Public céilí to be held at Smithfield Square to protest Cobblestone Pub development

A group of activists, campaigning to save the Cobblestone Pub in Smithfield is hosting a public céilí in Smithfield Square this Saturday, October 30 at 2pm.

The group, Dublin is Dying says The Cobblestone is “a pub celebrated world-wide for its traditional Irish music is proposed to be, in part, demolished in favour of erecting a multi-storey hotel.

“Though the front bar would be maintained as a listed building, 70% of the current floorspace would be removed making it impossible for the pub to function as a business.”

A recent planning application submitted to Dublin City Council by Marron Estates proposed the development of a nine-storey hotel on the site of the historic pub.

In October, hundreds of people gathered at Dublin City Council offices protesting the application, demanding that the local authority reject the proposal.

“The venue at the back would be completely demolished, a place that hosts intergenerational singing sessions, traveller culture nights, affordable music and dance lessons and countless other events which no other single venue could hope to accommodate,” the group says.

“To follow through with this plan would spell the end for the Irish music community which has developed there over the past thirty years.

“To demonstrate their disapproval of the building proposal, the guts of a thousand people gathered together in Smithfield square on Saturday the 9^th of October.

“The city was completely taken by surprise. Gardaí were forced to quickly shut the quays of the Liffey to traffic as a coffin with “R.I.P. Dublin” written on its side was carried along the banks of the river to the steps of Dublin City Council.

“Among the crowd, musicians played ancient marches, hundreds walked together solemnly, carrying musical instruments, banners and placards.

“The event has sparked a hot debate in Dublin.

“Power based ideologies have long been placed above the more humane values of society.

“The inherent value of culture and tradition have once more been called into question.”

The group says that “members of the public are encouraged to submit letters of objection to Dublin City Council citing Planning Application 361/71 before the deadline of Nov 4^th

“Before the identity of this city is entirely erased, cemented over by more mindless development, transformed into a corporate playground, we assert our right to protest, to demand a better solution.

“Dublin is dying, but it’s not dead yet.”