FINAL PHASE OF CIVIC BUILDINGS NOW UNDERWAY REGENERATION NEWS. Ballymun over the years. New Minister for Housing - Noel Ahern TD.

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1 March 1998 REGENERATION NEWS July/August 2002 Issue 25 I N S I D E Ballymun over the years New Minister for Housing - Noel Ahern TD Community Wardens Environmental Actions Housing Handovers update Training for construction workers What s New HEALTH & SAFETY If you see anything that you are concerned about on the building sites outside working hours please contact Ballymun Gardaí at FINAL PHASE OF CIVIC BUILDINGS NOW UNDERWAY Noel Ahern TD, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, recently performed the 'topping out' ceremony for the Civic Buildings. Construction of the shell and core is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Eventually over 500 people will work there and they will begin to occupy the building in mid 2003, following a short fit-out period. The extensive office space, 9 retail units and 52 apartments are being built by Bennett Construction Ltd. The new 70 million Civic Buildings will front onto Ballymun Main Street and the new plaza. Bennett have secured commercial tenants for all 125,000 ft² of the office space and have sold all 52 residential units from the plans. Only a few of the nine retail units remain available. Ballymun Civic Buildings will be served by either Luas or Metro lines and office space has been reserved by Dublin City Council for a North continued page 2

2 continued from page 1 West Area Headquarters, a new Motor Tax Office for North Dublin and a Council Chamber for the North West Area Committee. The Northern Area Health Board will relocate its district offices to Ballymun Civic Buildings and will provide a modern new health centre on the site. Ballymun Regeneration Ltd will also re-locate to new offices in the building. The mixed-use development, designed by BDP Architects, will have a main building of four storeys in height, dropping to three storeys to the south. A large atrium, accessible from a Civic Plaza, forms part of Ballymun's new Main Street frontage and will contain exhibition space, a coffee shop and a reception area. A mixed-use five-storey block Civic Buildings Atrium fronting Shangan Road will accommodate two retail units and 52 private apartments. The development will be served by a 110-space underground car park. "The new Civic Buildings are a visible and exciting signal of the rate of progress being made in shaping the new town of Ballymun," said Ciarán Murray, Managing Director, Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. "The Main Street is a focal point for the overall regeneration project and the Civic Buildings are very important for the new town of Ballymun as they send a clear message that the regeneration is about more than rehousing people from the flat blocks." Civic Building Topping Out Ceremony 21/6/02 After 13 years Dublin City Council and the Northern Area Health Board will be the owners of a fine civic building, procured through "sale and leaseback." Under this arrangement the benefits of capital allowances will be shared by the private and public sectors through reduced rent payments for the public sector tenants. Community Wardens During the summer holidays, local School Wardens, community representatives and others will assist Ballymun Regeneration's Health & Safety team by patrolling the streets around construction sites and alerting young people to the dangers of construction sites. This initiative is being carried out in close co-operation with An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council. Representatives of Ballymun Regeneration Ltd, Dublin City Council and local Gardaí recently attended a conference on the success of Community Warden Schemes internationally with a view to putting in place permanent wardens on the streets to monitor neighbourhood safety and security and provide assistance to people. In Ireland, pilot community wardens schemes carry out a number of related services in relation to traffic, parking, litter, dog control and road safety. In Ballymun this scheme is specifically aimed at improving community safety and, in particular, deterring young people from entering or playing near construction sites. 2

3 Bounty Hunters success goes from strength to strength Local children are creating a recycling revolution, and far exceeding expectations to improve their area as part of a Global Action Plan (GAP) Bounty Hunters competition. Since February the 56 participants, aged 6-13, have collected 15,000 plastic bottles, tin cans and aluminium drinks cans from their homes and the local area in Ballymun, which they bring to the Community Recycling Centre in Shangan. The young participants have personalised ID cards and work in teams. They are awarded one point for each piece of recycling they pick up from the streets and monthly prizes are presented to the team that has the most points. part in keeping the neighbourhood tidy and see that protecting their local environment can be fun and rewarding. We would love to see similar activities in other Dublin neighbourhoods. Generally, people want to take action to protect their environment. It's just a matter of developing appropriate outlets for the childrens' enthusiasm and energy." Ballymun Bounty Hunters Ciara Murphy (age 6) with her brother Andrew Murphy (age 4). The Bounty Hunters competition was established to create an awareness of environmental issues and we have had a brilliant response from local children, far greater than anyone expected," said Simon Cocking of GAP Ballymun. "The children are playing their Laura Kellett (age 6), Erica Hedderman (age 6), Dylan Walsh (age 9) and Sarah Hedderman (age 9). The Bounty Hunters project is part of a wider recycling campaign in Ballymun, which includes Shangan Community Recycling Centre with its own composting machine. These projects are funded by Ballymun Regeneration Ltd and Dublin City Council and are seen as a way of involving people in direct actions to improve their area. For further information about GAP programmes for adults and children you can visit or contact Simon Cocking at GAP Ballymun, telephone Training for Construction Workers Ballymun Regeneration is working with Ballymun Job Centre and FÁS to design a pilot Construction Workers' Training Programme to help local people get jobs on the regeneration construction sites. Ballymun Regeneration is also working closely with the contractors to ensure that their labour requirements are met, and in particular, that candidates have the necessary skills and experience to be trained for skilled jobs in the future. 3

4 400 Years of History ACommunity Archive detailing the history of Ballymun from is now on display in Ballymun Library. The comprehensive and fascinating history is a result of detailed research carried out by Dr Robert Somerville-Woodward. The Archive, commissioned by Ballymun Regeneration Ltd, comprises a two-volume Written History of Ballymun from and A short synopsis of the written history has also been provided along with maps and images. We congratulate all of those involved in compiling this excellent and comprehensive history of Ballymun and we hope that the Community Archive will be a living one, with further images and items being added over time to reflect future events within this vibrant and changing community," said Ciarán Murray, Managing Director, Ballymun Regeneration. Ballymun's Community Archive is a model for other communities who might also engage in recording aspects of their history and I would encourage all Ciarán Murray, Deirdre Ellis-King and Eileen Adams examining Maps and Images from the Community Archive Ellen O Neill and her daughter Judith Ryan. Dubliners, no matter where they live, to visit Ballymun Library to study this excellent work," said Deirdre Ellis-King, Dublin City Librarian, accepting the Archive. We are most grateful to community groups and local residents who donated photographs, articles and other items of interest to the Community Archive and we hope that they will continue to contribute to the Archive over the coming years," said Dr Robert Somerville-Woodward from Eneclann. The Ballymun Community Archive is on display in Ballymun Library from 10am-8pm Monday to Thursday and from 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday. Copies of the Written History will be available from the Ballymun Regeneration Ltd web site and in time the synopsis will be available to local people and schools. The web address is New Minister for Housing Congratulations to Ballymun Regeneration Board Member, Noel Ahern TD, who was recently appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal. We thank Noel for his commitment and contribution to Ballymun Regeneration over the years and wish him success with his new responsibilities in Government. One of his first official duties was the "topping out" ceremony for the new Ballymun Civic Buildings. 4

5 Contents of Ballymun Community Archive An Image Archive, containing maps, drawings and newspaper articles sourced from libraries, archives, community groups and residents. These images provide a valuable insight into the local community and their environs over the years, as well as significant local and national events in the community's history. A synopsis of the written history of Ballymun. The Hellfire Club, c.1735 by James Worsdale (National Gallery of Ireland). The Community Archive consists of: A two-volume Narrative History of Ballymun covering the years and Dr Robert Somerville-Woodward from Eneclann researched and compiled this written history, having consulted local and national sources, including the National Archives and the National Library. It will be available through Ballymun Regeneration website ( Detail of Down Survey Map, Parish of Santry Eneclann also worked with local residents to compile an Oral History of Ballymun and preliminary work from this project will be put on display, along with a large selection of photographs and other images. A new Ballymun Oral History Association has been formed by local people who participated in the original oral history project. NCI are providing further training for people interested in increasing their skills in the area of oral history. If you wish to contact the Oral History Association, or want to find out more about training, contact Ballymun Regeneration Ltd at

6 Ballymun 400 years ago Extract from Ballymun Community Archive : The Ballymun flats were built in the late 1960s on part of Santry Demesne and part of the farmlands of Albert Agriculture College, now DCU. The first volume of the Written History ( ) deals largely with the Barry family, who from the beginning of the 17 th century until mid-way through the 20 th century, owned much of Santry Demesne. was not put on the map - almost literally - until the arrival of the Barrys." Santry Court In 1702 Lord Henry, 3rd Baron Barry of Santry, built Santry Court, "which soon gained a reputation as 'the miniature palace of Versailles' due to the fine murals on the walls and the large number of spacious Santry Court, taken shortly before it s demolition in 1947 (National Library of Ireland). "The Barrys were a Protestant branch of the Cork Barrymore family and they acquired the estate at Santry by the beginning of the 17 th century, probably shortly after it had been confiscated from the Catholic Barnewall family in the 1620s. The estate would remain largely intact and in their possession until 1751 when Lord Henry, 4 th Baron Barry of Santry died without a male heir. The patronage exerted by this powerful, but short-lived dynasty was felt in all walks of life in the parish. The Barrys and their familial successors, the Domvilles, from the mid-17 th century, built and maintained the churches, schools, roads and many of the houses in Santry. As the local justices of the peace the family also administered the local law. This was in addition to owning nearly all of the 4,700 acres of land. It has been suggested, that although Santry was an old medieval monastic site, the village and parish of Santry did not begin to develop in earnest until the Barry family began to take an economic interest in their Santry Estate during the post-cromwellian period (1660s). Although not strictly true, Santry apartments (rooms)." Santry Court, or Santry House as it was sometimes known, was four storeys high in the style of Queen Anne. The house was devastated by fire in 1947 and was eventually demolished. Santry Demesne Santry Demesne is the name given to the walled gardens, parks, woods and ornamental ponds surrounding Santry Court. At the time of the Civil Survey ( ) Santry Demesne was described as 250 acres of profitable land, consisting of 200 acres of arable land, 20 acres of meadow, 14 acres of pasture, 10 acres of shrubwood and 6 acres of ash groves. In John Rocque's Map of County Dublin Santry Demesne is clearly marked and the layout of the formal gardens is well represented. In 1812 the Santry Estate was comprehensively mapped. The extent of the grounds, ornamentation and parkland is clear from this excellent pen and ink map of which a photographic reproduction is included in the Ballymun Community Archive. 6

7 What s New Breaking Ground, Ballymun's Per Cent for Art scheme has completed the first stage of commissioning. The Artistic Steering Committee, which includes a number of experienced artists, was very pleased and impressed with the level of interest expressed by artists, and by local groups interested in working with artists. Artistic Director Aisling Prior, telephone , is the person to contact if you have any enquiries. It is hoped that there will be opportunities and interest from the private sector in providing matching funding to increase the budget available for Breaking Ground commissions, perhaps using the tax schemes for artistic/cultural investment in lieu of the payment of tax. This was recently used to fund the purchase of a collection of original James Joyce manuscripts for the State. Participants at the It Takes Two international summer school for urban regeneration in Holland were impressed with all that was happening in Ballymun. A steady influx of people is expected to visit Ballymun to find out more about the project on the ground. The Ballymun Regeneration Project received a merit award from the Stockholm Partnership for Sustainable Cities recently at a ceremony attended by the King of Sweden. New and existing housing in Shangan. Now that people are moving into their new homes it is time to think about ways of making sure that the people in the new housing and the existing housing work together to create a better Ballymun for the future. There are lots of ways in which people can make a difference and if you want to become involved Ballymun Regeneration Ltd, tel: , would like to hear from you to discuss your ideas. New Street Signs The Transition Programme being prepared for Phase 2 is due to commence in September People moving into schemes which are already on site will be contacted before then about dates and times of meetings. In the past Ballymun Regeneration Ltd have organised Planning for Real and Street Naming workshops. We would also like to see Residents Associations being formed and people working together to improve their areas through environmental actions, tree planting, gardening clubs, recycling or whatever is needed in the area. It may be that people would like to be involved in planting trees and learning more about landscaping. There are also opportunities through the Breaking Ground Art Project. Ballymun Regeneration will be in Ballymun for another few years and before the project is finished we would like to see a strong network of community groups and residents associations formed which will help ensure that the regeneration of the area lasts into the future and grows stronger as time goes by. 7

8 New Housing Update New homes in Sillogue Ballymun Regeneration Ltd (BRL) Stormanstown House Ballymun Road Dublin 9 ph: fax: Web: 8