Dartmouth Square

Dartmouth Square (Cearnóg Dartmouth) is a victorian square near Ranelagh, in D6, Dublin.[1] It is near the Leeson Street bridge over the Grand Canal.

The square became the subject of controversy in 2005, when it emerged that years previously Athlone businessman Noel O'Gara bought the freehold on the square for £10,000 from PJ Darley, a descendant of the squares' builders.[1][2] O'Gara locked the gates on the park in the square in 2006.[3] He tried to operate it as a car park but local residents blocked the gates.[3]

In 2007 Noel O'Gara began selling tiles from the park with residents objecting on the grounds that he did not have planning permission to operate a showroom there.[4] In late 2008 tents were erected in the park and residents urged councillors to take action against Noel O'Gara.[5] Mr. O'Gara claimed that a man living in one tent was his gardener.[6] In December 2008 the tents caught fire and a man was hospitalised.[7]

After 3 years of dispute with residents and Dublin City Council and constant illegal activities an agreement was negotiated with Noel O'Gara by a local resident to reopen the square to be used as an amenity again. The local community gathered regularly to clean up the square which was in a state of ruin after years with no maintenance. After a couple of months and a big effort the square was returned it to its former glory. Local community members also gave money to get in heavy machinery to cut back all the overgrowth, paint benches and get rid of the graffiti. On June 11th 2009 it was reopened with great celebrations and on June 13th the first outdoor yoga class took place followed by a summer of events such as silent cinema with live music, poetry evenings, kids parties, charity fundraisers and many more cultural events. The yoga classes are still running through the spring, summer and autumn months. People from all over come to these classes and pay €5 for the class which pays for a gardener to cut grass, clip hedges etc and for plants and bulbs to be bought to help maintain and animate the park in partnership with DCC. [2] In September 2009 singer Damien Rice took part in a tree planting with Trinity College students, planting 32 apple and pear trees.[8]

In December 2012 the square was sold at auction on instruction of the liquidator of Marble Tile and Granite. A group of local residents paid for the square at this auction and donated it back to DCC and finally after years of dispute over its ownership it became public property again. [9] Noel O'Gara protested at the sale, though the property was eventually sold to Dublin City Council for €142,000, with a contribution of €32,000 from local residents. The square is now wholly owned by Dublin City Council.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Dartmouth Square owner to challenge ruling, RTÉ News, 25 September 2006, retrieved 4 September 2009
  2. 1 2 Dartmouth park to reopen after deal reached with owner, Steven Carroll, The Irish Times, 10 June 2009
  3. 1 2 O'Gara vows Supreme Court bid to stop council buying his public park, Irish Independent, 26 September 2006, retrieved 4 September 2009
  4. ↑ Dartmouth Sq controversy resurfaces, RTÉ News, 3 March 2007, retrieved 4 September 2009
  5. ↑ Campsite fury hits leafy Dartmouth Square, Cormac Murphy, Evening Herald, 10 November 2008, retrieved 4 September 2009
  6. ↑ Council intent on taking park owner down a peg, Mark Hilliard, Sunday Tribune, 14 December 2008, retrieved 4 September 2009
  7. ↑ Residents at Dartmouth Square ready to go into battle over state of park, Cormac Murphy, Evening Herald, 6 January 2009, retrieved 4 September 2009
  8. ↑ Singer replants Dartmouth Square, Genevieve Carberry, The Irish Times, 24 September 2009, retrieved 25 September 2009
  9. 1 2 Pope, Conor (5 December 2012). "Locals jointly buy Dartmouth Square park". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 December 2012.


Coordinates: 53°19′49″N 6°15′19″W / 53.330281°N 6.255374°W / 53.330281; -6.255374

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