Dublin Mayor and TDs barred from inspecting Moore Street site

THE MAYOR of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh and four members of the Oireachtas have been refused access to inspect the National Monument on Moore Street today as controversy continues surrounding the fate of the site of the last headquarters of the Provisional Government during the 1916 Rising.

The Ard Mhéara was accompanied by Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald and Independent TDs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace and Maureen O'Sullivan and conservation inspectors.

Security staff at the site and Lissadell Construction refused the delegation entry to the terrace on Moore Street to inspect the work being carried out by developers Chartered Land in parts of the terrace adjacent to numbers 14 – 17, which have been designated a National Monument.

Earlier this week the state gave an undertaking to the Save Moore Street Campaign in court that there would be no demolition works on the site pending a further court hearing. 

Speaking to An Phoblacht on Moore Street, Ard Mhéara Críona Ní Dhálaigh described the refusal of entry to the conservation inspectors as "totally unacceptable" and said citizens are very concerned about what is happening:

"It was agreed that no works would take place and we can clearly see and hear that work is ongoing on at the site. All we want is to see for ourselves that any work is adhering to the guidelines, at the end of the day this is a protected structure."

The agreement to halt demolition works came after protesters occupied the terrace stating that the construction works would destroy the historic terrace, including the parts designated as a National Monument.

Mary Lou McDonald says she has written to Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys to request the conservation architects be given access to the National Monument:

"This Government wants to build another shopping centre on this historical site and destroy like, Woodquay, another piece of our national heritage," she said. 

Campaigners want the terrace in its entirety to be preserved and the area to be designated a battlefield site.

• A protest against the demolition of Moore Street will take place at 3pm on Sunday, 31 January on Moore Street – the day before the next court hearing.