Harold's Cross

Dear Harold’s Cross Neighbour,

We are in the early stages of setting up a volunteer group to help those in need in the Harold’s Cross area of Dublin at this challenging time.

We are mobilising a group to help our neighbours and one another out over the next weeks/months as required during the Covid-19 outbreak.
We are following a Community Response Plan that has emerged from Dublin 8.

If you are interested in getting involved in some way, please fill out your details Here and we will be in touch with you.

Thanks in advance for your help

Tony Shannon
Maria McDonald

On Behalf of the Harold’s Cross Community Council

Click here if you want a version of this message that you can print.

On March 10, 2020, Dublin City Councillors emphatically refused to approve the Manager’s proposal to rezone Greenmount Industrial Estate for residential development. This was the only proposal that was refused having been put to a vote. The result was 10% to rezone, 88% to refuse rezoning and 2% abstaining.

The number of residential units and associated bed spaces in Harold’s Cross has increased by over 25% since the 2016 census – many of these at the expense of small, privately owned businesses each employing between 10 & 50 people – the Classic Cinema, Thorn Lighting, Kenilworth Motors, DD O’Brien Tiles, Harold Engineering, Insignia Signs, Murphy & Gunn, Rosie O’Grady’s, MG Motors, the Lantern Inn and the Greyhound Stadium – hopefully soon to be a multi-school campus.

We look forward to working with our local Councillors, Residents Associations, the Business Association and City Council executives to develop a long-term strategy for the area.

The Dublin City Council Culture Company invite you to the opening of an exhibition featuring some videos celebrating 10 years of the Harold’s Cross Community Festival and the launch of the book “Life Lines” celebrating 50 years of the Harold’s Cross Ladies Club. It’s in Rathmines Library on Monday 24^th February at 6pm. If you can’t make it on Monday, the exhibition runs until March 21^st. See below or click HERE.  

We invite you to join us as we celebrate the creative work made by the community of Harold’s Cross as part of The National Neighbourhood.  What: HX 50/10 – Exhibition Opening  When: Monday 24th February, 6.00pm – 7.00pm  Where: Rathmines Library, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Following on from our launch event in the Stella Cinema last December, we are delighted to bring some of this work to Rathmines Library for a 4 week exhibition, from Monday the 24th of February to Saturday the 21st of March. This exhibition will incorporate Life Lines by Harold’s Cross Ladies Club with artist Peter Varga (Humans of Dublin), and two documentary film pieces made with and about Harold’s Cross Community Festival with filmmaker Dave Knox.  Made by Dublin City Council Culture Company as part of The National Neighbourhood, in partnership with Dublin City Council’s South East Area Office, City Arts Office, Pembroke and Rathmines Libraries, the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland. Dublin City Council Culture Company runs cultural initiatives and buildings across the city with, and for, the people of Dublin. Find out more at dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie

• 

Mens Shed Winter Outing

Thursday the 6^th of February

Leaving at 8.45AM for the Evergreen Club, Terenure

Visiting the Garda Training College, Templemore (College and Museum)

3 Course Lunch included

Contact:- terenuremsshed@gmail.com

Brought to you by Men’s Sheds – just the facts nothing more.

Planning: There are 792 new units with 1,918 bed-spaces, an increase of approx. 25% over the 2016 census figures. In this context the Harold’s Cross Village Community Council is vigorously pressing for a Local Area Plan before any further rezoning happens. This is a vital requirement considering that development levies and land disposals generated from these developments contributed in excess of €6.5m for the City Council.

A motion proposed by Councillors Mary Freehill, Pat Dunne, Deirdre Conroy, Tara Deacy & Anne Feeney at the December Area Committee meeting to commence a Local Area Plan in 2020 was agreed.

Please raise the issue of piecemeal development and the lack of investment in local public amenities with canvassers in the upcoming general election. Harold’s Cross urgently needs a Local Area Plan !

The City Manager has proposed to change the City Development Plan to re-zone Greenmount Industrial Estate for residential development. A web-based public consultation process is now open. The Community Council opposes any and all re-zoning in the absence of a Local Area Plan. Submissions must be made by Wednesday, 22 January. Click: HERE or paste this link : https://consultation.dublincity.ie/planning/proposed-variations-no-8-27/consultation/subpage.2019-11-26.8558071860/

Rosie O’Grady’s : The neighbouring residents met with the Project Manager- John Nicol – before Christmas to discuss the impacts that the development will create during and post development. To ensure timely, comprehensive communication a direct line of communication has been established vis a phone line, emails and a Project Newsletter Webpage. Click: HERE. The Construction Management Plan, a Residential Travel Plan and details of the materials proposed in the public areas have recently been submitted. It is proposed to name the apartments “Tivoli Court”.

Kenilworth Motors : The new owners, Singapore based Trinity House Investments, have retained Harte Property & Investment to develop the site. They intend to apply directly to An Bord Pleanála for permission for 200+ build-to-let apartments or shared-living units in H1/2020. It is valuable to browse both websites.

Murphy & Gunn : Rathgar Avenue closed down suddenly before Christmas. Another site for development and another reason for a Local Area Plan !

2.    The Minister for Education & Skills has awarded Educate Together patronage of the proposed 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Harold’s Cross. The press release included the following rider :

“The online parental preference processes indicated a minority preference for Irish as the preferred language of instruction. Having regard to the level of preferences for Irish-medium, particularly in the Dublin 6/6W area survey, the Department will  engage with patrons of existing Irish-medium gaelcholáistí and the new schools to ensure that this demand is addressed.”

3.    Age Friendly Village : The first meeting of the Implementation Team comprising local residents, public representatives, an official of the HSE, the DCC Programme Manager and Kimmage-Rathmines LEA Manger will take place in January to consider the draft report following the walk-around survey in November.

4.    HX Grow Hub : Following the piece in the Christmas Harold’s Xpress a group of people are moving to get ready for spring. If you are interested in growing useful and beautiful plants, flowers or veg at home in your garden, balcony and / or window box just email: HXGROW@GMAIL.COM

5.    The HOME-STREET-HOME stock clearance sale is in full swing. See attached email or Click: HERE

6.    Have you heard about Dublin’s latest music venue – The Four Provinces Pub in Ravensdale Park just past the KCR Industrial Estate ? Well this Saturday, January 11^th Musiclee presents a superb blues / jazz / country gig with internationally renowned guitarists Ben Prevo and Ed Dean. See attached email or Click: HERE and HERE

7.    Rathfarnham Castle has a wonderful programme of events in January including : Silhouettes and Shadows, an exhibition featuring exquisite portraits and sculptures of David Bowie by UK-based artist Sara Captain and Italian artist Maria Primolan. Admission FREE. Click: HERE

8.    Anyone who attended the performance of “Take off Your Cornflakes” at the Festival in 2018 will be delighted to hear that Pat & Rose are hitting the road on a tour of Ireland – including the Civic and the Pavilion Theatres. !

9.    Here’s contact details for our Kimmage-Rathmines Councillors:

·         Deirdre Conroy (FF) deirdre.conroy@dublincity.ie / 086 280 5413

·         Patrick Costello (GP) patrick.costello@dublincity.ie / 087 943 1494

·         Tara Deacy (Soc D) tara.deacy@dublincity.ie / 087 938 9904

·         Pat Dunne (I4C) pat.dunne1@dublincity.ie / 087 776 4422

·         Anne Feeney (FG) anne.feeney@dublincity.ie / 087 295 5256

·         Mary Freehill (Lab) marycfreehill@gmail.com / 086 812 6378

10.  Many more FREE EVENTS in Dublin this week HERE

17 December, 2019 – Minister McHugh announces patronage of six new post-primary schools to be established in 2020. The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. today announced the patronage of the six new post-primary schools to be established in 2020. In all cases, the Minister accepted the recommendations of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Today’s announcement forms an essential part of plans to ensure that sufficient new school places are available to cater for the growing numbers of pupils at post-primary level over the coming years.
The new post-primary schools being established in September 2020 were announced last year as part of the Government’s commitment to invest heavily in education with 44 new schools to be established between 2019 and 2022 to cater for demographic growth.
The Minister said: “Parental preference is a key determinant in deciding the patronage of new schools and I’m pleased to say that the views of parents as expressed through the process are reflected in the decisions made on the patronage of these six new schools.”
The six new post-primary schools to be established in 2020 will provide significant additional places in the areas they will serve and between them will have capacity to cater for 5,000 post-primary students when fully developed. 

Harold’s   Cross, Dublin6_Clonskeagh & Dublin_6W, Educate Together, English, 1,000. The online parental preference processes indicated a minority preference for Irish as the preferred language of instruction. Having regard to the level of preferences for Irish-medium, particularly in the Dublin 6/6W area survey, the Department will  engage with patrons of existing Irish-medium gaelcholáistí and the new schools to ensure that this demand is addressed.
The Minister expressed his gratitude to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group for their valuable input to the process which has ensured an objective and transparent process. 

The patronage of the primary school was announced earlier in 2019 and Harolds Cross Educate Together opened in September.

1.    The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place in the Park at 5pm this Saturday, November 23^rd. The programme includes The Lord Mayor, Cuddles and Polar Bear, The Snow Queen, Music with Angel and the Dublin City Rounders, an Ecumenical Blessing and a Special Guest on his one horse opens sleigh.  

2.    Our Local City Councillors, at a meeting last week, blocked a proposal by the Manager to commence a procedure to extinguish the right of way along the central portion of Shamrock Villas – the street linking Mountain View Avenue and Lower Kimmage Road at McGowan’s, behind Craft Restaurant, Plush etc.

3.    At that meeting the Manager proposed to commence the process to change the City Development Plan to rezone a number of Industrial Lands, including Greenmount Industrial Estate and the old Eircom Warehouse at Greenmount Lane, for residential development. Harold’s Cross Village Community Council opposes this proposal in the absence of a formal Local Area Plan. The public consultation process is planned to commence on November 21^st and conclude on December 19^th. Details TBA.

4.    Estate agents Hooke & McDonald have begun to introduce the soon-to-be-completed apartments at Mount Argus Mill to the rental market. Their initial pitch is:

“1, 2 and 3 Bedroom apartments will be available to move in on a phased basis from December 2019. 2 Bedroom apartments will be starting from €2,400 per month.”

The development is for rent only with 13 apartments acquired by Dublin City Council for social housing. Click: HERE and HERE

5.    BusConnects – The closing date for the public consultations regarding Dublin Area Revised Bus Network is the 3rd of December 2019. 

Click: HERE and HERE. To work out a route plan click: HERE 

6.    Active Planning & development issues :

Reference	Location	Description	Status & Press
*UPDATED*2409/19	Shamrock Villas / Mountainview Avenue	4 Town Houses & 8 ApartmentsClick: HERE	Granted by DCC12 Nov 2019Click: HERE
ABP 3056953026/19	Classic Cinema &Dublin Street Parking	91 Apartments in 3 x 5 Storey Blocks Click: HERE & HERE	Appealed by HCVCCGranted by DCC26 Sep 2019
ABP 3057282960/194544/173781/172186/15	Saint Clare’s Convent For all the DetailsClick: HERE	Add a 6th storey on 3 blocks 248 Residential UnitsClick: HERE	ABP Strategic Housing Development Application21Oct2019Click: HEREGranted by DCC 2018Click: HERE
4729/18	Rosie O’Grady’s & adjacent units	70 ApartmentsClick: HERE & HERE	Granted excluding a 5th floor 18 Sep 2019Click: HERE
ABP 3016024729/18	New Primary School at the Stadium	Temporary for 5 years2 storey 12 classroom Primary School	Granted by ABP with revised conditions 12 Nov 2018Click: HERE
3513/19	ESB DepotParnell Avenue	55 Units in 2 x 4 storey Blocks Click: HERE	Additional Information Submitted 25 Oct 2019Click: HERE
ABP 2463142966/10	Mount Argus MillThe Latest: HERE	179 Residential Units Plus 13 units acquired by DCCClick: HERE & HERE	Granted by ABP 246314Click: HERE
ABP 2431813792/13	Mount Argus Old Monastery Building	32 unitsClick: HERE	Granted by ABP9 Town Houses refusedClick: HERE & HERE
4046/18	Greenmount Motor Company	3 Town Houses & 1 Enterprise UnitClick: HERE	Granted by DCC5 April 2019Click: HERE
ABP 3045524735/18	DD O’Brien’s126 Harold’s Cross Road	2 Blocks / 34 ApartmentsClick: HERE	Granted by ABP23 August 2019Click: HERE
ABP 3041832154/19	Orphanage beside Centra	7 Apartments & a Retail UnitClick: HERE	Granted by ABP1 August 2019Click: HERE
2131/18	Rear of The Stone Boat Pub adjoining Mount Argus Park	9 residential unitsClick: HERE	Granted by DCC12 June 2018Click: HERE
3592/19	NCBI Furniture Shop beside the Post Office	61 bed Shared Living Accommodation Click: HERE	Refused by DCC18 September 2019Click: HERE
3426/19	Wharton Hall behind Marion’s Daybreak	Retain high roof & change of use Click: HERE	Refused by DCC28 August 2019Click: HERE

Development in progress at Saint Pancras and the site at Kenilworth Motors are not included above.

7.    Festival of Politics runs from Thursday 21^st to 24^th November: Surrounded by a photographic exhibition of his experiences in Kosovo writer, musician, photographic artist and local resident Eamon Carr reads his poetry and recalls his time on the war front. The event takes place at 3pm on Thursday November 21^st in the Tailors’ Hall, Back Lane near Christchurch – on the 54A bus route. Click: HERE

8.    The annual Christmas Gala Concert in aid of Trócaire takes place in Mount Argus Church on Sunday 1st December 2019 at 7.30 p.m. with RTE’s Joe Duffy as MC and Fr Brian D’Arcy in attendance.
The fantastic line-up of award winning artists for the evening include The Millicent Singers, the fabulous soprano Margaret Keys, violinist Vladimir Jablokov, tenor Dominic McGorian, boy soprano Davide Antochi, renowned pianist Niall Kinsella  and the Dublin Youth Choir. Please apply for your free tickets to avoid disappointment by Tuesday 26th November R.S.V.P grainne.dunne@trocaire.org  or Click: HERE

9.    Rathfarnham Castle would like to take this opportunity to remind you that their current art exhibition Over Nature is now open. The exhibition explores our relationships with others and how our futures are tied together. It’s curated by Valeria Ceregini and features works by Shane Finan, Beata Piekarska-Daly, Mary O’Connor, Guillaume Combal, Louis Haugh and Kathy Herbert. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday and admission is FREE. And this Sunday 24th November at 2.30pm you can join us for a special themed tour of Rathfarnham Castle’s recently preserved original kitchen area, exploring their use from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Using photos, the tour will also include info on the artefacts found in the castle during the excavations in 2014/2015. Part of the tour will be outdoors, so if you’re coming along please dress warmly. Admission to this tour is FREE. No need to book, just call in to reception.

10. Here’s contact details for our Kimmage-Rathmines Councillors:

·         Deirdre Conroy (FF) deirdre.conroy@dublincity.ie / 086 280 5413

·         Patrick Costello (GP) patrick.costello@dublincity.ie / 087 943 1494

·         Tara Deacy (Soc D) tara.deacy@dublincity.ie / 087 938 9904

·         Pat Dunne (I4C) pat.dunne1@dublincity.ie / 087 776 4422

·         Anne Feeney (FG) anne.feeney@dublincity.ie / 087 295 5256

·         Mary Freehill (Lab) marycfreehill@gmail.com / 086 812 6378

11.  Many more FREE EVENTS in Dublin this week HERE