Save the Iveagh Gardens

14/06/2024

Of great interest to the Save The Iveagh Gardens campaign was the OPW appearance before the PAC committee yesterday where the National Children’s Science Centre plan was was held up for financial scrutiny.
The OPW do not want to proceed with the building but their hand is being forced they say.
They have been in legal arbitration twice with the charity ICML(NCSC)and on both occasions the ICML won.
This should and did raise alarm bells,
You would have to wonder about the OPWs legal defence.
I’m not a lawyer but I could make a pretty good case as to why the state should not be held to a deal for a project that has provided no business or feasibility plan or proven that the original ‘ urgent need’ of a Children’s Science Centre still exists.
There is a science centre.
The Explorium Science has been built up in Sandyford.

John Brady of SF called it a scandal.
Brian Stanley tried to get to the bottom of how the project which has received 5m funding to date could have proceeded so far with no business case study
And Catherine Murphy was at a loss as to how it was that ‘a charity could have its boot on the neck of the State’
Watch this space.
The battle to Save the Iveagh Gardens is far from over
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41415559.html

20/09/2023

Hi folks just to let you know:
The OPW is seeking your views about the use of the Iveagh Gardens for commercial events during the Summer months. There has been some opinion sharing between the OPW and the surrounding community and park users about the amount of time (over 50days) that the Gardens are restricted to the public during the summer months. Get your thoughts and ideas or suggestions in to [email protected] by Sept 30th.
You can post a letter if you prefer (see photo for the address)
This is an opportunty to get the OPW to listen to public opinion on the running of our public amenity. I would encourage everyone who has an interest in the Iveagh Gardens, public green spaces, to get touch with them.

26/04/2023

https://8x8.vc/opw/jennifer.mcgowan.7y1

The OPW are holding another meeting in the Iveagh Gardens on May 4th at 1pm.
With a follow up online session at 3pm.
Local community and residents have been active in getting the OPW to engage with park users and park stakeholders - us!
It’s a very positive development and now there is an avenue (literally lol!) of communication to discuss issues concerning the park users.
Issues like the park closure for a large part of the Summer months, the early closing time and care of the park’s wildlife and biodiversity.

Since the last meeting OPW have put a dogs off lead trial in place 8-10.30am in the Green/archery area.
And
They have planted 4 young trees in the woodland.
This is very welcome as there was a lot of concern when one of the beautiful old horse chestnuts was cut down because of danger to the public.
Despite the fact the woodland is still under threat pending the ABP decision for the museum the STIG see it as a positive move and a potentially hopeful sign for the future of the woodland.
There is a clear recognition by the OPW of the importance of the woods and of the parks biodiversity.
This will make it harder for the Science Museum/centre to defend their plan to pave over the woodland
And it certainly bolsters the STIG argument that the woods should be protected and the Gardens left intact.

Here’s the link for the online session.
If you can’t make one you might make the other.
https://8x8.vc/opw/jennifer.mcgowan.7y1

Also don’t think I did a post about the ABP appeal
So in Decent
I put in an appeal to ABP on behalf of the STIG ( see IT article in previous post)
We are still awaiting that decision, there’s a backlog in the ABP apparently, so while the decision is pending the plan is on hold.
So we can breathe easy and enjoy an anxiety free visit to the Iveagh Gardens for a little while at least.

Secure, fully-featured and free video conferencing

30/01/2023

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/12/20/plan-for-national-childrens-science-centre-put-on-hold/
Hi Folks, link here to the Irish Times article about my appeal that went into An Bord Pleannala back in September.
The appeal was picked up by journalist Gordon Deegan in two articles. Expecting a decision fairly soon. Watch this space.

Refurbishment of National Concert Hall also delayed

01/12/2022

Energetic & at times heated meeting in the Iveagh Gardens today. Everyone appreciated the OPW park staff who turned up to engage with the public and to share their vast knowledge. It's clear the respect and love all the park staff have for the park. It also became very quickly clear that the elephant in (the park) was the science museum and the contradictory message that is coming from the OPW.
On the one hand cherishing the park and on the other hand pursuing a reckless plan that even the DCC planning dept who granted the permission, acknowledge 'will have an irreversible impact...in addition to a significant loss of historic fabric.'
The staff today are not the decision makers and as OPW workers can not speak out against the plan, so they were in a difficult situation and it is a credit to all involved that it ended up being such a productive, well we'll see, engagement.
The other huge issue was the park closure for 55 days of the year during the summer months. This was discussed at length.
Later on there was a video meeting which was also constructive.
What's clear is that the Iveagh Gardens campaign is a very live issue the OPW bosses will not be allowed to ignore .
FYI also in attendance Cllrs, mannix Flynn( IND) Cllr Daniel Ceitin( SF), Ivana Back ( Lab, TD) , Chris Andrews ( SF, TD)
On the video meeting Cllr Kevin Donoghue ( Lab) and Cllr Daniel Byrne ( FG)
Chris Andrews has promised to try to get a Dail question about the funding of the Museum and the cost.
There is a lack of transparency that needs to be brought out into the light.
We were also given a tour by Park Superintendent Margaret Gormley and got this new view of the Gardens from behind the cascade. Which was great. I now have some variation on the photos for the campaign!

29/11/2022

I didn't sleep well last night.Announced yesterday; Dublin City Council planners have granted permission to the OPW - again, to proceed with arrogant, destructive plan. Clearly biodiversity, heritage and the needs of the people don't count for anything when the OPW go looking for planning.
The Save the Iveagh Gardens campaign is back up and running. I will be putting all my effort in again to stop this travesty. Join me. Start by getting the petition moving again. Please share it far and wide.

The Iveagh Gardens are under threat – again. Having let the last permission (2016) run out the OPW have once more applied for planning permission for their development in the Iveagh Gardens. This new proposal is exactly the same as the last one but this time there is some more protection for some ...

23/11/2022

The OPW are meeting with the public about the Iveagh Gardens after coming under pressure from some local residents to engage with the park users and local community,.
There is a serious problem with the OPW and the lack of proper public consultation.
Not sure how meaningful this is going to prove to be but it's an opportunity.
As many of you know The Iveagh Gardens are closed for the bulk of the Summer months, at a time when city dwellers and visitors should be able to enjoy them most.
If you have any suggestions/ ideas opinions about this this is an opportunity.
This meeting is not about the proposed Science Museum development and the
irony of the OPW wanting to 'hear our voice' about 'what makes the Iveagh Gardens so special' when they are in the process of seeking planning permission to 'reimagine' this protected piece of city heritage is not lost on the STIG campaign.
The messaging from the OPW around the Iveagh Gardens is confusing and illuminates the lack of vision and unclear policy the OPW have about the Iveagh Gardens
I urge anyone who can make it to come along to the Iveagh Gardens at 12noon Thursday December 1st. Have your say. Let the OPW know your thoughts about the park, the closure, the proposed building work or anything else you'd like to raise.
Spread the word this is an opportunity to engage with the OPW directly. A chance to let them know that they cannot ignore the public when making important decisions
about our city heritage and our parks.

The DCC planners decision about the Iveagh Gardens should be announced mid to late December. It was great to see a. good few objections to the proposal.
For anyone who wants to read them
check them out here.https://planning.agileapplications.ie/dublincity/application-details/152327
Ref 4951/22

30/10/2022

So, here we are again people.
The OPW have put in for planning permission - AGAIN, for their 2016 Iveagh Gardens/ NCH proposal.
This proposal is exactly the same but now there is a little consideration for some of the mature trees. The proposal can be examined here. https://planning.agileapplications.ie/dublincity/application-details/152327 ref 4519/ 22
You can make observations about the proposal before Nov 2nd. It would be great to let the planners know that you object to the plan.
I put in a detailed observation on Friday.
One of the strongest arguments against the plan is the attack on the Iveagh Gardens biodiversity. It goes against the aims and objectives of the new Dublin City Development plan 2022-2028,
which has a very strong emphasis on biodiversity. It also ignores EU charter for biodiversity 2030 which calls on cities to protect and restore biodiversity.
This proposal, staggeringly, in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, does not mention biodiversity once. It also consistently refers to the old Dublin City Development plan 2016 -2022.
The plan is manifestly out of date and is not in keeping with the needs of the city in 2022.
The basic premise of the proposal 'to reimagine ' the Iveagh Gardens back to 1865 might have some basis if they weren't going to demolish a piece of protected extant heritage in order to 're- create' the past.
Similarly, eliminating protected Ninian Niven landscaping and imposing new contemporary design, displays a cavalier
disregard for protected heritage structure and landscaping.
The proposal would see a change of purpose of a public park and vital city lung. The OPW's remit to 'protect, conserve and restore.' has somehow suddenly become 'to re-imagine and to transform '
The arrogance and the disregard for public opinion is breathtaking.
The aim now is to get the petition, already at 46,688, up to an un-ignorable 100,000.
We'll find out the planning decision in about 8 weeks. Sign &share, sign and share, sign and share.....
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/save-the-iveagh-gardens-1

11/05/2022

Bring a blanket, bring a picnic bring your friend, your dog (same thing) your kids, yourself and celebrate the saving of this precious place together. Saturday May 14th 1-2pm