Dublin
Civic
Trust

18 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin

Learn about the three-year project by Dublin Civic Trust to conserve a important example of a mid-19th century Dublin merchant premises. Sited on the banks of the River Liffey, this handsome 'shop house' was constructed in 1843 with living accommodation over a ground floor grocer's premises. In a perilous structural and decorative state by the early 2000s, the Trust undertook a major campaign to save the building and refurbish it as a model of best conservation practice.

This is that story.

Session 1 of 4: DUBLIN 2025: a city in crisis or a golden opportunity?

Session 1 Dublin Past & Present: Where We Were, Why We Are

Chair: Donough Cahill, Executive Director, Irish Georgian Society

9.20 am The Future of the Past by Valerie Mulvin

10.10 am Working in, with and for the Historic City by Owen O'Doherty

10.35 am Irish Cities in Crisis; prime issues; Galway 2070 study; some thoughts about Dublin crisis by David Browne, 

11.00 am Panel Question and Answer

The wider work of the IGS and DCT is supported by The Heritage Council’s Heritage Organisations Support Fund 2025.

Session 2 of 4: DUBLIN 2025: a city in crisis or a golden opportunity?

Session 2 Dublin Today: The Challenges, The Opportunities

Chair: Alexander Downes, Chairperson, Dublin Civic Trust

11.40 am Welcome Back

11.45 am ‘The City which mistook its crisis for a plan’ by Gráinne Shaffrey

12.10 pm Inner City or City Centre? We Need to Talk about the North Georgian Core by Graham Hickey

12.35 pm Beautiful, Sustainable, Together - Reframing the Georgian legacy of Dublin to support its adaptation in a sustainable and inclusive way to benefit present and future generations by Nicola Matthews

1.00 pm Panel Question & Answer

The wider work of the IGS and DCT is supported by The Heritage Council’s Heritage Organisations Support Fund 2025.

Session 3 of 4: DUBLIN 2025: a city in crisis or a golden opportunity?

Session 3

Dublin Housing: The Endless Pursuit of a Liveable City Centre

Chair: Charlotte Sheridan

2.00 pm Welcome Back

2.05 pm Mapping Urban Beauty - A Public Good by Dr Paul James Kearns

2.25 pm Dead or Alive? Dublin’s Struggle with Zombie Urbanism by Dr Gavin Daly

2.50 pm "Who is Dublin really for?" by Dr Lorcan Sirr

3.15 pm Panel Question & Answer

The wider work of the IGS and DCT is supported by The Heritage Council’s Heritage Organisations Support Fund 2025.

Session 4 of 4: DUBLIN 2025: a city in crisis or a golden opportunity?

Session 4

Dublin’s Future: Visions for Change, Examples that Inspire Chair: Michael Wall

3.40 pm Welcome Back

3.45 pm Thriving places – celebrating character and context through engagement-led planning in Ireland by Alistair MacDonald

4.05 pm The Laundry Penthouse: a recent cooperative housing development in Paris by Paul Arnold

4.30 pm 10 Big Moves: Taoiseach's task force for Dublin city centre by Máire Henry

4.55 pm Panel Discussion with Olivia Kelly

5.30 pm Concluding Remarks & Close by Michael Wall

The wider work of the IGS and DCT is supported by The Heritage Council’s Heritage Organisations Support Fund 2025.

68 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #1

Works have been underway to restore the beautiful red brick facade of this mid-18th century building to the rear of 18 Ormond Quay Upper. Find out more in this first video update with Graham Hickey of Dublin Civic Trust.

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #2

Georgian red brickwork revealed, structural issues uncovered, and a few surprises along the way.

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #3

In this edition, matching and laying replacement brick and traditional pointing trials got underway on the mid-18th century facade.

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #4

18th-century brick and granite sills have been cleaned and interventions discovered.

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #5

Facade repointing works at 67 Arran Street East have been continuing in the run-up to Christmas 2021. The mid-18th century brick and Edwardian brick at parapet level are being pointed by Nolan’s Group using the original ‘penny-struck’ flush joint discovered at ground floor level, augmented with pigmented brick repair mortar. Watch the process in action!

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #6

This stage of the project involves re-setting the 1750s window frames and unearthing the archaeology of the interior joinery.

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #7

The 1750s upper floor facade is complete, allowing a final chance to inspect the restored Georgian brickwork, cleaned granite and reinstated sash windows before the scaffolding is dropped to hoarding level.

67 Arran Street East - Conservation Update #8

As the facade project reaches its final hurdle, the 1840s Roman cement shopfront is restored, the large shop window is reinstated, and more clues to the building’s 1750s origins are revealed.