Maybe you’ve seen a few articles, tweets and posts over the last few weeks about Dublin New City Library being moved to Parnell Square. Here are a few of the main points about what’s going on.

The New City Library

Firstly, people are probably wondering, “where on Parnell Square this new library is going to go?”. It’s planned to be built at the Coláiste Mhuire site (numbers 23 to 28), it’s the building to the right of The Hugh Lane Gallery. In a nutshell, according to The Dublin City Council this new library, “…will expand the traditional mold with offers such as an Innovation/Enterprise Hub, Storyhouse for writers and readers, a Music Centre and a Digital Library” DCC, 2018.

What’s a Cultural Quarter?

This library is actually part of a much bigger plan which is called ‘Parnell Square Cultural Quarter – a Dublin City Council Project’. It is said that the quarter will be anchored by this new city library. The plan is to turn Parnell Square into a new cultural destination in Dublin. Believe it or not, this project has actually been in the pipeline since 2010.

Cultural quarters are built based on social, economic and cultural goals to develop local economies. They include organizations that create products for Cultural consumption not necessarily profit. There is aim to develop, regenerate, rebrand and stimulate tourism for these areas. They are places with rich culture and creativity. Parnell Square is already home to the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin Writers Museum, Irish Writers’ Centre the garden of remembrance, and it is minutes away from the Gate Theatre.

“A cultural quarter is a geographical area of a large town or city which acts as a focus for cultural and artistic activities through the presence of a group of buildings devoted to housing a range of such activities, and purpose designed or adapted spaces to create a sense of identity, providing an environment to facilitate and encourage the provision of cultural and artistic services and activities.” Roodhouse, Simon (2010), Cultural Quarters, Principles and Practice, Bristol, UK; University of Chicago Press: Intellect Books, p.24

There are many examples of Cultural Quarters all over the world, the most popular being Temple Bar Cultural Quarter. There are currently plans in place to develop Cultural Quarters in Swords, Co. Dublin and Waterford.

Connecting the Civic Spine

Another part of the ‘Parnell Square Cultural Quarter – a Dublin City Council Project’ is to connect the Civic Spine. The civic spine is the northern end of Dublin city which runs “…from Parnell Square along O’Connell Street and Dame Street to Christchurch, the route of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and other celebrations. It is home to the Garden of Remembrance…” Dublin City Council, 2013.

City Architect Ali Grehan said that the project was designed to make the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter a landmark destination that will revitalise Dublin’s historic Civic Spine. She says, “Redeveloping Parnell Square as a dynamic cultural quarter anchoring the Civic Spine, will create a major new destination, connect existing social and cultural experiences and give momentum to development opportunities waiting to happen”.

Who’s funding it?

“The project to deliver a new cultural landmark for Dublin is being undertaken by Parnell Square Foundation, a charitable trust established by Kennedy Wilson with the support of Dublin City Council. The Foundation has been set up to raise funds and finance the project which is being developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary company PSQ Developments Limited.” – Dublin City Council’s City Architects, 2018.

What’s next?

“The design team, led by Grafton Architects and Shaffrey Architects, is currently finalising the planning application which will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála for consideration in the coming weeks” – Dublin City Council’s City Architects, 2018.

The target date for opening of the new cultural complex is 2023. If you’d like to find out more you can follow the @ParnellSqCQ or check out the website here.

If you’re interested in learning more about Cultural Quarters please do get in touch, you can email me at ruth.m.ohagan@gmail.com. My research is also available here if you would like to read more here.