Editing O'Connell Street (section)

==Regeneration==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
 | image2 = O'Connell St., Dublin from Nelson's Pillar, 1964.jpg
 | alt2 = View from the pillar in 1964, looking north
 | width2 = 150
 | image1 = O'Connell Street from Nelson's Pillar in 1964.jpg
 | alt1 = View from the pillar in 1964, looking south
 | width1 = 150
 | footer = Views from the pillar in 1964, looking south (left) and north (right)
}}

Despite improvements to the street's architectural coherence between 1916 and 1922, the street has since suffered from a lack of planning.{{sfn|Bennett|2005|p=225}} Like much of Dublin of that time, property speculators and developers were allowed to construct what were widely accepted to be inappropriately designed buildings, often entailing the demolition of historic properties in spite of its Conservation Area status. [[Frank McDonald (journalist)|Frank McDonald]] dates the turn in the Street's fortune as the blowing up of Nelson's Pillar, contending that the loss of the pillar led to a decline in the character and overall cohesion of the area. The loss of the Pillar was also the loss of a significant landmark, a meeting place, and a popular tourist spot on the north side of the city.{{sfn|McDonald|1985|p=149}} Several Victorian and 1920s buildings were demolished in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the earliest examples was the demolition of two house facades by [[CIÉ]] in 1961 to make way for the passenger information bureau. The new structure has a glazed curtain wall with stained glass panels by [[Evie Hone]].{{sfn|McDonald|1985|p=13}} Another demolition was of Gilbey's at the northern end of the street.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dia.ie/works/view/37468/building/CO.+DUBLIN,+DUBLIN,+O'CONNELL+STREET+UPPER,+NO.+046-49+(GILBEY)|title=CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET UPPER, NO. 046-49 (GILBEY)|work=Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 – 1940|publisher=Irish Architectural Archive|date=13 October 2020}}</ref> This building featured a high Victorian [[Romanesque Revival architecture|romanesque]] facade, a porch, and a crested roof. It was demolished in March 1973, with two stone heads of Gladstone and Palmerston salvaged and set in above the new entrance. Originally designed as a mixed development with retail and offices, the entire building was rented by [[Dublin City Council]] from 1975, and then set out the ground floor as a sound-proofed council chamber.{{sfn|McDonald|1985|p=151-153}}

The Metropole and Capitol cinemas next to the GPO were demolished<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin009-metropole|title=CIN009 Metropole|publisher=Dublin City Council|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dublincity.ie/image/libraries/cin002-capitol|title=CIN002 Capitol|publisher=Dublin City Council|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> in 1973, McDonald noting this removed the central social hub of O'Connell Street. As well as being cinemas, the Capitol had lounges, meeting rooms, cafes and a restaurant, while the Metropole had a ballroom, restaurants and bars. The site was levelled and redeveloped for [[British Home Stores]].{{sfn|McDonald|1985|p=154}} It occupied the site, with [[Mothercare]] and [[Habitat (retailer)|Habitat]], until 1992 when it closed the store. It was then taken over by a branch of [[Primark|Penney's]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Retail chain's bumpy trading unlikely to affect Irish stores |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/retail-chain-s-bumpy-trading-unlikely-to-affect-irish-stores-1.193981 |access-date=27 October 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=9 June 1999 |language=en}}</ref> Findlater's grocer and wine merchant's premises on the corner of O'Connell Street and Cathal Brugha Street was demolished in 1972 and replaced with a five-storey office block with retail at ground level. This is among the newer buildings that disrupted the proportions that had been strictly enforced across the streetscape by O'Rourke during the reconstruction in the 1920s.{{sfn|McDonald|1985|p=153-154}}

Among the last intact Wide Streets Commission buildings on the street dating from the 1780s,{{sfn|Bennett|2005|p=224}} numbers 40 and 41 were demolished in 1968 to make way for the Royal Dublin Hotel. Designed by Patrick Carr, it was the first hotel built in Dublin since the Gresham in the 1920s and opened in 1970. This hotel was in turn demolished after its closure in 2008 and has remained a vacant site. Along with the other vacant site beside the former [[Carlton Cinema, Dublin|Carlton Cinema]], and the Carlton itself have been part of a plan to develop the site as a large shopping centre that would connect with [[Moore Street]].<ref name="Kelly">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Olivia |title=Last Georgian house on Dublin's O'Connell Street is at risk from neglect |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/last-georgian-house-on-dublin-s-o-connell-street-is-at-risk-from-neglect-1.3784304 |access-date=27 October 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=7 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The so-called "Carlton site" encompasses almost six acres facing onto O'Connell, Moore, Parnell and Henry Streets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Kelly|first=Olivia|date=5 May 2019|title=Lipstick on a pig? Why Dublin has failed to pretty-up O'Connell Street|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/lipstick-on-a-pig-why-dublin-has-failed-to-pretty-up-o-connell-street-1.3881825|access-date=27 October 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref> This vacant site immediately to the right of the Carlton was Gill's bookshop and a branch of Penney's until 1979 when it was purchased by the [[Bank of Ireland]]. Gill's was destroyed by fire while vacant and later collapsed in September 1979, leading to both buildings being levelled.{{sfn|McDonald|1985|p=153}}<ref name=":0" /> Many of the older buildings were replaced with fast-food restaurants, shops and offices, that continue to be the main features along O'Connell Street in the 21st century.{{sfn|Bennett|2005|p=225}}[[File:O'Connell Street.jpg|thumb|Upper O'Connell Street in 2022. |left]]The street was given attention with Dublin City Council's O'Connell Street Integrated Area Plan (IAP) which was unveiled in 1998 with the aim of restoring the street to its former status.{{sfn|Haddock|2010|p=140}}{{sfn|Carey|2016|p=275}} The plan was designed to go beyond simple cosmetic changes, and introduce control of the wider area beyond the street's buildings, including pedestrian and vehicle interaction, governance and preservation of architecture. Work on the plan was delayed, and reached approval in June 2003.{{sfn|Dublin|2009|p=2}}

The main features of the plan included the widening of footpaths and a reduction in road space, removing and replacing all trees, a new plaza in front of the GPO,<ref name=iap>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/olivia-kelly-why-can-t-we-save-o-connell-street-1.2386169|title=Why can't we save O'Connell Street?|newspaper=Irish Times|first=Olivia|last=Kelly|date=10 October 2015|access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref> and new street furnishings including custom-designed lampposts, litter bins and retail kiosks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steintec.co.uk/casestudies/oconnell-street/|title=O'Connell Street|work=Steintec|access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref> The plan included the [[Spire of Dublin]] project, Dublin's tallest sculpture; constructed between December 2002 and January 2003, occupying the site of Nelson's Pillar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/the-story-behind-the-spire-of-dublin-oconnell-streets-iconic-landmark/|title=The story behind the Spire of Dublin, O'Connell Street's iconic landmark|first=Dan|last=O'Muirigh|work=Ireland Before You Die|date=13 November 2019|access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> Numerous monuments were restored, including those of late 19th century Irish political leader [[Charles Stewart Parnell]], radical early 20th-century labour leader [[Jim Larkin]], prominent businessman and nationalist MP Sir John Grey,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/o-connell-street-statues-to-be-cleaned-in-300-000-programme-1.431792|title=O'Connell Street statues to be cleaned in €300,000 programme|newspaper=Irish Times|date=14 April 2005|access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref> and the most challenging of all: the conservation of the O'Connell Monument standing guard at the southern entrance to the thoroughfare. This project was worked on for a number of months by an expert team of bronze and stone conservators before being unveiled in May 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/restored-o-connell-monument-to-be-unveiled-1.1177744|title=Restored O'Connell monument to be unveiled|newspaper=Irish Times|date=23 May 2005|access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref>

All public domain works were completed in June 2006, finalising the principal objective of the IAP at a cost of €40 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steintec.co.uk/casestudies/oconnell-street/|title=O'Connell Street|publisher=Steintec|access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> The loss of mature trees during this work has been cited as exposing and further highlighting the issues with the streetscape.<ref name=":0" /> Work was disrupted by a [[2006 Dublin riots|riot]] centred on the street which erupted on 25 February 2006. A protest against a planned Loyalist march degenerated into vandalism and looting, with building materials from the works in progress being used as weapons and for smashing windows and fixtures.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4750576.stm|title=Officers injured in Dublin riot|work=BBC News|date=25 February 2006|access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref>

O'Connell Street has been designated an Architectural Conservation Area and an Area of Special Planning Control.{{sfn|Dublin|2009|pp=2–3}} This means that no buildings can be altered without Dublin City Council's permission, and fast food outlets, takeaways, cafes and amusement arcades are strictly controlled.{{sfn|Dublin|2009|pp=3–5}}

In June 2015, Clerys suddenly closed after it was bought out by investment group Natrium Ltd, with the loss of over 400 jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/clerys-closes-doors-as-court-appoints-liquidators-1.2247754|title=Clerys closes doors as court appoints liquidators|newspaper=Irish Times|date=12 June 2015|access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> In 2019, plans were announced to turn the premises into a four-star hotel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/work-to-begin-on-clerys-department-store-redevelopment-1.3770535|title=Work to begin on Clerys department store redevelopment|newspaper=Irish Times|date=25 January 2019|access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref>

The street is used as the main route of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/miriam-lord-a-parade-in-dublin-you-could-only-dream-about-1.4205401|title=Miriam Lord: A parade in Dublin you could only dream about|first=Miriam|last=Lord|date=17 March 2020|newspaper=Irish Times|access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> and as the setting for the 1916 Commemoration every [[Easter Sunday]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/proclamation-gpo-defence-forces-easter-5073078-Apr2020/|title=Proclamation read out on empty O'Connell Street to mark the 104th anniversary of the Easter Rising|newspaper=The Journal|date=12 April 2020|access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> It also serves as a major bus route artery through the city centre. The modern tram, [[Luas|the Luas]], has undergone an extension and trams now run once again through O'Connell Street. It only travels in one direction, the return loop, to link the system at [[St Stephen's Green|St. Stephen's Green]], runs via [[Marlborough Street, Dublin|Marlborough Street]], parallel with and east of O'Connell Street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luascrosscity.ie/re-think/fast-facts/|title=Luas Cross City}}</ref>