HISTORY,CULTURE & DAWSON
What had these three world famous Dubliners, Dracula author Abraham ‘Bram ‘Stoker, dramatist/ writer, Oscar Wilde, and the champion of destitute, materially and socially deprived children, Thomas Barnardo, got in common? Besides the facts they were all born in Dublin and Bram Stoker married Oscar Wilde’s first love, the answer is they all had an association with St. Ann’s church in Dawson Street, Dublin. And this stylish, shopping street in central Dublin is full of interesting history and culture.
ST.ANN’S CHURCH
I always admired the striking St. Ann’s Church in Dawson Street, as I was once a frequent visitor to South Anne Street. The church’s structure and its unique features are wonderfully prominent, whilst one travels down South Anne Street from the Grafton Street end. The Neo-Romanesque architecture, with its beautiful, decorative stonework, arches, and stately appearance, never failed to impress me.
In 1878, Bram Stoker married Florence Balcombe in St. Ann’s. In 1854, Oscar Wilde was baptised in the parish and St. Ann’s holds his baptismal paper work. Philanthropist, Thomas Barnardo, was a young pupil of St. Ann’s Sunday school.
“As of yore, I could not allow any question of sect or creed to close my doors in the face of a really destitute and homeless child …”
Those are the words of Thomas John Barnardo. I’ve great respect for this man’s humanitarianism. Born in Dublin to John Barnardo and Abigail in 1845, Thomas died in 1905. His life’s work included the founding of 96 homes caring for more than 8,500 children. Having witnessed thousands of children sleeping rough in London’s East End, he set up his charity homes. One of his own seven children, Marjorie, was born with Down’s Syndrome. He then established specialist homes for children with disabilities. Bravo!
“A beautiful morning in the month of July she accepted my proposal of marriage… I took her to the Church in Dawson St where we were married and I carried her out of town to Maynooth for a few days.”
The above statement is an entry from Wolfe Tone’s diary. The Irish revolutionary married sixteen-year-old Matilda Witherington, a St. Ann’s parishioner, on 21st July 1785 in the famous church. These are just a few of the illustrious, historical figures connected with St. Ann’s. Interesting.
MANSION HOUSE
Derry native, Joshua Dawson, developed Dawson Street and surrounding areas in the early eighteen century. The developer’s townhouse (Mansion House) the oldest free-standing house in Dublin, was sold to Dublin Corporation in 1715. The magnificent Mansion House became home to Dublin Lord Mayors, over the decades. On 21st January, 1919, the First Dail proclaimed the Irish Declaration of Independence in the Mansion House. As Éamon de Valera was incarcerated in Lincoln Gaol, on that date, Cathal Brugha was elected President of the Dail. However, de Valera managed to escape and was afterwards (1st April) elected President. Fifty years later on 21st January,1969, both houses of government, Dail and Seanad Eireann, gathered in the Mansion House for a celebratory address by the then President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera. Historic.
This splendid, exquisitely designed building is a Dublin attraction guaranteed to please the eye. And to think somebody threatened to blow it up! In 2006, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) claimed they had left a bomb in the Mansion House, twenty five years earlier (1981) during a Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. The Lord Mayor and staff had to be evacuated. Subsequently, the Irish Defence Forces thoroughly searched the building and later declared the premises safe. Spooky.
CAFÉ EN SEINE
One Dawson Street building’s interior worth viewing is Café en Seine. This colossal, mega-pub is awesome. I had occasion to dine in the mighty establishment, some late afternoon, last year. Impressive. Formerly a Georgian home, this sophisticated pub/restaurant/café reeks of class, with its sweeping, elegant, arty décor and high-ceiling, multiple-floor, expansive areas. It’s unbelievably roomy, modern and chic and yet has a ‘different era’ feel, primarily due to designer creativity including some original brickwork and some 19th century sky lights. A delightful evening was had by all our companions and the ambience was perfect. Outstanding.
LUAS CROSS CITY
One evening last week, I took a stroll down Dawson Street, the first time in a while. With the new Luas Cross City project under construction, the flow of traffic was constricted, with single-lane traffic squeezing down the bottom of Dawson Street into Nassau Street. Portable, metal fences surrounded the road works, and construction workers had finished for the day. Peering through a fence, one would be forgiven for thinking a bomb had exploded, with the various craters and scattered debris. Although, some dug-out channels made it seem like the concrete surface was ripped and peeled apart surgically, exposing the bowels, innards and jutting pipes beneath. Various sized, criss-crossing pipelines and casings, caked with earth, were revealed underground. Not a pretty sight … or site.
Furthermore, Dawson Street’s Georgian cellars have to be filled in, enabling room for diverted services; apparently, utilities have to be re-routed in order to facilitate future maintenance. The new Luas tracks will operate from St. Stephen’s Green to Cabra, and estimated completion will be in 2017. On the bright side, the construction and road works are temporary, and the much admired, popular Luas will generate enhanced commercial and retail activities. Exciting.
Yes ,in conclusion, there’s a lot of informative, intriguing history, culture and shopping thoroughfares associated with Dawson Street and its environs of Grafton Street, Trinity college, Stephen’s Green etc., and we only mentioned a few. Also, here’s wishing the Luas success in linking all these areas.
Have a nice day.
Tomas O’hArgadain