Setanta Centre Explained

Setanta Centre
Native Name Lang:ga
Etymology:Named after Setanta
Location Country:Republic of Ireland
Coordinates:53.3422°N -6.2577°W
Completion Date:1976
Destruction Date:-->
Floor Count:7
Floor Area:123000square feet
Architect:Brian Hogan
Developer:Hardwicke
Unit Count:-->

The Setanta Centre is a 9-storey office block with ground floor retail space in Nassau Street, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

History

In March 1967, Setanta Investments applied for permission for an office development on the former site of C&C Group's factory spanning from Nassau Street to Molesworth Street and from Kildare Street to South Frederick Street. Setanta Investments was a joint venture between New Ireland Assurance and Hardwicke Ltd. The company directors included Senator Eoin Ryan and developer Mont Kavanagh. Over the course of a few years, a 2.5 acre site was assembled, containing over 55 properties. Uinseann MacEoin, commented on the use of the name Setanta stating "If ever a redevelopment group hiding under the patriotic name of the young Cuchulain represented a powerful phalanx of wrap-the-green-flag-round-me-boys, it is this one."

The initial planning permission was refused, with Setanta Investments successfully appealing to the minister, Kevin Boland, who granted permission in September 1968. Owing to objections from groups like the Irish Georgian Society, some of the development included replica Georgian facades including those on the corner of Kildare Street and Molesworth Street.[1]

The Setanta Centre was built by Hardwicke Ltd and completed by 1976. It was designed by Brian Hogan and consists of 7 floors of office space with 4 retail units at ground level, and a large public car park.[2] [3] A large mosaic was commissioned for the centre from Desmond Kinney, depicting the events of the story of the Táin.[4]

Redevelopment

The centre was bought in 2003 by Larry Goodman for €85 million, and he subsequently attempted to sell it in 2016 for €100 million. In April 2018, Goodman announced plans for a €150 million redevelopment of the complex.[5] The plans included a new 8-storey office block, with Dublin City Council voicing concerns about the proposed redevelopment, such as the extent of the demolition and the preservation and reinstatement of the Kinney mosaic. It has also led to legal cases being taken against Goodman as the Setanta Centre Unlimited Company by two tenants of the centre, Reads of Nassau Street and Kilkenny Shop over rights of access and the disruption the redevelopment will cause to the businesses. Any redevelopment of the site has been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] [7] [8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: McDonald . Frank . The destruction of Dublin . 1985 . Gill and Macmillan . Dublin . 0717113868 . 64–66.
  2. Book: Casey . Christine . Dublin : the city within the Grand and Royal Canals and the Circular Road with the Phoenix Park . 2005 . Yale University Press . New Haven, Conn. . 9780300109238 . 530, 548.
  3. Web site: Setanta Centre . Hardwicke . 28 January 2021.
  4. News: Dublin council has 'serious concerns' about plans for the Setanta Centre . 28 January 2021 . TheJournal.ie . 5 May 2018 . en.
  5. News: Carolan . Mary . Court told hearing into dispute over Setanta Centre redevelopment not so urgent . 28 January 2021 . The Irish Times . 6 July 2020 . en.
  6. News: O’Loughlin . Ann . Row over €150m Setanta Centre revamp may be on hold as project paused . 28 January 2021 . Irish Examiner . 6 July 2020 . en.
  7. News: O Faolain . Aodhan . Reads gets injunction to keep shop access to its premises from Dublin's Nassau Street . 28 January 2021 . Irish Independent . 3 June 2020 . en.
  8. News: Court hears of row over access to Reads of Nassau St . 28 January 2021 . RTÉ News . 14 May 2020 . en.