Rain falls on Dolphin sod-turning event

MINISTER for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Micheál Mac Donncha braved the rain alongside a gathering of locals at a sod-turning event for New Dolphin Park last week.

The new purpose-built development for older people in Rialto in Dublin 8 was unveiled at the ceremony on Friday morning. 

The 43-unit New Dolphin Park is part of the State’s largest ever regeneration project and is being delivered by Fold Ireland in partnership with Dublin City Council and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government. It is scheduled to be ready for occupation in early-2019.

Fold Ireland is a not-for-profit limited company formed by guarantee of the members and without a shareholding.

Its organisational purpose to date has been to develop partnerships with local authorities, appropriate care providers and developers in greater Dublin and in the border counties to provide social housing at various locations.

Fold Ireland said they were excited when it was announced that work had begun on the new housing units to replace the existing senior citizens complex at Dolphin Park earlier this year.

 After consultation with the existing residents, it was later agreed that the new scheme will be called New Dolphin Park.

Dolphin House and Park is Dublin's largest public housing complex. It was built in 1957, sits on 18.5 acres and comprises 436 homes.

“Fold Ireland is proud to be part of this exciting regeneration project and looks forward to delivering new purpose-built apartments for the older people in the area,” a spokesperson said.