The rejuvenation of North Great George’s Street, one of the principal streets of Georgian Dublin, into a living, breathing street is celebrated in this exhibition. The exhibition was organised by the members of the North Great George’s Street Preservation Society, (NGGSPS), which this year is celebrating 40 years since its foundation. Each member has played their individual part in restoring the street and its houses to their former glory.

North Great George’s Street was originally built as town houses for the gentry between the middle and end of the 18^th century. The Act of Union in 1801 quickly marked its decline when the gentry moved to London. The street then became home largely to the medical and legal professions, but it went into massive decline in the early part of the 20^th century in poverty ridden Dublin as many of the houses were turned into tenements.

In the early 1970’s, a far-seeing group of individuals bought houses (some still occupied by tenants at the time) that were often in an advanced state of dereliction. Over the years, these owners have painstakingly refurbished the houses and turned them into homes. The NGGSPS, supported by the North Great George’s Street Residents Association, has played a vital role in the conservation of the architectural fabric of the buildings. All this work on the individual homes has been painstakingly carried out at each owner’s expense and restored to meet the highest standards of the houses as they were first built.

The Preservation Society was founded in 1979 by Senator David Norris, Harold Clarke and Desiree Short and other home owners of the street made up the members, including the Loreto Order and Belvedere College. It, together with the North Great George’s Street Residents Association, has worked closely with Dublin City Council, the Georgian Society and the An Taisce to ensure the preservation of the street.

Chairman of NGGSPS, Tom McKeown said: “While all the original houses are ‘protected structures’, there are still huge risks in the form of over-development of the houses themselves and the mews lanes surrounding them. In order to reduce these risks, the NGGSPS is working closely with Dublin City Council to have the area designated an Architectural Conservation Area. This would offer an increased level of protection to the street and highlight the still existing need to improve the sadly neglected public domain including pavements, railings and facades”.

Vice President of The Georgian Society, Camille McAleese added: “When the wonderful, gorgeous Dublin city was crumbling or in a perilous state, North Great Georges Street was one of unique architectural merit where a growing number of private householders had already demonstrated a public-spirited concern. Their aim was to conserve their homes in North Great Georges Street for their own enjoyment and that of fellow citizens and future generations. It is imperative that NGGPS receives full support from all the relevant organisations to support their laudable work” she added.

North Great Georges Street is one of Dublin’s most beautiful and intact Georgian Streets. It is the challenge of the present generation who started the vision to bring the street back to its former glory and to continue the work to ensure the street will be enjoyed for many generations to come.

1 to 7 July 2019
Daniel O'Connell Room, City Assembly House, 58 South William Street, Dublin 2

Exhibition opening hours:
Monday 1 July to Saturday 6 July, 10am—6pm
Sunday 7 July, 12pm—6pm