Parnell Square (
Irish: Cearnóg Parnell) is a
Georgiansquare sited at the northern end of
O'Connell Street in the city of
Dublin, Ireland. It is in the city's
D01 postal district.
History
Formerly named Rutland Square, it was renamed after
Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891), as was
Parnell Street, which forms the southern side of the square. Surrounded on three sides by terraces of original intact
Georgian houses, much of the southern part of the square and its centre is taken up by extensions of the
Rotunda Hospital while the
Garden of Remembrance is located along the northern side of this area. The main entrance to the Garden of Remembrance is on the eastern side of the square, with a smaller entrance on the northern side of the square.
Notable buildings on the square
The
Gate Theatre and the Ambassador and Pillar Room venues are located at the southeastern corner of the square, where it meets O'Connell Street. Entertainments were originally developed here as part of the Rotunda Hospital scheme by
Bartholomew Mosse as a revenue engine to pay for the running of what was Europe's first lying-in maternity hospital. Extensive pleasure gardens, subsequently forming the body of the square, were located to the rear of the hospital in the original development.
The
Hugh Lane Gallery is on the north side of the square and is entered through the grandest original house on the square,
Charlemont House. It was erected in cut stone by
Lord Charlemont to a design by
William Chambers during the Georgian period. On this side also is the
Dublin Writers Museum and the Irish Writers' Centre.[1] The striking
Gothic Revival Findlater's Church (
Abbey Presbyterian Church) just up from the gallery on the same side was erected in the 1860s by Alexander Findlater, at his own expense, and which he presented to the
Presbyterian congregation. One of Dublin's most acclaimed restaurants,
Chapter One, is located on the northern side of Parnell Square between the
Hugh Lane Gallery and the Writers Museum. On the south side of the square is Conway's bar (now closed), outside of which
Patrick Pearse surrendered to the
British Army after the 1916
Easter Rising. The political party
Sinn Féin has its Dublin head office and shop on the western side of the square The western side also is known for offices of a number of
trades unions and other organisations. Also on the western side is the St. Martin's Apostolate office, which includes a small basement chapel. The St. Martin's Apostolate office is well known in Dublin for its moving
crib that is open to the public each Christmas.
No 9 Cavendish Row – Dr
Bartholomew Mosse (1713–1759); Philanthropist and surgeon. Mosse lived here, having originally hailed from Portlaoise. He founded the Rotunda Hospital, located in the square and which was built to designs of
Richard Cassels between 1751 and 1757. The emergence of Parnell Square as a square is largely attributable to him as he laid out pleasure gardens to pay for the hospital.
No. 14 Parnell Square was the headquarters of Conradh na Gaeilge in the 1940s and 1950s and perhaps into the 1960s. The Ard-chraobh of the Gaelic League was in this building.
No 29 – 30 Parnell Square – Formerly Vaughan's Hotel; a favourite hiding and meeting place for Michael Collins.
No 41 Parnell Square – this building was formerly the Irish National Forester's Hall. Prior to 1916, it was used for drilling both by the
Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and the Volunteers; on the eve of the outbreak of the
Easter RisingÉamon de Valera assembled the 3rd Battalion here. In 1922, subsequent to the Treaty and prior to the Civil War, the IRB again met here in a failed attempt at achieving consensus on the Treaty; among the attendees were Michael Collins,
Harry Boland,
Liam Lynch and
Eoin O'Duffy – all of whom, with the exception of O'Duffy, were dead by the end of the
Irish Civil War.
No 44 Parnell Square – The
Kevin Barry memorial hall is the current headquarters of
Sinn Féin.
No 46 Parnell Square – Formerly the Headquarters of
Conradh na Gaeilge, the Irish language league, this was the venue where
Thomas MacDonagh assembled the 2nd Battalion the Sunday night on the eve of the 1916
Easter Rising. In August 1917, the meetings that led to the National Executive of the
Irish Republican Army being established were also here, with persons present including Éamon de Valera,
Thomas Ashe,
Cathal Brugha, and Michael Collins. Subsequently on 19 September 1919, in the company of
Richard Mulcahy, Michael Collins set up his famous "Squad", composed of top-level operatives – men who would ultimately be involved with highest priority missions, such as the elimination of the British "G Men" agents in 1920.
No 58 Parnell Square – The Sinn Féin Bookshop and the offices of the An Phoblacht newspaper.
Future development
There are plans for the development of the northern side of Parnell Square into a cultural district. The street will be turned into a pedestrian space, the city's main library will move to the former
Coláiste Mhuire buildings, a new auditorium will be built, and the gardens attached to the Rotunda Hospital will be opened up.[2][3]
Northern side of Parnell Square, with the
Garden of Remembrance at left,
Hugh Lane Gallery recessed at right, and former Coláiste Mhuire buildings at far end
Parnell Square (
Irish: Cearnóg Parnell) is a
Georgiansquare sited at the northern end of
O'Connell Street in the city of
Dublin, Ireland. It is in the city's
D01 postal district.
History
Formerly named Rutland Square, it was renamed after
Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891), as was
Parnell Street, which forms the southern side of the square. Surrounded on three sides by terraces of original intact
Georgian houses, much of the southern part of the square and its centre is taken up by extensions of the
Rotunda Hospital while the
Garden of Remembrance is located along the northern side of this area. The main entrance to the Garden of Remembrance is on the eastern side of the square, with a smaller entrance on the northern side of the square.
Notable buildings on the square
The
Gate Theatre and the Ambassador and Pillar Room venues are located at the southeastern corner of the square, where it meets O'Connell Street. Entertainments were originally developed here as part of the Rotunda Hospital scheme by
Bartholomew Mosse as a revenue engine to pay for the running of what was Europe's first lying-in maternity hospital. Extensive pleasure gardens, subsequently forming the body of the square, were located to the rear of the hospital in the original development.
The
Hugh Lane Gallery is on the north side of the square and is entered through the grandest original house on the square,
Charlemont House. It was erected in cut stone by
Lord Charlemont to a design by
William Chambers during the Georgian period. On this side also is the
Dublin Writers Museum and the Irish Writers' Centre.[1] The striking
Gothic Revival Findlater's Church (
Abbey Presbyterian Church) just up from the gallery on the same side was erected in the 1860s by Alexander Findlater, at his own expense, and which he presented to the
Presbyterian congregation. One of Dublin's most acclaimed restaurants,
Chapter One, is located on the northern side of Parnell Square between the
Hugh Lane Gallery and the Writers Museum. On the south side of the square is Conway's bar (now closed), outside of which
Patrick Pearse surrendered to the
British Army after the 1916
Easter Rising. The political party
Sinn Féin has its Dublin head office and shop on the western side of the square The western side also is known for offices of a number of
trades unions and other organisations. Also on the western side is the St. Martin's Apostolate office, which includes a small basement chapel. The St. Martin's Apostolate office is well known in Dublin for its moving
crib that is open to the public each Christmas.
No 9 Cavendish Row – Dr
Bartholomew Mosse (1713–1759); Philanthropist and surgeon. Mosse lived here, having originally hailed from Portlaoise. He founded the Rotunda Hospital, located in the square and which was built to designs of
Richard Cassels between 1751 and 1757. The emergence of Parnell Square as a square is largely attributable to him as he laid out pleasure gardens to pay for the hospital.
No. 14 Parnell Square was the headquarters of Conradh na Gaeilge in the 1940s and 1950s and perhaps into the 1960s. The Ard-chraobh of the Gaelic League was in this building.
No 29 – 30 Parnell Square – Formerly Vaughan's Hotel; a favourite hiding and meeting place for Michael Collins.
No 41 Parnell Square – this building was formerly the Irish National Forester's Hall. Prior to 1916, it was used for drilling both by the
Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and the Volunteers; on the eve of the outbreak of the
Easter RisingÉamon de Valera assembled the 3rd Battalion here. In 1922, subsequent to the Treaty and prior to the Civil War, the IRB again met here in a failed attempt at achieving consensus on the Treaty; among the attendees were Michael Collins,
Harry Boland,
Liam Lynch and
Eoin O'Duffy – all of whom, with the exception of O'Duffy, were dead by the end of the
Irish Civil War.
No 44 Parnell Square – The
Kevin Barry memorial hall is the current headquarters of
Sinn Féin.
No 46 Parnell Square – Formerly the Headquarters of
Conradh na Gaeilge, the Irish language league, this was the venue where
Thomas MacDonagh assembled the 2nd Battalion the Sunday night on the eve of the 1916
Easter Rising. In August 1917, the meetings that led to the National Executive of the
Irish Republican Army being established were also here, with persons present including Éamon de Valera,
Thomas Ashe,
Cathal Brugha, and Michael Collins. Subsequently on 19 September 1919, in the company of
Richard Mulcahy, Michael Collins set up his famous "Squad", composed of top-level operatives – men who would ultimately be involved with highest priority missions, such as the elimination of the British "G Men" agents in 1920.
No 58 Parnell Square – The Sinn Féin Bookshop and the offices of the An Phoblacht newspaper.
Future development
There are plans for the development of the northern side of Parnell Square into a cultural district. The street will be turned into a pedestrian space, the city's main library will move to the former
Coláiste Mhuire buildings, a new auditorium will be built, and the gardens attached to the Rotunda Hospital will be opened up.[2][3]
Northern side of Parnell Square, with the
Garden of Remembrance at left,
Hugh Lane Gallery recessed at right, and former Coláiste Mhuire buildings at far end