Dublin City Council’s Newcomen Community Facility officially opened

Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy today officially opened a new community facility at Newcomen Court, North Strand.

She was joined by members of Dublin City Council’s Central Area Office and the North East Inner City Initiative

This former Senior Citizen Complex has been developed into a well-designed community hub including garden space, opening up infinite opportunities and potential for the residents of the area to build on existing community engagement as well as promote greener and sustainable living in an urban setting.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy (pictured) officially opening the new community facility at Newcomen Court, North Strand

The facility will serve the wider community including the Mud Island Community Garden Group, local residents’ groups, various community groups and Dublin City Council.

Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy said: “This community facility nestled in Dublin’s North Inner City will surely thrive with no shortage of individuals and groups enthusiastic to avail of this prized community space.

“Dublin City Council continues to work with the relevant agencies and residents in building relationships and amenities that fit community needs.”

Pictured at the facility today are Eleanor Ryan, Architect, City Architects and Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy.

Karl Mitchell, Director of Services, Dublin City Council added: “The North East Inner City is home to many different migrant communities each with their own vibrant culture which adds to the tapestry of Dublin’s Inner City community today.

“Providing state of the art community facilities like this one here at Newcomen Court is testament to the commitment of the City Council in bringing communities together where they can share not just facilities, but their cultures and values among neighbours and friends.”

Pictured at the facility today are Nick Sweeney, Sweeney Architects, Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy and Eleanor Ryan, City Architects.

The project is funded by Dublin City Council and the North East Inner City Initiative.

Newcomen Community Facility lies in the heart of Dublin’s North East Inner City, neighbouring Mud Island Community Garden: a former derelict site owned by Dublin City Council and now a thriving oasis of vegetables, fruit and flowers all grown by the local community.

Pictured at the facility today are Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy and Ross Golden Bannon, member of Mud Island Community Garden and his dog Vicky

The garden was once a housing site, Newcomen Court which was later demolished in anticipation of development during the Celtic Tiger however with a subsequent collapse in economy and in an effort to counteract the anti-social behaviour and illegal dumping that was increasing on the site, the City Council and local residents embarked on a project that would ultimately result in one of Dublin’s prized Community Gardens.

The garden won first prize in the Dublin City Neighbourhood awards in 2020 and in essence, is a lung of the North East Inner City.

The garden boasts a greening infrastructure whilst promoting biodiversity and sustainability.

Mud Island serves the wider community outside of gardening including local artists who have contributed to the vibrant local mural on site.

The garden is also big enough to host social gatherings and in previous years has hosted its authentic Mudstock festival showcasing local artists and bands as well events organised through the local Five Lamps Arts Festival and Dublin City Council Culture Connects.

Groups which use the Newcomen Community Facility can work closely with Mud Island Community Garden staff in building on their gardening skills as well as sharing the space of the garden facilities which also includes its very own pizza oven.

Both the Community Facility and Community Garden will complement each other in serving the wider community of Dublin’s North East Inner City whilst building on the existing community engagement between residents, Local Authority and Statutory Agencies.