Historic building allowed to fall into disrepair
Issued : Thursday 14 February, 2008
Speech by Joe Costello TD
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Trade and Development
Speaking on a Motion on the Adjournment of the Dail, on the Need for the Minister for the Environment to outline his proposals for conserving 14-17 Moore Street and developing No 16 as a National Monument Joe Costello TD
16 Moore Street was the final headquarters of the leaders of 1916 Rising, from where they surrendered to the British forces five days after the beginning of the 1916 Rising. Today, despite being declared a National Monument, the building is empty in a state of disrepair and being allowed fall into a derelict state.
The 1916 Leaders occupied the houses in Moore Street following their evacuation of the burning GPO which had been shelled and bombarded by the British Army. On Friday 28th April, 1916 they escaped through a side door of the GPO onto Henry St and made their way to the terrace of houses on Moore Street. Their escape was short-lived as they found themselves to be hemmed in by the British Army and under siege again. As the British Army’s machine guns fired indiscriminately down Moore Street and innocent civilians were gunned down, the leaders of the rebellion, called the final meeting of the Council of War in No 16 Moore Street and made the decision to surrender. They initially sought terms with the British but were refused. Then Padraic Pearse, the Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, accompanied by Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell, surrendered at the Parnell Street end of Moore Street to Brigadier-General Lowe, the General in charge of operations throughout the rising. Thus it was in Moore Street that the 1916 was brought to an unhappy conclusion.
While it is known that the 1916 leaders used the terrace of houses from No 10 to 17 Moore Street, there was speculation that No 16 could not be definitively identified as the location of that final Council of War meeting. However, the Shaffrey report commissioned by Dublin City Council, cites from extensive eye-witness reports and concludes that there is no doubt that No 16 was indeed the location where the momentous decision to surrender was made. No 16 Moore Street is as important a landmark in the history of Rising as the GPO itself.
Following the publication of the Shaffrey Report in November 2005 the Dublin City Council added Nos 14–17 Moore Street to the Record of Protected Strucutres. This was followed by an announcement by the Taoiseach to a great fanfare, in December 2006 declaring 16 Moore Street to be a National Monument.
One would be forgiven for thinking that the listing of the buildings as protected structures and as a National Monument would afford some protection to the buildings. However, to the dismay of those who cherish its historical importance, the building has been allowed to fall into a complete state of disrepair and dereliction.
The Save 16 Campaign and the National Graves Assoication, have done tremendous work in highlighting the issue, and worked with the Councillors from all parties to ensure that Dublin City Council could not authorise the demolition of the terrace of houses as originally proposed for the redevelopment of the site. When the buildings were added to the list of protected structures and 16 Moore Street itself declared a National Monument campaigners hoped that their dreams of a museum/visitor centre at this location could soon be realised. All Dublin Citizens would be able to experience the place where the men who were ultimately responsible for the birth of the Nation lived through their final few hours of freedom.
However, the reality is very different. Slates are missing from the roof allowing the rain and the elements destroy the interior fabric of the building. If the buildings are not protected there is every chance they could be deemed to be “dangerous buildings” and their protected status in that instance will count for little.
The terrace of houses is part of the “Carlton Site” which was to be Dublin City Council’s flagship project for O’Connell Street/Moore Street area. While the lands have been the subject of much legal wrangling for well over a decade, the terrace of houses on Moore Street have become dilapidated. It is not acceptable that the houses which have been designated as protected structures and National Monument should be allowed to fall to this level of dilapidation without any plan or intervention by the State or the local authority. It is not acceptable that the State washes its hands of responsibility for the conservation and development of this important national monument and leave it to land speculators to decide on its future – as these are the very people who have allowed these houses fall into wrack and ruin.
Minister, I am calling for the State to intervene before it is too late and the buildings declared to be “dangerous”. I am calling for the State to take control of the four houses and ensure that they are restored and that they are developed to provide a museum/visitors centre. Inaction and the hope that private developers will develop “something” there is not sufficient and is tantamount to state vandalism of a national monument.
