As an experiment and in order to improve the speed of this Photo Blog I have switched to using WebP images.
There is not much to see as you walk along this street but both ends of the street are worth exploring.
The Coombe is a historic street in the south inner city of Dublin. It was originally a hollow or valley where a tributary of the River Poddle, the Coombe Stream or Commons Water, ran. The name is sometimes used for the broader area around, in which the Poddle and its related watercourses featured strongly.
The Coombe is home to the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, which is one of the largest maternity hospitals in Ireland. The hospital was founded in 1826 and has since delivered over 1 million babies. My mother, now aged 103, was a midwife in the hospital.
The Coombe is also home to a number of other institutions, including the Coombe Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery, the Coombe National Maternity Hospital Museum, and the Coombe Library.
The Coombe is a vibrant and diverse community, with a long and rich history. It is a place where people come together to celebrate life, and to welcome new generations into the world.
Here are some interesting facts about the Coombe:
The name “Coombe” comes from the Irish word “cum”, which means “hollow” or “valley”. The Coombe Stream was once a major source of water for the city of Dublin. The Coombe was once a popular spot for duels and other forms of violence. The Coombe was home to a number of famous people, including the writer James Joyce and the politician Charles Stewart Parnell. The Coombe is still a popular place for people to live, work, and visit.
Mill Street is a street in the Liberties area of Dublin, Ireland. It is named after the mills that once operated on the River Poddle, which runs along the street.
The history of Mill Street dates back to the 17th century. The first recorded mention of the street is in 1635, when it was referred to as “the street leading to the mills”. The mills on the Poddle were important for the city’s economy, and they helped to make the Liberties a major centre of industry.
In the 18th century, Mill Street became a more fashionable address. Many wealthy merchants and professionals built their homes on the street, and it became known as a “genteel quarter”. Some of the most notable buildings on Mill Street from this period include 10 Mill Street, which is a Dutch Billy-style house built in 1720, and the former Church of Ireland church of Saint Anna, which was built in 1790.
In the 19th century, Mill Street continued to be a prosperous area. However, the decline of the mills on the Poddle led to a decline in the fortunes of the street. By the early 20th century, Mill Street was a run-down area, and it was home to a number of slums.
In recent years, Mill Street has undergone a regeneration. Many of the old buildings have been restored, and new businesses have opened on the street. Mill Street is now a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
Here are some interesting facts about Mill Street:
The street was once home to the Liberties Distillery, which was one of the largest distilleries in Ireland. The street was also home to the Coombe Fever Hospital, which was founded in 1747. Mill Street was the site of the Battle of the Coombe, which was fought in 1798 during the Irish Rebellion. The street is still home to a number of historic buildings, including 10 Mill Street and the former Church of Ireland church of Saint Anna.
THE TENTERS PUB WAS DERELICT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS IT IS NOW PART OF THE ALOFT
The Tenters area of Dublin is located in the Liberties, on the Southside of the city. It is bordered by the South Circular Road, Cork Street, Donore Avenue, and Newmarket Square. The area is named after the tenterfields that once existed there, where cloth was stretched and dried.
When I was young I thought that the expression was “on tender hooks” but it is “on tenterhooks”. The word “tenters” comes from the Middle English word “teyntur,” which is ultimately derived from the Latin word “tentorium,” meaning “tent.” A tenter is a frame or endless track with hooks or clips along two sides that is used for drying and stretching cloth. The word “tenters” can also refer to the people who operate tenters, or to the area where tenters are located.
The original Tenters pub dates from 1850 and was reconditioned about ninety years ago but it has never been listed as a building of importance.
Currently the publicity material includes the following description: ” The pub is located in a historic building on Mill Street, which dates back to the 18th century. The interior has been tastefully restored, while still retaining its original charm. There are two floors of seating, as well as a beer garden out back.”
When I first photographed the Tenters Pub in 2012 it was unoccupied but did not appear to be in such a poor condition that it could not be refurbished at reasonable cost so I was a bit surprised when I visited in March 2017 to discover that little of the original structure is left standing. I had believed that the building was to be retained and that the pub would be preserved. Personally, I liked the building I am not sure if there ever was any real reason to preserve or retain the Tenters Pub but to pretend to preserve it is just annoying.
Aloft Student Accommodation is a new student housing development located in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties. The development is made up of two buildings, the Aloft Hotel and the New Mill, which are connected by a skybridge. The Aloft Hotel is a 4-star hotel with 150 bedrooms, while the New Mill is a 6-storey student accommodation block with 250 bedrooms.
The student accommodation at Aloft is fully furnished and includes a bed, desk, wardrobe, chair, mattress, and linen. Each bedroom also has its own en-suite bathroom. The shared kitchen facilities are equipped with everything you need to cook and eat, including a fridge, oven, stove, microwave, and dishwasher. There is also a laundry room on each floor.
Aloft Student Accommodation offers a range of on-site facilities and services, including:
A 24-hour reception A gym A rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Dublin A cinema room A games room A study area A laundry room A bike storage area A shuttle bus to and from Dublin City Centre Aloft Student Accommodation is located in a great location, just a short walk from Trinity College Dublin, Temple Bar, and the city centre. The development is also close to a number of shops, restaurants, and bars.
The cost of accommodation at Aloft Student Accommodation starts from €1,650 per month. This includes all bills, except for internet, which is charged at an additional €25 per month.
This series of photographs dates from the 4th June 2023. A month later when I revisited I was surprised to discover that the City House complex of buildings at the corner of Newmarket and Ardee Street had been demolished or was in the process of being demolished.
When I checked online I came across the notice shown below:
Ardee Street, Newmarket, Dublin 8, dublin_8, D08 K7R9 Description: Demolition of all existing buildings and structures on the site, disconnection of existing services, removal and disposal of any asbestos on site, the removal of slabs and grubbing up of existing foundations and disposal of all materials off-site and survey works to facilitate the demolition of existing structures. All of the described works will not form a part of the permanent structure of the Ardee St / Newmarket development planned to be constructed on site. The Ardee St / Newmarket development will be the subject of a separate commencement notice.
MORE DEMOLITION UNDER WAY SOUTH OF THE RIVER LIFFEY
The site is bound by Newmarket Square to the North, Ardee Street to the west and Mill Street to the south Including City House and Unit 3, Newmarket, Dublin 8.
The project will consist of a residential / mixed use development totalling 29,570sq.m on a site of c.0.66ha at Newmarket, Dublin 8.
The development includes a Specific BTR (Build to Rent) Development comprising 413 units (comprising 203no. studios, 136no. one bedroom units, 72no. 2 bedroom units and 2no. 3 bedroom units) and associated Resident Support Facilities / Resident Services and Amenities and all associated ancillary accommodation (totalling 28,735qm) in a building ranging from 6 storeys to Newmarket (including set back level) stepping to 9-13 storeys towards St. Luke’s Avenue. The buildings are arranged around a semi-public courtyard and a new internal street linking Newmarket and St. Luke’s Avenue. 5no. rooftop terraces are proposed for residents.
The proposed development includes 3no independent units on Newmarket comprising a 1no. café/restaurants (216sqm) and 2no. retail units (490sqm) and an artists’ studio (129sqm). Lower ground floor / basement level includes car parking spaces (50no.) and cycle parking and facilities accessed from a new entrance on Newmarket Street.
The demolition of all existing buildings on the overall site known as the IDA Ireland Small Business Centre at Newmarket Industrial Estate has been approved and will be carried out pursuant to Reg Ref: 3323/17 (Bord Ref: ABP 300431-17).
The remainder of the overall site bounded by Newmarket, Brabazon Place, St.Luke’s Avenue and Newmarket Street is the subject of a separate planning application to Dublin City Council (Reg Ref: 4743/19) for a Hotel development with 2no. retail/ restaurant units.
The site is bound by Newmarket Square to the North, Ardee Street to the west and Mill Street to the south Including City House and Unit 3, Newmarket, Dublin 8.
Even thought this statue was erected in 1955 rather than 1954 I assume that it is a Marian Statue.
I went on a walking tour about twenty years ago and the tour guide claimed that Oscar Square and the associated streets was named in honour of Oscar Wilde. However, the reality is that Oscar Square is not named after Oscar Wilde, but rather Oscar, son of Oisín of Na Fianna. Nearby, Clarence Mangan Road was named in honour of the poet, and O’Carolan Road for the harpist.
A friend of mine lived in the area and claimed that there was once a World War II bomb shelter in the small public park but that the park may not have been a public park back then. In December 2020 A local lady told me that when she was young it was known as Rosary Park, and it was always closed to the public except on Sundays, but it is now known as Oscar Square Park even though it is not square [there was also a joke that I cannot include here]. I checked a few maps and it looks square to me but I did come across an account that described it as a triangle.