The new campus at Grangegorman, which is the largest investment in Higher Education in Ireland, brings together many activities in one vibrant, cutting-edge campus.
In 2014, the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB) and Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT) jointly entered into a formal process to seek to merge into a university. At the time, following the Institutes of Technology Act 2006, there were fourteen IT’s in Ireland, and a political appetite emerged to amalgamate several to form a more advanced third-level institution, known as a technological university, similar to that of Delft and other technological universities in Europe.
The Dublin bid, proposed by the three institutes, eventually coalesced into a move, in 2014, to seek designation as a technological university under the project title “Technological University for Dublin Alliance” / “TU4Dublin”. A final application was submitted in April 2018, following the enactment of the Technological Universities Act 2018.
The formation of the Technological University of Dublin was approved in July 2018, and the university was formally established on 1 January 2019, on which date the preceding institutions were dissolved.
In April 2019, TU Dublin sold its Kevin Street campus to York Capital and Westridge Real Estate for €140 million. The Kevin Street campus was vacated in March 2021 and demolition works began on the site in April 2021. I studies Electronics at Kevin Street and I totally disliked the building.
In March 2020, TU Dublin put the Aungier Street campus up for sale, with the campus scheduled to close in 2023, after which students and staff will relocate to the Grangegorman Campus.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Rowser is the 33164th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 690 individuals. I mention this because I cannot determine why this lane is so named … does anyone have any ideas or relevant information. A few years I asked a local about the name and he said “you don’t want to be caught with your Rowserstown” [trousers down].
I cannot determine if the laneway with the steps is Camac Way or if it is part of Rowserstown Lane, i suspect that Camac Way may be an apartment block. Anyway, while I was there a lady came out of a building to inform me that I was breaking the law and that she had informed the police [An Garda Síochána] and they were on the way. When I said “OK, thanks, I will wait for them to come” she got really annoyed but left the scene after a few minutes.
This lane complex is home to an impressive and imposing mill situated beside the Camac River, whose masonry construction is testament to the skill and craftsmanship of stone masons at the time. Although it has been disused for some years its robust design and durable materials have ensured its survival. The remains which including a mill race and some machinery are technically significant, while more recent additions and the openings’ alterations indicate the ongoing development and evolution of the building over time.
Marked on the first edition Ordnance Survey map as a flour mill and later as a cloth mill, this building has played a significant role in the local economy and community. Three deeds indicate that it was transferred into the ownership of Mr Patrick Dowling, chandler, in 1822, and presumably was built close to that time as it does not appear on maps dating to 1816.
The success of Mr Dowling enterprise at the site is perhaps indicated by the Dublin Street Directory of 1836, which lists him as a flour merchant. William Brophy, who became the owner in 1867, installed a 30 horsepower steam engine the following year, and presumably the chimney was added to serve this new power source. Mr Brophy undertook further works on late 1880s which included the rerouting of the headrace to serve a new waterwheel at the south end of the building, the introduction of a cast-iron sectional aqueduct stamped ‘M BYRNE DUBLIN 1886, and a complete reworking of the interior with cast-iron columns, also stamped ‘M.BYRNE DUBLIN 1886’. It was purchased by C.H. Bates and Company of Yorkshire in 1903, a company engaged in textile manufacture.
About a year ago the Irish Time reported the following: “Building work will soon begin on a significant project in Dublin 8: the restoration of the historic Kilmainham Mills in Rowserstown Lane.”
Project manager Darragh Cunningham of DCC reckons that, when completed, the restoration will be “a game changer in terms of visitor attractions. From a tourist and economic point of view this will really complement Kilmainham Gaol, IMMA and the Memorial Gardens opening up another tourist attraction in the area.”
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