Heritage & Local Environment

At a recent meeting of Labour Party members and supporters, Councillor Michael O’Donovan took questions on issues of heritage and the local environment. This leaflet reflects the discussion.


Q: Michael, at Council meetings you often refer to “quality-of-life” issues and to the importance of valuing local heritage and of enhancing the local environment. Is this really possible in an area like Dublin 15, one of the fastest growing areas in the E.U.

A: It is possible and it’s vital. In the middle of so much pressure for development, we need to protect and enhance as many elements of our natural, cultural and built heritage as possible so that we can hold on to some sense of place and identity. We also need to give Dublin 15 residents a sense of ownership of this heritage by, for example, making many more of our heritage lands accessible to local people.



Q: For example?

A: Let me give you a few. We are fortunate to have three inland waterways in Dublin 15; the Liffey, the Tolka and the Canal. The Liffey Valley is an area of fantastic natural beauty and we have protected the area from rezoning and intrusive development, but it’s still largely inaccessible to walkers because most of the valley is in private hands.



Q: You’ve previously proposed a “Strawberry Way”, a pedestrian trail along the Liffey. Will this ever become a reality?

A: I believe it will. The Liffey Valley has the potential to be a “Green Lung” in the heart of the built-up areas of Dublin West. We have some pieces of the jigsaw in place, such as Lucan Demesne and St. Catherine’s Park near Westmanstown, but there’s a lot more to be done. The Council now owns the Shakleton Mills, a Victorian industrial building in the Strawberry Beds. We hope to turn this into a visitor centre but, to be of real value, it must link with a series of pedestrian paths. That whole area has great natural beauty and is part of Dublin tradition and has the potential to be a world-class centre for tourism. In less prosperous times, Dubliners spent a day in the Strawberry Beds as their honeymoon. The lady had strawberries and cream and a drop of sherry while the groom would have a pint or two in the Strawberry Hall.



Q: You mentioned the potential of Shakleton Mills as a tourism centre. Is it true that Fingal Council hopes to restore the famous Shakleton Gardens at Beechpark, Clonsilla?

A: Yes. We’ve only recently completed a land swap with the owners. The Dublin 15 area has a historic link with Ernest Shakleton, the Antartic explorer who brought all his crew home alive. We intend to restore the Victorian walled gardens and we’re already in the process of developing some of the fields in Beechpark Estate as a sporting facility.


Q: The State now owns the huge Abbotstown Estate just beyond Connolly Hospital. How will local people benefit?

A: The vision here is for a centre of sporting excellence, and there must be facilities for local clubs. Within the estate, the ruins of the ancient monastic settlement, the woodlands and the gate lodges are all “listed” for preservation. But, for Dublin 15 residents to enjoy this amenity, an “Abbotstown Walk”, linking Blanchardstown Village, the Tolka Valley and the estate is something we must work and fight for. I want people to be able to stroll through these heritage lands.



Q: But sometimes, heritage areas come under threat. There is to be a pipeline through the Tolka Valley, and the old Mulhuddart Bridge has to be replaced. Do local representatives like yourself have any real influence on decisions like these?

A: Yes, we have. We can make changes for the better. In the instance of the Tolka Valley, the Labour group on the Council achieved guarantees of full reinstatement of the landscape including the trees and the more recent orchid meadows, and there will be a committee of local residents to monitor progress. I have also proposed that the stone from the old bridge be used to make an artistic feature in the valley. We might put the design out for public comment in order to give local people ownership of it.



Q: Is our planning system strong enough to protect the natural environment, especially when land is being continuously designated for new commercial or residential development?

A: I wish we had stronger planning laws, but even within present constraints, we can do a lot. We, the councillors, can enforce conditions obliging developers to plant more trees and shrubs and provide properly laid out open spaces and play areas. The visual impact of business parks can be “softened” by heavy planting and by water features and outdoor sculpture.



Q: Anything else on your wish list, Michael?

A: Lots. Completion of the Millennium Park and restoration of the old walls, (the last remnants of Jelletstown House), large new public parks for Tyrrelstown and Castaheany/Littlepace, three hundred garden allotments at Powerstown, a collection of Dublin 15 local history archives in the Blanchardstown library, an audit of older vernacular buildings including farm buildings and places of work, more marked walking trails… there’s no shortage of work to be done.