A PLANNING application for Dublin’s last Georgian mansion has met with a mixed reaction from local politicians.
The plans for Aldborough House on Portland Row in the heart of the North Inner City, which was built in the the late 1790s by the second Earl of Aldborough, Edward Stratford, will transform the building into an office development.
A protected structure, Aldborough House was the second-biggest Georgian private residence in Dublin, after Leinster House.
It was vacated almost two decades ago and has fallen into disrepair. Despite plans to renovate and restore the building, it has continued to decay during the 21st century.
The building was sold for an estimated
?¬4.5 million in 2005 and planning permission for a private hospital was granted in 2006 but the project never went ahead.
In recent years, windows have been smashed, lead stripped and it was almost burned down. But the Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce and Dublin City Council have made efforts to secure the building.
Current owners, Reliance Investments Ltd, now plan to conserve and restore the building for office use but some ancillary structures, including a theatre and a security hut, will be demolished.
Local councillor Nial Ring (Ind) said news of the application has been broadly welcomed by locals, public representatives and conservationists.
“For a number of years Aldborough House has been let fall into decline and Dublin City Council has spent over
?¬200,000 protecting the structure,
? he said.
“However, the news that the owners now propose to develop this magnificent building into offices is a most welcome development.”
“From its hayday as the second-biggest Georgian private residence in Dublin, it subsequently had many uses.
“It was a school run by former Cistercian monk, Prof Gregor von Feinaigle, and an army barracks.
“My own grandfather worked there when it was owned by the Board of Works and it was subsequently used by the P&T (now An Post), IMRO and then fell into private hands.
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“The plans for offices means that, once again, this house will be restored to its former glory.
“Thanks to the Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce and Dublin City Council, this building has not been completely lost.
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However, Dublin Central TD, Mary Lou McDonald (SF), is calling for the Government to
“urgently intervene
? so Aldborough House can be kept for community use.
“Aldborough House is perfectly situated to house and showcase the cultural talent of the inner city,
? she said.
“It would just be wrong for this beautiful building with all its history and potential to slip into the hands of a soulless corporate entity.
“Bad decisions by bad governments have resulted in too much of the capital’s rich historic architecture being developed for private ownership with no value provided to local communities, or being torn down and replaced with mediocre developments.
“Aldborough House must be restored for the community and the city.
“I recommended this course of action to Kieran Mulvey and the former Taoiseach Enda Kenny during the recent Government Taskforce consultation. The Government now need to acquire this property. Sinn Féin will be campaigning to ensure that this building is restored for community use.Â
“I have also written to Minister (of Culture) Heather Humphreys asking that the building be taken into public ownership.
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