Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alamy Stock Photo

Marie Sherlock Honour the history of the GPO by making it an artists' hub

As the debate about what to do with the GPO rages on, the Dublin TD says it could be a major artistic hub in the capital.

AT AROUND 25,000 square metres, the GPO complex on O’Connell Street in Dublin is two-thirds bigger than the pitch in Croke Park.

For many of us who call Dublin home and for those who visit the capital, we think of the post office at the front of the building and the wonderful exterior facing onto O’Connell street. But physically, the GPO is so much more than that. With two internal courtyards, offices which go up five storeys high and a relative newly interpretative centre there is a whole world of possibility for a re-imagined GPO.

Sadly, from what we heard last week, the Government appears devoid of any imagination. With an office vacancy rate of 18.6% in Dublin’s city centre at the end of last year, according to Knight Frank, it’s clear Dublin does not need any more shiny new offices.

Indeed, one of the reasons An Post cited for relocating its 900 staff to the docklands was because the GPO office space had not been renovated since the 1980s, and there are significant mechanical and engineering challenges in modernising the offices. So if the bill is too high for An Post, then who else is going to put in the necessary multi-million euros? And for whom?

Retail, a major historic project and a cultural hub were the other crumbs of detail that the public got from the Government in the past week. There is no indignity to retail, the sector generates local jobs and is the lifeblood in terms of employment for communities close to O’Connell Street, but do we really want major big brands taking up residence in one of Ireland’s important and historic buildings?

Retain its character

For us in the Labour Party, the GPO can be much more than a shrine to the past. Instead, the sacrifice of so many in 1916 is best remembered by ensuring the GPO is a living, breathing institution.

That starts with keeping the post office at the front of the complex. At a time when so many post offices have been relegated to the back of the local shop and crucially when postmasters are telling us their business is increasingly unviable, it is vital that we retain post office services in the GPO, which have been there since 1818.

Secondly and really crucially, we believe there is enormous potential for the GPO complex to become a thriving artistic and residential hub in the heart of the city, combining important remembrance of the GPO’s past, with desperately needed artist space and accommodation for Dublin’s future.

For almost two decades now, we have seen the hollowing out and dramatic loss of many of Dublin’s artistic and cultural spaces. This has been a devastating process where culture has not been able to compete with capitalism.

In that context, the GPO as a public building offers an incredible opportunity to become a place to create and to showcase the best of our country’s creativity across a range of art forms. Natural light fills the courtyards, and as any visual artist, writer, theatre group or musician will tell you, their need for space is basic but crucial for them to create. Furthermore, the new chapter in the GPO’s life could be really groundbreaking by converting a number of offices into apartments.

One thing for certain: we know the demand for artist spaces is huge. In December 2021, Dublin City Council commissioned a Dublin City Cultural Infrastructure Audit. At that time, there were over 2,500 artists and 25,000 creative workers recorded in Dublin, but no more than 392 individual and 137 shared artistic workspaces. Four years on, progress is painfully slow across the city.

The Dublin task force already recognises the need for O’Connell Street to become a residential area, and while the task force set out ambitious plans, that hasn’t been matched with the funding. This goes to the heart of the issue with the GPO. Do we really believe a FF-FG Government is going to stump up the money any time soon for elaborate and expensive reconfigurations of the GPO? The same Government that pulled the plug this month on 250 desperately needed social homes due to cost implications.

As a TD in Dublin Central, I know there is already a very long list of necessary projects to be funded in the Dublin 1 area, and the implementation report published last week inspires no confidence that Government departments will bring flair and finance to the GPO project anytime soon.

The vast majority of those offices at the back of the GPO have been vacant for two years now — it’s a scandal to allow them to lie vacant for any longer. As a starting point, let’s have them put to use as an artist space and over the next five years, let’s develop the GPO to do justice to the sacrifice of the past and be a beacon for the potential of our future.

Marie Sherlock is a Labour TD for Dublin Central.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
73 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo
    Favourite Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:30 PM

    Correct decision. God bless you Mr Biden and thank you for your service

    385
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Barry
    Favourite Pat Barry
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:33 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: Amen to that brother.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John J Barry
    Favourite John J Barry
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:29 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: I’m sure the Palestinians will agree with you.

    34
    See 11 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wood Jackson
    Favourite Wood Jackson
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:21 PM

    @William Slevin: it must be so difficult for you, knowing everything. I hope you soon get some rest.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:23 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: ‘God’… we have so far to go yet.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Gaffney
    Favourite Eric Gaffney
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:46 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: Yeah thanks for all the wars

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Gaffney
    Favourite Eric Gaffney
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 10:07 PM

    @William Slevin: he’s in talks with Trump ! Where do you lot get your news?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian madden
    Favourite brian madden
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 10:19 PM

    @Eric Gaffney: breibart

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Guiney
    Favourite David Guiney
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 10:21 PM

    @William Slevin: he’s a sex pest, and rabid anti vaxer that his own family have disowned.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Favourite another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 10:29 PM

    @William Slevin: Well done. You used “their” in the right context!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TheGood Feign
    Favourite TheGood Feign
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:28 PM

    @William Slevin: I think the key thing about RFK is the media won’t mention him despite his rather significant percentage in polls, significant because of the election is close then his presence spoils an outright win. I think it goes to the house of reps to elect or something like that. No place in America for an independent, land of the free, leader of the free world, yeah right.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James T.Kirk
    Favourite James T.Kirk
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:29 PM

    @Pat Barry: I hope that has made sense
    in your head.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James T.Kirk
    Favourite James T.Kirk
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:32 PM

    @William Slevin: Ah Mr.Slevin is back with nothing better to do with his free time than trying to prove a point. Good man Jack.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
    Favourite Fergus O'Donnell
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2024, 12:09 AM

    @William Slevin: failure of a comment.
    Can you even read?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Annette
    Favourite Annette
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    Trump is too old to be president.

    192
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Barry
    Favourite Pat Barry
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:51 PM

    @Annette: I think the near miss has set him back a bit.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:24 PM

    @Annette: and too dumb, but ‘that’s entertainment..’

    47
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian madden
    Favourite brian madden
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 10:20 PM

    @Pat Barry: he looks very dishevelled.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Foster
    Favourite Stephen Foster
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:14 PM

    Kamala hasn’t a hope against Trump. So unlikeable, phoney and vapid. The democrats are in big trouble.

    206
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:27 PM

    @Stephen Foster: she has one advantage. We know nothing about her.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Argus Romsworth
    Favourite Argus Romsworth
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:06 PM

    Hope President Biden enjoys his retirement. He’s implemented some excellent economic policies that have benefitted the USA massively. Which in turn has benefited us here in Ireland and helped put more money in our pockets.

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheila McNulty
    Favourite Sheila McNulty
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:44 PM

    @Argus Romsworth: And he has supplied Israel with no end of Arms which has slaughered Thousands & thousands of innocent Children, Families wiped out in Palastine & their Country destroyed, How he could watch what was happening & still keep the arms supplied is scandalise

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James T.Kirk
    Favourite James T.Kirk
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:38 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: Nonsense, every president will support Israel by default. If you don’t know that you have a lot of reading to do.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Whelan
    Favourite Ger Whelan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:41 PM

    He’s spent hundreds of billions of dollars financing wars on different continents while millions of Americans are falling into poverty.

    140
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TheGood Feign
    Favourite TheGood Feign
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:38 PM

    @Ger Whelan: they’ve always done that, the US was born out of the arms industry, and it profiteered from both sides in ww1 before joining in. Supplying or demonstrating it’s arms is what it does and always has.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
    Favourite Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2024, 7:31 AM

    @Ger Whelan: The irony being that the one president who didn’t start a war is vilified as a war monger. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 087 bed
    Favourite 087 bed
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:38 PM

    I wonder who AIPAC will allow to take his place.

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:25 PM

    @087 bed: Netanyahu

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike B
    Favourite Mike B
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:28 PM

    @087 bed: Michael Rapaport

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Money
    Favourite Sean Money
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    Whom is pulling the strings here?

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Whelan
    Favourite Ger Whelan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:44 PM

    @Sean Money: Putin?

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Hayes
    Favourite Jack Hayes
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:13 PM

    @Sean Money: ‘Who’.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Áine G
    Favourite Áine G
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:43 PM

    It’s Trump’s now. For the taking.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith o beirne
    Favourite Keith o beirne
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:32 PM

    america is a nation that can be described in a single word, asufutimaehaehfutbw.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Barry
    Favourite Pat Barry
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:35 PM

    @Keith o beirne: …or fubar.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute stephen deegan
    Favourite stephen deegan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:07 PM

    @Pat Barry: or WTF

    12
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:26 PM

    all valid

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oh Mammy
    Favourite Oh Mammy
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    The US moving into a deeper ring of embarrassment

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Hayes
    Favourite Jack Hayes
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:12 PM

    The best decision and he leaves with divinity. Of course, Trump’s reaction to the news is the expected vile nastiness.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Hayes
    Favourite Jack Hayes
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:15 PM

    *Dignity, I mean. I think the mentally-ill Maga cultists have the handle on messianic divinity.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian
    Favourite Ian
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:30 PM

    @William Slevin: see you’re the perpetual klown on here.

    39
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheila McNulty
    Favourite Sheila McNulty
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:49 PM

    @Jack Hayes: dignity? he has Palastine on his Conscience supplied Israel with arms to slaughter innocent Children & Thousands of Families wiped of the face of the earth

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bert Carolan
    Favourite Bert Carolan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:10 PM

    A real problem for the democrats now is that Harris is seen as unelectable. The best candidate would be California governor Gavin Newsome. They now have to persuade Harris not to run.
    To an extent this is damage limitation from the democrats. A candidate that can beat Trump at this point is unlikely, not losing both houses and at least be able to block trumps policys.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:14 PM

    @Bert Carolan: but Newsome is highly unpopular in California? What the Democrats need to do first is to stop banging on about what people have to lose if trump wins and instead tell people what they will gain if they vote Democrat.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bert Carolan
    Favourite Bert Carolan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:28 PM

    @Alan: California will vote democrat even if it meant voting for a jack Russell.
    It’s all about optics now. Newsome will look good, will sound good and will be 30 years younger than Trump.
    Can he or any other democrat candidate carry the swing states? Probably not.
    Mind you a section of voters that were disillusioned with two ancient candidates might be motivated now.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
    Favourite ecrowley ecrowley
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:40 PM

    Would have been more effective a few days ago to take the sting out of the assassination attempt, narratively speaking. Still, he’s doing the right thing bowing out.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
    Favourite ecrowley ecrowley
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:53 PM

    @William Slevin: I’ll say something to you that you have never, ever heard before…You might be right.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:14 PM

    But but but, Trump was wrong when he said Sleepy Joe wasn’t up to the job!

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Tierney
    Favourite Joseph Tierney
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 7:50 PM

    What took him so long to make up his mind… Forgot he needed the proper medicine…..

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Woods
    Favourite Kieran Woods
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:23 PM

    I wonder who the MIC and Isreal have chosen as the next nominee?

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Barry
    Favourite John Barry
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:23 PM

    Good luck in your retirement Mr Biden. You’ll always be welcome back home in Ireland… Now to get Gavin Newsome in.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheila McNulty
    Favourite Sheila McNulty
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:51 PM

    @John Barry: Really?After supplying Arms to Israel wake up

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Mccabe
    Favourite Sean Mccabe
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:40 PM

    Off to paddy powers and put the mortgage on trump..absolute shoe in

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garreth Byrne
    Favourite Garreth Byrne
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:18 PM

    Fintan O’Toole’s Irish Times article obviously influenced Biden’s decision.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vincent Hickey
    Favourite Vincent Hickey
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:48 PM

    Sleepy joe will nod off now

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Argus Romsworth
    Favourite Argus Romsworth
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:06 PM

    Such a brave decision from president Biden.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phillip Smyth
    Favourite Phillip Smyth
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:20 PM

    Trump has a shoe in now, Democracy as the US partially had is now dead, the major power a dictator wants is to be glorified by his people and the adoration from same,he has the money, what else does he need only a monument and a gold plaque to go down in history.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:15 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: the world was more pea full place when Trump was President.
    But lefty dopes never let the facts cloud their opinions…

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean weir
    Favourite sean weir
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Paul: rubbish

    13
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
    Favourite Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
    Report
    Jul 22nd 2024, 7:32 AM

    @Phillip Smyth: You do know how democracy works right ?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian McDonald
    Favourite Ian McDonald
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:02 PM

    How the hell are fires being started at the Coolock site that is being monitored by both Gards and security personnel ??? You had one job!

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hi from heaven
    Favourite hi from heaven
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:47 PM

    @Ian McDonald: I thought the same thing…but I presume it would be easy done with drones and petrol bombs

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Rowan
    Favourite James Rowan
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:30 PM

    Covfefe

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 9QRixo8H
    Favourite 9QRixo8H
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:15 PM

    Could Newsom be the new JFK? Young and energetic. #SaveDemocracy2024

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Keogh
    Favourite Richard Keogh
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:26 PM

    @9QRixo8H: California is an absolute basket case under his leadership. His polling among Independents is horrendous, and they will be very important in deciding the election in the swing states.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RIP
    Favourite RIP
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:04 PM

    God help America,
    playing into Putin’s hands

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Athena
    Favourite Athena
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:08 PM

    Aww, and him having received the most votes of all presidents ever, he might have topped that yet again …

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hans vos
    Favourite hans vos
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:02 PM

    Brave from Biden. Seeing your own Foulds is not for everyone. Still I prefer Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom instead of Kamela Harris.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith McSweeney
    Favourite Keith McSweeney
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 8:48 PM

    Kamala Harris

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute AnthonyK
    Favourite AnthonyK
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 9:09 PM

    A descent choice.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Brown
    Favourite Peter Brown
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 10:46 PM

    Kamala and Clinton

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean weir
    Favourite sean weir
    Report
    Jul 21st 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Peter Brown: on god no ,that’s the worst pairing ever ,trump would walk it

    16
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds