Dartmouth Square
Cearnóg Dartmouth
Dartmouth Square
Dartmouth Square in June 2008
TypeGarden Square
LocationDublin, Ireland
OSI/OSNI gridO 16266 32509
Coordinates53°19′49″N 6°15′19″W / 53.330281°N 6.255374°W / 53.330281; -6.255374
Area2 acres (0.81 hectares)[1]
Operated byDublin City Council

Dartmouth Square (Irish: Cearnóg Dartmouth) is a Victorian Garden square located near Ranelagh, in Dublin, Ireland.[2] It has a simple rectangular layout, including a low granite plinth wall, a pergola and its walkway, and broadleaf mature trees which enclose the space. The park boundary is marked by the original wrought iron railings and gates.

History

The square was originally part of the Darley Estate. The park was developed along with the surrounding terraces of red brick houses, and was intended for private use by the residents.

The park became a financial burden to the residents of the square. It was leased to Loreto Hockey Club in 1926 for use as a hockey pitch for past students. Later, it was used by current students of Loreto College, St. Stephens Green. Differing accounts say that hockey was either played in the square until the 1950s, or that it stopped in the 1930s, when it became harder to maintain. The park began to decline and was overgrown.

In 1987, The Residents Association went to the Lord Mayor, Mrs Carmencita Hederman, which led to the City Manager, Mr Frank Feely, and his office working with the community to make plans for the park a Dublin Millennium Year project. The park was cleaned, a new pergola was erected, paths were realigned and widened, and flower beds were planted. The public park was opened and Dublin City Council opened a ten year lease. The construction and cleanup work was completed in 1988.

The lease expired in 1997, and talks took place between Dublin City Council and the Darley Estate while Dublin City Council continued to maintain the park.

Controversy

The square became the subject of controversy in 2005, when it emerged that years previously, businessman Noel O'Gara, bought the freehold on the square for £10,000 from PJ Darley, a descendant of the square's builders.[2][3] O'Gara locked the gates on the park in the square in 2006.[4] He tried to operate it as a car park but local residents blocked the gates.[4] After 3 years of dispute with residents and Dublin City Council 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.

In December 2012, the square was sold at auction on instruction of the liquidator of Marble Tile and Granite. A group of local residents bought the square at this auction and donated it back to DCC.[5] 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.[5]

Famous residents

Luke Kelly of the Dubliners folk group lived in at no.7 Dartmouth Square.[6] [7] The artist Pauline Bewick refers to his house at a time when she was romantically involved with him. [8]

In addition there it is claimed that the following were born or resided there: [9]

References

  1. ↑ "A brief history of Dartmouth Square" (PDF). Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 Dartmouth Square owner to challenge ruling, RTÉ News, 25 September 2006, retrieved 4 September 2009
  3. ↑ Dartmouth park to reopen after deal reached with owner, Steven Carroll, The Irish Times, 10 June 2009
  4. 1 2 O'Gara vows Supreme Court bid to stop council buying his public park, Irish Independent, 26 September 2006, retrieved 4 September 2009
  5. 1 2 Pope, Conor (5 December 2012). "Locals jointly buy Dartmouth Square park". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "A brief history of Dartmouth Square. Ranelagh, Dublin 6 - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Richard (24 January 2014). "Luke Kelly remembered: A force of nature on stage". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Times, Senior (15 October 2015). "The Lives and Loves of Pauline Bewick". Senior Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "A brief history of Dartmouth Square. Ranelagh, Dublin 6 - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 6 November 2023.


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