Dartmouth Square

Victorian residential square in Dublin, Ireland

Dartmouth Square

Cearnóg Dartmouth

Dartmouth Square in June 2008

Type| Garden Square
Location| Dublin, Ireland
OSI/OSNI grid| O 16266 32509
Coordinates| 53°19′49″N 6°15′19″W﻿ / ﻿53.330281°N 6.255374°W﻿ / 53.330281; -6.255374
Area| 2 acres (0.81 hectares)[1]
Operated by| Dublin 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

[edit]

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.

When the maintenance of 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 alumni. Later, it was used by current students of the Loreto College, St Stephen's 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 approached Dublin Lord Mayor, Mrs Carmencita Hederman, which in turn led to the City Manager, Mr Frank Feely, and his office working with the community to make 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

* No. 23, Alfred (Alfie) Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin
* No. 51, Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary
* No. 55, Joseph Michael O'Byrne, 1916 veteran and Registrar of Deeds, Land Registry Office, Dublin
* No. 57, Paul Durcan, poet, was born at this house
* No. 61, Micheal MacLiammoir, actor and playwright and Hilton Edwards, actor and producer
* No. 62, Thomas Lopdell O'Shaughnessy, Recorder for Dublin
* Power O'Mara, Globe Theatre Company and eldest son of opera singer Joseph O'Mara
* Barry Fitzgerald (William Joseph Shields), an Oscar winning actor.
* Donagh MacDonagh, writer, playwright and broadcaster

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "A brief history of Dartmouth Square" (PDF). Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b O'Gara vows Supreme Court bid to stop council buying his public park, Irish Independent, 26 September 2006, retrieved 4 September 2009
5. ^ a b 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.

* v
* t
* e

Squares of Dublin

Georgian|

* Fitzwilliam Square
* Merrion Square
* Mount Pleasant Square
* Mountjoy Square
* Parnell Square
* Marino Crescent

Victorian|

* Belgrave Square
* Dartmouth Square
* Pearse Square
* Kenilworth Square
* Grosvenor Square

Other|

* Barnardo Square
* Clarinda Park
* College Green
* Crosthwaite Park
* Central Square
* Eaton Square
* Grand Canal Square
* Great Western Square
* Havelock Square
* Mayor Square
* Meeting House Square
* Ormond Square
* Oscar Square
* Parliament Square, Trinity College
* Prospect Square
* Royal Terrace Square
* Sandymount Green
* Smithfield Square
* St Stephen's Green
* Temple Bar Square
* Vavasour Square
* Whitaker Square
* Wolfe Tone Square

* v
* t
* e

Parks in County Dublin

North of River Liffey
(Northside)|

* Albert College Park
* Ardgillan Castle and Demesne
* Ardmore Park
* Ashington Park
* Balgriffin Park
* Beaumont Woods
* Belcamp Park
* Beresford Park
* Blessington Street Basin
* Bram Stoker Park
* Bull Island
* Charlie Moore Memorial Park
* Chancery Park
* Clontarf Promenade
* Coolock Lane Park
* Corduff Park
* Crescent Park
* Croppies' Acre
* Darndale Park
* Donahies Field
* Edenmore Park
* Eileen McLoughlin Park
* Ellenfield Park
* Fairview Park
* Farmleigh Estate Gardens
* Father Collins Park
* Garden of Remembrance
* Griffith Park
* Hartstown Park
* Hazelbury Park
* Johnstown Park
* Kildonan Park
* King's Inns Park
* Lady's Well Park
* Lanesborough Park
* Littlepace Park
* Malahide Castle and Demesne
* Mayfield Park
* Mellowes Park
* Mount Bernard Park
* Mountjoy Square
* Botanic Gardens
* Newbridge Park
* Oscar Traynor Park
* Our Lady's Park
* Phoenix Park
* Pope John-Paul II Park
* Poppintree Park
* Portrane Park
* Rivervalley Park
* Rockfield Park
* Royal Canal Park
* Saint Anne's Park
* St. Anne's Road Pocket Park
* St. Catherine's Park
* St. Michan’s Park
* Santry Park
* Seabury Park
* Seagrange Park
* Spencer Dock Park
* Stardust Memorial Park
* Tolka Valley Park
* Tyrrelstown Park
* Waterville Park
* Wolfe Tone Square

South of River Liffey
(Southside)|

* Ballawley Park
* Bancroft Park
* Belgrave Square
* Blackrock Park
* Brickfield Park
* Bridgefoot Street Park
* Bushy Park
* Cabbage Garden
* Cabinteely Park
* Carysfort Park
* Corkagh Park
* Dartmouth Square
* Deerpark
* Dillon's Park
* Dodder Park
* Éamonn Ceannt Park
* Eaton Square Park
* Fernhill Park and Gardens
* Fitzsimon's Wood
* Fitzwilliam Square
* Grattan Crescent Park
* Griffeen Valley Park
* Herbert Park
* Hermitage Park
* Herzog Park
* Irish National War Memorial Gardens
* Irishtown Nature Park
* Iveagh Gardens
* Jim Mitchell Park
* Kenilworth Square
* Killbogget Park
* Killiney Hill Park
* Lansdowne Valley Park
* Loreto Park
* Markievicz Park
* Marlay Park
* Merrion Square
* Moran Park
* Mount Pleasant Square
* Oscar Square
* Palmerston Park
* Peace Park
* Pearse Park
* Pearse Square
* People's Park
* St. Audoen's Park
* Saint Enda's Park
* St Kevin's Park
* St Patrick’s Cathedral Park
* Saint Stephen's Green
* Sandymount Green (park)
* Shanganagh Park
* Sorrento Park
* Thomastown Park
* Tranquila Park
* Turvey Park
* Tymon Park
* Waterstown Park
* Weaver Park
* Willsbrook Park
* Wilton Park

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