Leaca, leacain or leacan in Irish means the side of a hill.
The Lacken Walk, which forms part of the River Nore Linear Park, follows the east bank of the River Nore as it flows south for Bennetsbridge. Access from either the ring road at Ossory bridge or from the “Lacken Steps” at the end of Maudlin Street/Dublin Road (near the viewing area). The Lacken Walk comprises a mix of old pathway dating back to the 1950’s which travels to the rear of the old Health Board grounds at St. Canice’s. As the path opens out into the flood plain a board walk is provided to take walkers across the often wet and flooded ground. This in turn leads to a new pedestrian bridge which crosses over the Nore and links to the Canal Walk on the western bank of the river. From here one can walk back towards the city centre and access the Castle gardens when the pedestrian door in the Castle is open during opening hours.
The medieval origins of Lacken Mill, which stands across the River Nore, opposite Ormode Mill, remain visible today. Discoveries made in the 1980s revealed a medieval stone arch as well as a stone slab bearing an incised carving of a man in 16th century costume, part of the Archer’s coat of arms. The mill’s brick façade is also built on a 15th/16th century structure. In the 19th century, the Sullivan family, who lived in Lacken Hall and owned the Brewery on James’ Street, renovated the mill, bringing it up to 19th century standards.
A well-composed large-scale building forming an important element of the long-standing industrial legacy of Kilkenny occupying a site that has had associations with milling for many centuries: a mill is identified as having operated on site as early as the fourteenth century. Although having fallen into ruins the composition survives substantially intact as identified by the regular pattern of openings across each elevation with the mill presenting a picturesque feature of some Romantic quality overlooking the River Nore.
On the 30th March 2021. Dublin City Council refused planning permission for the owner of 92/93 Francis Street to demolish it, but another section of the organisation ordered the owner to undertake “minimal taking down/making-safe works”. Unfortunately the end result was that a derelict four-storey building had been totally demolished and the site is to be seen in some of my [2 May 2022] photographs of Francis Street.
In June 2021 An eagerly awaited refurbishment of Francis Street in The Liberties is set to begin but I cannot see any positive signs of the promised improvements listed in the plan below.
With a strong emphasis on pedestrians, the plan envisaged widened pavements and new threshold spaces to the front of the Iveagh Market and St Nicholas de Myra Church. The, then, current awkward widening and narrowing of the carriageway was to give way to a consistent width and measures to reduce speeds and allow for more relaxed cycling and easier crossing. Changes to car parking and loading arrangements, 20 new street trees and landscaped areas, sustainable urban drainage measures (SUDs), new street lighting, street furniture and utilities were designed to create a much improved street and establish Francis Street as a destination.
New collage artwork by Sorcha O’Higgins on 30 Manor Street and mural beside Rea auctioneers by Claire Prouvost, One of a developing network of signage and murals throughout Stoneybatter. Others can be found at Viking Place, Halliday Road, and the Scout building on Ben Edair Road.
In 2018 I noted the following description: “This building was in reasonable condition when it went on the market many years ago but over the years it shows signs of neglect and for various reasons it became attractive for pigeons”. When I photographed it in 2018 No. 30 on Manor Street with rear access from Shea’s Lane the accommodation was described as residential over retail requiring extensive works to restore it to a habitable condition.
In October 2020 it was reported, by local media, that an elderly man who faced a civil action for causing a nuisance in his locality by feeding wild pigeons at his home in Dublin has made settlement terms with the council. The feral birds had flocked to a rooftop on Manor Street and had taken up residency. Their droppings on the footpaths and beside homes in Stoneybatter led to locals making complaints.
Sorcha O’Higgins is a collage artist with a background in architecture and urban art. Often abstract and figurative, her work compositions bold colours, patterns, and contrasting elements to construct playful but forthright imagery. Created as part of the Greening of Stoneybatter Initiative, and with help from Stoneybatter Pride of Place, The Urban Living Room celebrates the practice of ‘neighbouring’ – social interaction done on the doorstep and out-and-about that has built and sustained community relations in Stoneybatter for generations.
THE BARLEY MOW PUB HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED 92-93 FRANCIS STREET
The Barley Mow was at the corner of Francis Street and Mark’s Alley West. When I photographed it a few weeks I noted that its condition was getting worse at an increasing rate.
Here is an extract from the planning application: “Demolition of the existing structures and the construction of a four-storey, plus set-back fifth, aparthotel consisting of a ground floor community space/ café with 19 suites above and bin store to the rear.”
The Dublin InQuirer featured a photograph of the building being demolished claiming that “Dublin City Council has refused permission to tear down a derelict building at 92 and 93 Francis Street in Dublin 8 and replace it with an aparthotel”.
A few days ago the same publication featured the following headline “Council Both Refused and Gave Permission for Francis Street Building to Be Torn Down”.
A barley mow is a stack (mow) of barley, especially barley that was cultivated and then harvested. Barley is a grain that is commonly malted for brewing beer.
The Barley Mow is a cumulative song celebrated in the traditions of the folk music of Ireland, England, and Scotland. William Chappell transcribed the lyrics in his two-volume work The Ballad Literature and Popular Music of the Olden Time (1855).
“The Barley Mow” has become a drinking song sung while comrades empty their glasses. In one “Barley Mow” drinking game, any participant who fails to sing the song’s (progressively expanding) refrain in a single breath must drink. In another, participants drink just after singing the second line in each verse (“Good luck to the barley mow”); if one’s glass is not empty by the final verse, one must finish the drink after singing the line.
You must be logged in to post a comment.