. Make sure not to eat any of it.
@James Reardon: lol…. very good James
@James Reardon: lols, sharp witted on a Monday James, love it.
@James Reardon: It gives you wind?
@James Reardon:
It’s not just any wind..
It’s Red wind !!!
Must be more dangerous
The Atlantic Jetstream is 200 knots or 230mph just after midnight tonight and strenghtening. I would tend to heed this weather warming. It’s rare to have an upper wind that strong over Ireland.
@a: 300mph would be normal for the Jetstream. Airliners regularly hitch a ride on it when travelling eastward.
@James McErlain: No, 300mph wouldn’t be normal. 100-150 in winter time would be the average.
@a: yeh. If it was 300kph the planes wouldn’t be able to fly east.
@a: for the sake of all that’s holy, stay out of bodies of water, too!
Nphet will be behind this according to some to keep you indoors
@Bryan Mc Mahon: Sack them all just to be on the safe side.
Maybe it might blow the aul covid away.
@Fred spins kdb: fingers crossed
@Fred spins kdb: if everyone stands outside tomorrow at 11am and opens their mouths we’ll be all in nightclubs tomorrow night
Ohhhhh I’d love to be in Donegal tonight and tomorrow in my Motorhome just to experience the full force of the storm. Probably a/h/i\t myself but it would be great! Everyone stay safe!!
@Brian Kelly: must be a big motor home if you can experience the full force of a storm in Kerry & Clare whilst parked in Donegal!
@Lee King Buckett: I think he meant sheltering in his motorhome in Donegal while watching reports of the storm on TV. And if I deciphered his message correctly, while sitting on the toilet.
@Willem Mevius: That’s possible I guess, more likely is that he mixed up Malin Head and Mizen Head?
@Brian Kelly: you obviously havent seen the forecasts. donegal isnt bearing the brunt of this
@Lee King Buckett: think he went for the extended wheel base model. Must be a hoor driving in the west in that though.
@Willem Mevius: much wind in there.
Stock up on Brennan’s bread
@Aido: There’s gonna be a run on the bakeries!
@Aido: just got 10 sliced pans. Was going to get 48 pack of jax roll but remembered Brendan’s bread gives me constipation. Bought 5 tins of prunes to be on the safe side.
@Brendan McCarron: I got extra toilet rolls just to be safe
Good time to put a few bits out the back i want blown away…. Old garden toys, broken trampoline, wife.
@Al Smith: lol
@Al Smith: The wife is possibly returned next day. There are these magical things that never get lost and never break no matter what… ;-)
Make sure your trampolines are fastend down and anything else that can be blown away!
Is it safer to stay at home and not attend work so
@Ger Murray: in cork and kerry id assume the rule is to stay home?
@Brian Dunne: Absolutely correct.
@Brian Dunne: schools closing and limited people at work, no waste disposal collections, cheers
The next 2 hours will be critical
Kerry and Cork people geting a day off work to watch Netflix. Lucky Feckers.
@Dave Johnston: If that’s the case make sure you download your shows now and keep all tablets etc fully charged in case broadband and electricity go!
@Football in the Groin: Good thinking. Just have the cuppa tae made, feet up, start watching a series and then the power goes. Disaster
@Dave Johnston: you’d think so but where I work is owned by the uk and they’re refusing to tell us to close until the morning in case it’s downgraded
@HunWithACause✊: Won’t be downgraded anyway. More counties to be upgraded from orange to red if anything.
@Dave Johnston: except we probably won’t have power
See on their various Facebook pages lots of local shops deciding to open! The definition of red alert is somewhat confusing, I can’t take my kids to school but i can drop them to my mother’s and go to work?
@Cora ODonoghue: You can do what you want with your Kids, the schools will be closed so no point in going there… Why do you need to be told what to do? Have a look at Ventusky or Windy to make an informed decision on what you thin should be best at your time of travel and if you are willing to risk possibly fallen trees, branches etc…
How are limerick after avoiding the red?
@Sean Kirwan: even Barra doesn’t want to go there
@HunWithACause✊: best laugh of the day
@HunWithACause✊: best laugh of the day
@HunWithACause✊: best laugh of the day.
@Ann Morris Doolan: laughing for while so :)
@Sean Kirwan: Limerick put in the same storm category as parts of Leinster, thats makes sense!! Lots of trees down in Limerick County 2014 and it categorised orange…https://www.thejournal.ie/storms-are-battering-limerick-and-heres-the-result-1312883-Feb2014/
@HunWithACause✊: not welcome here
Someone needs to update the map
Tony Houlihan said the situation is very worrying.
@Leo O’ Leary: he says alot of crap sure
Good time to put a few bits out the back i want blown away…. Old garden toys, broken trampoline, wife.
All those working from home will be asking for a day off .
Kawsi Kwarteng said it was 2000 max yesterday. Someone has their numbers wrong.
Don’t be a hero
I got a message from my boss saying that I don’t have to go to work in the morning. So I can have a nice lie in the morning due to the storm
have your say