Parnell Square will be redeveloped into a new cultural quarter.
This week, it was announced that over €170 million will be spent to redevelop the cultural life of the area.
Chief among the plans is a new five-storey library building and major upgrades to the Hugh Lane Gallery’s 1930s wing.
The plan also calls for a direct internal link through Charlemont House, creating an interlinked experience.
The new city library will replace the existing Central Library at the nearby Ilac Centre, and wlll be located at the northern end of Dublin’s Civic Spine.
With an overall price tag of €173.2 million, the government will put forward €105 million in funding as it looks to put capital, and not just press releases, behind the regeneration of Dublin city centre.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron said, “the commencement of construction on the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter marks a defining moment for Dublin and for the future of our city centre.”
“This landmark project will deliver a world-class city library, restore and celebrate some of Dublin’s most important historic buildings, and create a vibrant cultural and civic destination in the heart of our capital. It is an investment in learning, creativity, heritage and community that will benefit Dubliners for generations to come,” the Donaghmede councillor said.
Lord Mayor Barron said, “this project will play a key role in the regeneration of Dublin city centre and the north inner city, bringing new life, activity and investment to the area. It strongly complements the work of the Dublin City Taskforce and our wider ambition to create a safer, more vibrant and more attractive city centre where people want to live, work, study, visit and enjoy all that Dublin has to offer.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said the project is a “significant step forward” for Dublin.
Minister Browne said, “with investment of over €100 million through my Department’s Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, this government is supporting the delivery of one of the most significant cultural and civic projects in the state.”
“This significant investment highlights the government’s commitment to revitalising this area and paving the way for further projects to be delivered in support of the Dublin City Taskforce,” he said.
The much-vaunted Dublin City Taskforce, commissioned by Simon Harris after he became Taoiseach in 2024, has seen plenty of proposals and recommendations, but very little in the way of delivery two years after it was established.
Minister Browne predicted “this is a project that will deliver lasting cultural, social and economic benefits for Dublin for future generations,” and said that the investment was proof that the government were serious about regenerating Dublin city centre
“As we will no doubt see here in Dublin’s inner city through this project, this fund can help regenerate our towns and cities so they can become more attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to visit and invest in,” the Minister said.
Dublin City Council Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare said the plan has been many years in the making.
“This is the culmination of many years of planning, design development and collaboration. The new city library will be a landmark civic building that supports education, culture, creativity and lifelong learning while contributing significantly to the regeneration of Dublin’s north inner city. We look forward to working closely with stakeholders and the local community to successfully deliver this transformative project.”
City librarian Mairead Owens said that the new city library will be “much more than a library.”
“It will be a civic space where everyone feels welcome and included; a place to read, learn, create, collaborate and participate in the cultural life of the city. With maker spaces, creative studios, performance facilities, event spaces and modern learning environments, the library will support innovation, imagination and lifelong learning for generations to come,” she said.
Local elected representatives welcomed the news, with the Green Party’s local councillors saying the announcement is not before time.
Party arts spokesperson Donna Cooney said that the party has been advocating for a cultural quarter for Parnell Square since the 1990s.
Cooney had praise for the extension and renovation of the Hugh Lane Gallery, as well as the planned library.
“The extension and renovation of the Hugh Lane Gallery will provide us with a world-renowned municipal library on our doorstep, which will be protected and enhanced for future generations,” the Clontarf councillor said.
Cooney, who was the chair of Dublin City Council’s arts and culture committee when the project was first proposed in the 1990s, said “this will be an amazing hub of education and creativity with studios and makers hubs for local people and visitors. Dublin city libraries have always been at the forefront of innovation, and this will be an amazing resource.”
North Inner City councillor Janet Horner said that the funding was welcome; now it was a matter of delivering the project “faster.”
The Green councillor said, “we will be looking quicker implementation of phase 2 for the removal of traffic from Parnell square and the greening of a public plaza connecting Parnell square with the other cultural buildings.”
As part of the works, Poetry Ireland, the Irish Writers’ Centre, the Gate theatre, the new Dublin City Council Studios on O’Connell Street, the Moore Street National Monument, Moore Street Market, the GPO, and the planned monument to the women of the revolutionary period will all be part of the same rejuvenation work.
Horner welcomed the ambitious plans, saying “this will bring much-needed investment and rejuvenation to this historic and cultural heart of our capital city”.
Independent councillor Nial Ring said the investment is a “landmark” occasion for the area.
“For years, we have waited for this project to get up and running, in the knowledge that it will bring economic, cultural, and social renewal to the North Inner City,” he said.
“The Parnell Square Cultural Quarter is not just about a world-class city library and the preservation of our Georgian heritage; it is the anchor for a wider regeneration of the city centre spine from Parnell Square, O’Connell Street, College Green, Dame Street, Dublin Castle, and Christchurch.”
“Together with the renovation and upgrade of the Hugh Lane Gallery and the re-imagining of nearby Mountjoy Square, it will create a major cultural destination and civic amenity for residents, workers, and visitors alike,” he added.
The independent councillor said the project “perfectly aligns” with findings of the Dublin City Taskforce to foster what he calls a “safer, more vibrant city centre.”
“As construction gets underway, and as a local councillor representing the area, I look forward to working closely with Dublin City Council, Purcell Construction, and everyone interested in and involved in making our city centre a great destination. We must ensure this project delivers maximum benefit for our community, confirming and cementing our area as the cultural heartland of Dublin,” he said.