A PROPERTY development company has lost a High Court attempt to overturn An Bord Pleanála’s refusal of permission for a large development, including a cinema and 259 apartments, at Sandyford, Co Dublin.
Wexele, an unlimited liability company, had proposed to build the development on a site of some 0.67 hectares at Blackthorn Avenue, Sandyford Industrial Estate.
The development included 15 “live-work” apartment units, a gym, a creche, club cinema for the use of residents, 338 car spaces and a commercial floor space.
The Stillorgan Heath and Lakelands Residents Associations, and several individuals, were notice parties to the proceedings.
In a reserved judgment yesterday, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill found the reasons given by the board for refusing permission were more than sufficient to discharge its statutory duty under the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council had in July 2005 decided to grant the proposed scheme planning permission, subject to conditions.
The company appealed against some of those conditions, while 12 other appeals were lodged against the initial decision to grant permission.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) had also expressed concerns about whether the M50/N31/N11 route had capacity for such a development.
In April 2008, the board refused planning permission, saying the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
It also said the development was premature, given existing deficiencies in the road network service in the area and public transport facilities.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label dun laoghaire planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dun laoghaire planning. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Culture by the seafront
THE SPOTLIGHT will be firmly on Dún Laoghaire for the next few weeks, what with this weekend’s Festival of World Cultures and its Mountains to Sea Book Festival from September 10th to 13th.
So it might be a good time to visit the County Hall on Marine Road to look at the plans for a Cultural Centre and Central Library that the council wants to build in Moran Park (the area adjacent to the Pavilion, between the Royal Marine hotel and the Metals, with the bowling green and overgrown pond behind it).
The seafront at Dún Laoghaire has long been a contentious matter, with long-running rows over the future of the disused ferry terminal and the East Pier to Sandycove baths site. But it’s likely that there’ll be a broad welcome for the developments on the Pavilion side of the street: the council is building a linear park on top of the railway line next to the cafés and restaurants – it should be finished by January.
The proposed library and cultural centre, designed by architects Carr Cotter and Naessens, would be a major addition to the town, including an art gallery, meeting rooms, music library with practice facilities, performance space and more, as well as serving as library HQ for the county. It’s on display in the town hall from 10am to 4pm until September 21st (as well as at the council’s Dundrum office).
The East Pier to Sandycove baths site remains to be decided.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
So it might be a good time to visit the County Hall on Marine Road to look at the plans for a Cultural Centre and Central Library that the council wants to build in Moran Park (the area adjacent to the Pavilion, between the Royal Marine hotel and the Metals, with the bowling green and overgrown pond behind it).
The seafront at Dún Laoghaire has long been a contentious matter, with long-running rows over the future of the disused ferry terminal and the East Pier to Sandycove baths site. But it’s likely that there’ll be a broad welcome for the developments on the Pavilion side of the street: the council is building a linear park on top of the railway line next to the cafés and restaurants – it should be finished by January.
The proposed library and cultural centre, designed by architects Carr Cotter and Naessens, would be a major addition to the town, including an art gallery, meeting rooms, music library with practice facilities, performance space and more, as well as serving as library HQ for the county. It’s on display in the town hall from 10am to 4pm until September 21st (as well as at the council’s Dundrum office).
The East Pier to Sandycove baths site remains to be decided.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 1 March 2009
For the birds: Dun Laoghaire council scraps harbour water sports project
A PROPOSAL for the construction of a marine lake in Dún Laoghaire harbour has been abandoned after the Department of the Environment ruled the development would conflict with a special protection area for birds.
The scheme was mooted as a recreational facility at the West Pier in the harbour – the newer pier – and would have provided a range of activities to the public including rowing, canoeing and sailing.
But management at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have decided to scrap the project, which was an objective of the local authority's county development plan.
In a report to councillors, county manager Owen Keegan noted that the Department of the Environment had decided to designate Dublin Bay as a special protection area under the EU Birds Directive.
In addition, he noted the location earmarked for the marine lake fell within the SPA.
He then revealed that he had asked the department to exclude the area selected for the marine lake from the SPA, so that the project could proceed, as planned.
However, he said this request had been rejected.
"In these circumstances and given the position of the department in this matter, I regret to advise members that I see no merit in pursuing the marine lake proposals any further, notwithstanding its undoubted merits," Keegan said.
A report by consultants Biosphere Environmental Services (BES) concluded that as the project would generate "adverse impacts" for feeding and roosting water birds in the area, it would be inconsistent with the SPA.
However, while a pre-feasibility study by consultants Royal Haskoning found the lake would conflict with the SPA, it also pointed out there were several factors in favour of the construction of the lake outside of the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour.
The study said the water depth throughout most of the surrounding area was of "sufficient depth" to facilitate the lake.
Green party councillor Gene Feighery criticised the council for scrapping the proposal and claimed the local authority should not have cited the SPA as the main impediment to the scheme.
She said the Royal Haskoning report outlined a number of other issues that would act as constraints to the development of the lake at the West Pier.
"In my opinion it is unhelpful to cite the SPA designation, which will benefit the community and environment as a whole, as an impediment to development," she said.
The council originally said the lake would have had the potential to increase participation in water sports given that space within the harbour is increasingly being used to accommodate commercial marina developments.
This is the second time in recent months that the local authority has made a controversial decision linked to a special protection area for birds.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The scheme was mooted as a recreational facility at the West Pier in the harbour – the newer pier – and would have provided a range of activities to the public including rowing, canoeing and sailing.
But management at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have decided to scrap the project, which was an objective of the local authority's county development plan.
In a report to councillors, county manager Owen Keegan noted that the Department of the Environment had decided to designate Dublin Bay as a special protection area under the EU Birds Directive.
In addition, he noted the location earmarked for the marine lake fell within the SPA.
He then revealed that he had asked the department to exclude the area selected for the marine lake from the SPA, so that the project could proceed, as planned.
However, he said this request had been rejected.
"In these circumstances and given the position of the department in this matter, I regret to advise members that I see no merit in pursuing the marine lake proposals any further, notwithstanding its undoubted merits," Keegan said.
A report by consultants Biosphere Environmental Services (BES) concluded that as the project would generate "adverse impacts" for feeding and roosting water birds in the area, it would be inconsistent with the SPA.
However, while a pre-feasibility study by consultants Royal Haskoning found the lake would conflict with the SPA, it also pointed out there were several factors in favour of the construction of the lake outside of the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour.
The study said the water depth throughout most of the surrounding area was of "sufficient depth" to facilitate the lake.
Green party councillor Gene Feighery criticised the council for scrapping the proposal and claimed the local authority should not have cited the SPA as the main impediment to the scheme.
She said the Royal Haskoning report outlined a number of other issues that would act as constraints to the development of the lake at the West Pier.
"In my opinion it is unhelpful to cite the SPA designation, which will benefit the community and environment as a whole, as an impediment to development," she said.
The council originally said the lake would have had the potential to increase participation in water sports given that space within the harbour is increasingly being used to accommodate commercial marina developments.
This is the second time in recent months that the local authority has made a controversial decision linked to a special protection area for birds.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Cosgrave In A Fair Way With New Dun Laoghaire Plans
Cosgrave Developments is planning a €300m development on the former Dun Laoghaire Golf Club land in south Dublin. Last year An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead for 856 residential units, an office building, supermarket and shops on the southern part of the 78-acre site and the developer has now sought permission for another 65,000 square metres of development on the northern part.
The new scheme will comprise 605 residential units, most of them apartments in buildings of up to seven storeys. It is also planning five parks with a total land area of over 7.5 acres.
In a separate application, the developer is also seeking permission to develop a bowls club on part of the land. The northern area of the site is 40 acres and the new planning applications encompass only part of it.
Cosgrave took control of the 78-acre golf club after agreeing a land swap with the members that included a €20m fee and the provision of a new 27-hole course at Ballyman Glen on the Dublin-Wicklow border.
The Dun Laoghaire course was rezoned in 2004 after then environment minister Martin Cullen ruled the local authority had failed to rezone enough land for residential use.
Cosgrave Developments is part of the Cosgrave Property Group owned by Joe, Mick, Peter, Willie and Helen Cosgrave. Their assets include the Radisson Hotel in south Dublin and land around Greystones and Bray in Wicklow. They also own high rise offices at George's Quay in Dublin city centre and Westend retail park in Blanchardstown in Dublin 15.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The new scheme will comprise 605 residential units, most of them apartments in buildings of up to seven storeys. It is also planning five parks with a total land area of over 7.5 acres.
In a separate application, the developer is also seeking permission to develop a bowls club on part of the land. The northern area of the site is 40 acres and the new planning applications encompass only part of it.
Cosgrave took control of the 78-acre golf club after agreeing a land swap with the members that included a €20m fee and the provision of a new 27-hole course at Ballyman Glen on the Dublin-Wicklow border.
The Dun Laoghaire course was rezoned in 2004 after then environment minister Martin Cullen ruled the local authority had failed to rezone enough land for residential use.
Cosgrave Developments is part of the Cosgrave Property Group owned by Joe, Mick, Peter, Willie and Helen Cosgrave. Their assets include the Radisson Hotel in south Dublin and land around Greystones and Bray in Wicklow. They also own high rise offices at George's Quay in Dublin city centre and Westend retail park in Blanchardstown in Dublin 15.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 11 December 2008
New medical centre plan for Dun Laoghaire
A MEDICAL FACILITY and a new public square are planned on the site of Dún Laoghaire's Boylan Community Centre. A proposal for the new scheme would involve the demolition of the centre on Sussex Street and the adjoining St Mary's Hall on Eblana Avenue, which are both beside the nurses' home of St Michael's Hospital.
Developer KBK Properties is proposing to build a mixed-use medical facility of 4,734sq m (50,956sq ft).
The building will incorporate a Swiftcare Clinic, 10 GP suites, 17 consultant suites, a pharmacy, optician, dental practice and a restaurant fronting onto a public square on Sussex Street, which will link George's Street with Harbour Square.
Owned by architect Neil Burke Kennedy and Dominic Kelly, KBK Properties' plans, if approved by the council, will see the construction of a building that will range in height from three storeys on Eblana Avenue to six storeys at the rear of the site. Some 111 car-parking spaces will be provided in a two-level underground car-park.
The 0.48-acre site was put on the market by St Michael's parish in May of last year. The sale was handled by Donal Kellegher of Savills and it is believed that it was sold for around €11 million.
Previous schemes by KBK include the redevelopment of the Workmen's Club on Lower George's Street in Dún Laoghaire.
Developer Noel Smyth's plans to redevelop the nurses' home on Eblana Avenue as apartments, as well as to build 80 apartments at the seafront car-park of the hospital at Crofton Road, were refused by An Bord Pleanála last July.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Developer KBK Properties is proposing to build a mixed-use medical facility of 4,734sq m (50,956sq ft).
The building will incorporate a Swiftcare Clinic, 10 GP suites, 17 consultant suites, a pharmacy, optician, dental practice and a restaurant fronting onto a public square on Sussex Street, which will link George's Street with Harbour Square.
Owned by architect Neil Burke Kennedy and Dominic Kelly, KBK Properties' plans, if approved by the council, will see the construction of a building that will range in height from three storeys on Eblana Avenue to six storeys at the rear of the site. Some 111 car-parking spaces will be provided in a two-level underground car-park.
The 0.48-acre site was put on the market by St Michael's parish in May of last year. The sale was handled by Donal Kellegher of Savills and it is believed that it was sold for around €11 million.
Previous schemes by KBK include the redevelopment of the Workmen's Club on Lower George's Street in Dún Laoghaire.
Developer Noel Smyth's plans to redevelop the nurses' home on Eblana Avenue as apartments, as well as to build 80 apartments at the seafront car-park of the hospital at Crofton Road, were refused by An Bord Pleanála last July.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 19 May 2008
Developers of harbour tower never applied for planning
THE development company which was given the contract four years ago to build an apartment and commercial tower block in Dun Laoghaire Harbour never submitted an application for planning permission, it has emerged.
The controversial project began to unravel three years ago when the selected developer, Urban Capital, failed to meet a first deadline for a planning application based on plans drawn up by Dublin architects, Heneghan Peng. From the outset there was local opposition to the idea of building apartments up to 10 storeys high in the centre of the 19th-century harbour beside the single storey yacht clubs and other low-rise Victorian buildings on the sea front.
Two weeks ago, Sisk Builders, one of the major partners in the firm, Urban Capital, announced it was pulling out of the project citing a "combination of the uncertain economic market conditions and the planning risks associated with a project of that nature".
Days later, the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company chief executive, Michael Hanahoe, resigned, although he said his decision was not linked to the collapse of the apartment project whose initial design included 229 apartments, a 127-bed hotel and retail outlets.
Sources close to the project said there had been disagreement about the project from an early stage between the Harbour Company, local planners and the developers.
It was also pointed out that the development of high-rise buildings on the sea front has also become a major political hot potato in Dun Laoghaire.
Campaigner Richard Boyd Barrett came within a whisker of being elected to the Dail in last year's general election with over 5,300 first preference votes largely due to his "Save Our Seafront" campaign against the proposal to build another massive apartment complex on the site of the old Dun Laoghaire Baths.
In the previous general election, he ran as a Socialist Workers' Party candidate and polled less than 800 votes.
Over 14,000 people in the town signed a petition against the proposed apartment complex on the Baths and 4,000 took part in the biggest ever public protest in Dun Laoghaire.
With local government elections due next year, sources close to the Government-owned Harbour Company said that it appears no one is prepared to risk moving on yet another unpopular high-rise development in the Harbour.
Mr Boyd Barrett said he welcomed the news that Sisk had pulled out of the project which he said would have made a major section of the harbour the "exclusive property of the super-wealthy and utterly ruined its unique character". He added: "The decision to abandon this plan is a major victory for people power and the Save Our Seafront campaign to prevent the creeping privatisation of our harbour and public seafront."
He said Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company should now engage with the public and the Save Our Seafront group to come up with what he described as an "acceptable plan" for the pier. "It is an ideal site to locate sea-related and other amenities that will enhance public access to the harbour."
Despite the fact that Dun Laoghaire Harbour has the second biggest concentration of yachts and leisure craft in either Ireland or Britain, after the Solent and Hamble, there is a severe lack of facilities for yachting.
Local yachtsman, Des Kelliher, whose family has been sailing out of Dun Laoghaire for generations, said: "From a service point of view Dun Laoghaire is disastrous. There is still no boat yard. Owners have to go North and even over to Wales for work.
"If there was a boat yard it would provide an extraordinary amount of work. It is one of the main reasons Dun Laoghaire can't attract major sailing events. We can't have anything on the scale of Cork Week because the facilities aren't there. On any Saturday there are a 1,000 people out in the Bay in anything from canoes to windsurfers to expensive yachts. It is one of the biggest participant sporting centres in Ireland and yet there are no support services available."
Although it now appears the high rise Carlisle Pier and Baths projects are finished, consideration is taking place of further major commercial development of the Harbour.
Last month, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council put forward plans for the infill of around 100 acres of Scotsman's Bay. The first "module" of the plan involves the building of a 500-space car park on an area of about five acres of infill beside the East Pier.
It is understood the building of a major marina with a hotel and apartment complex is one of the ideas being mooted in the Harbour Company should Stena Line, which runs its HSS ferry service from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead, pull out of the town when its current contract runs out in 2010.
JIM CUSACK
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The controversial project began to unravel three years ago when the selected developer, Urban Capital, failed to meet a first deadline for a planning application based on plans drawn up by Dublin architects, Heneghan Peng. From the outset there was local opposition to the idea of building apartments up to 10 storeys high in the centre of the 19th-century harbour beside the single storey yacht clubs and other low-rise Victorian buildings on the sea front.
Two weeks ago, Sisk Builders, one of the major partners in the firm, Urban Capital, announced it was pulling out of the project citing a "combination of the uncertain economic market conditions and the planning risks associated with a project of that nature".
Days later, the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company chief executive, Michael Hanahoe, resigned, although he said his decision was not linked to the collapse of the apartment project whose initial design included 229 apartments, a 127-bed hotel and retail outlets.
Sources close to the project said there had been disagreement about the project from an early stage between the Harbour Company, local planners and the developers.
It was also pointed out that the development of high-rise buildings on the sea front has also become a major political hot potato in Dun Laoghaire.
Campaigner Richard Boyd Barrett came within a whisker of being elected to the Dail in last year's general election with over 5,300 first preference votes largely due to his "Save Our Seafront" campaign against the proposal to build another massive apartment complex on the site of the old Dun Laoghaire Baths.
In the previous general election, he ran as a Socialist Workers' Party candidate and polled less than 800 votes.
Over 14,000 people in the town signed a petition against the proposed apartment complex on the Baths and 4,000 took part in the biggest ever public protest in Dun Laoghaire.
With local government elections due next year, sources close to the Government-owned Harbour Company said that it appears no one is prepared to risk moving on yet another unpopular high-rise development in the Harbour.
Mr Boyd Barrett said he welcomed the news that Sisk had pulled out of the project which he said would have made a major section of the harbour the "exclusive property of the super-wealthy and utterly ruined its unique character". He added: "The decision to abandon this plan is a major victory for people power and the Save Our Seafront campaign to prevent the creeping privatisation of our harbour and public seafront."
He said Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company should now engage with the public and the Save Our Seafront group to come up with what he described as an "acceptable plan" for the pier. "It is an ideal site to locate sea-related and other amenities that will enhance public access to the harbour."
Despite the fact that Dun Laoghaire Harbour has the second biggest concentration of yachts and leisure craft in either Ireland or Britain, after the Solent and Hamble, there is a severe lack of facilities for yachting.
Local yachtsman, Des Kelliher, whose family has been sailing out of Dun Laoghaire for generations, said: "From a service point of view Dun Laoghaire is disastrous. There is still no boat yard. Owners have to go North and even over to Wales for work.
"If there was a boat yard it would provide an extraordinary amount of work. It is one of the main reasons Dun Laoghaire can't attract major sailing events. We can't have anything on the scale of Cork Week because the facilities aren't there. On any Saturday there are a 1,000 people out in the Bay in anything from canoes to windsurfers to expensive yachts. It is one of the biggest participant sporting centres in Ireland and yet there are no support services available."
Although it now appears the high rise Carlisle Pier and Baths projects are finished, consideration is taking place of further major commercial development of the Harbour.
Last month, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council put forward plans for the infill of around 100 acres of Scotsman's Bay. The first "module" of the plan involves the building of a 500-space car park on an area of about five acres of infill beside the East Pier.
It is understood the building of a major marina with a hotel and apartment complex is one of the ideas being mooted in the Harbour Company should Stena Line, which runs its HSS ferry service from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead, pull out of the town when its current contract runs out in 2010.
JIM CUSACK
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 2 May 2008
CEO of Dún Laoghaire harbour firm to step down
THE CHIEF executive of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Michael Hanahoe, has resigned his position.
His resignation follows the shelving of the Carlisle Pier development project, although he said yesterday the two events were not connected.
Mr Hanahoe informed the chairman of the harbour board of his decision to leave last Friday and, under the terms of his contract, will work out 12 months’ notice with the company.
Mr Hanahoe told The Irish Times he did not feel under any pressure to go and was not leaving because of any particular issue.
“I do not feel that I have been forced out or forced by any particular circumstances to walk away,” he said.
His move followed the decision by John Sisk Sons Ltd to pull out of the Carlisle Pier project. The ambitious plan to redevelop the 19th-century derelict pier was designed by Heneghan Peng in March 2004.
The architects were chosen following a high-profile public consultation process with four short-listed designs, including one by international architect Daniel Libeskind.
The approved plan included a landmark national marine life centre, a 127-bed hotel, 229 apartments, retail developments and a floating stage and was lauded as “architecture of great refinement, elegance and sophistication”.
It was expected that an application would be lodged for the development in late 2004 by a consortium including Sisk. However, the project encountered a series of difficulties at the pre-planning stage and has now been shelved.
No one from Sisk was available to comment yesterday.
Mr Hanahoe’s resignation also followed the rejection by his board of directors last week of a proposal he made to offer voluntary redundancy to some of the 17 harbour police officers working in Dún Laoghaire.
The plan included a proposal to eliminate night shifts for the harbour police.
Mr Hanahoe said he was very happy with his 11 years as chief executive with the State company, which was established in March 1997 under the Harbours Act 1996.
“I am not aggrieved with the board,” he said.
“I have had my ups and downs with directors. . . but I don’t feel under pressure to go. I hope I am leaving with the best wishes of the board.”
He said his contract ran out last year and he was offered a new contract of indefinite duration, but was not now taking it up.
Mr Hanahoe said there was no connection between the withdrawal of Sisk and his resignation. He said the Carlisle Pier design was “wonderful” and was produced by an innovative team of architects, but its withdrawal was on the cards for a while because of the state of the construction market. “The decline in the property market killed it dead,” he said.
“I don’t see it happening in the near future.”
The company was actively looking at alternative options for the site, but had nothing definite in mind at present, he said.
He said he could not comment on proposals for the harbour police, as the company was in discussion with the union involved.
He also said he hoped to reach a new agreement with Stena Line ferry company before his departure, to ensure that the service remained in Dún Laoghaire.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
His resignation follows the shelving of the Carlisle Pier development project, although he said yesterday the two events were not connected.
Mr Hanahoe informed the chairman of the harbour board of his decision to leave last Friday and, under the terms of his contract, will work out 12 months’ notice with the company.
Mr Hanahoe told The Irish Times he did not feel under any pressure to go and was not leaving because of any particular issue.
“I do not feel that I have been forced out or forced by any particular circumstances to walk away,” he said.
His move followed the decision by John Sisk Sons Ltd to pull out of the Carlisle Pier project. The ambitious plan to redevelop the 19th-century derelict pier was designed by Heneghan Peng in March 2004.
The architects were chosen following a high-profile public consultation process with four short-listed designs, including one by international architect Daniel Libeskind.
The approved plan included a landmark national marine life centre, a 127-bed hotel, 229 apartments, retail developments and a floating stage and was lauded as “architecture of great refinement, elegance and sophistication”.
It was expected that an application would be lodged for the development in late 2004 by a consortium including Sisk. However, the project encountered a series of difficulties at the pre-planning stage and has now been shelved.
No one from Sisk was available to comment yesterday.
Mr Hanahoe’s resignation also followed the rejection by his board of directors last week of a proposal he made to offer voluntary redundancy to some of the 17 harbour police officers working in Dún Laoghaire.
The plan included a proposal to eliminate night shifts for the harbour police.
Mr Hanahoe said he was very happy with his 11 years as chief executive with the State company, which was established in March 1997 under the Harbours Act 1996.
“I am not aggrieved with the board,” he said.
“I have had my ups and downs with directors. . . but I don’t feel under pressure to go. I hope I am leaving with the best wishes of the board.”
He said his contract ran out last year and he was offered a new contract of indefinite duration, but was not now taking it up.
Mr Hanahoe said there was no connection between the withdrawal of Sisk and his resignation. He said the Carlisle Pier design was “wonderful” and was produced by an innovative team of architects, but its withdrawal was on the cards for a while because of the state of the construction market. “The decline in the property market killed it dead,” he said.
“I don’t see it happening in the near future.”
The company was actively looking at alternative options for the site, but had nothing definite in mind at present, he said.
He said he could not comment on proposals for the harbour police, as the company was in discussion with the union involved.
He also said he hoped to reach a new agreement with Stena Line ferry company before his departure, to ensure that the service remained in Dún Laoghaire.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Hotel opens doors to public after €50m revamp
QUEEN Victoria had a 16-course breakfast there and old blue eyes Frank Sinatra reportedly downed many a pint in its bar.
Michael Collins is believed to have hidden out in room 210 there with Kitty Kiernan while his 'Squad' killed the British G men on Bloody Sunday.
And yesterday, after a three-year absence, the public could once again walk the hallowed halls of Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.
In operation since 1828, the hotel closed its doors in 2004 in preparation for an extensive re-development project costing €50m.
The hotel now has 228 bedrooms, an increase of more than 120.
The 4-star hotel also features new conferencing facilities and a leisure centre, including an 18-meter pool. Diners will still be able to experience the most infamous feature of the hotel, the Bay Lounge which housed many celebrities including Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy.
The hotel's loyal clientele gave the makeover the thumbs-up, marketing manager Adrian Malloy said. "The feedback has been extremely positive," he said.
"Many old customers have been delighted that many of the old features have stayed."
Plans for the refurbishment were originally dogged by complaints from An Taisce in 2005.
In an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, it warned that the proposed development would detract from the visual prominence of the protected structure.
Residents of George's Street also made complaints against the refurbishment by developer William Neville and Sons who bought the property for IR£22m in 2001.
However, the planning body ordered only two changes to be made to the original plans - the omission of some balconies and an order to set the new bedroom block further back from the western boundary.
The refurbishment actually brought back many features previously lost, according to Mr Malloy.
"We have kept original features, including the bay lounge. But one of the best kept secrets about this whole development is the return of the Mansard roof.
"The ornate roof had been knocked down in the 1900s," said Mr Malloy, "if you look at the old pictures you see the roof is flat. Now it's back to its former glory."
Patricia McDonagh
Irish Independent
Michael Collins is believed to have hidden out in room 210 there with Kitty Kiernan while his 'Squad' killed the British G men on Bloody Sunday.
And yesterday, after a three-year absence, the public could once again walk the hallowed halls of Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.
In operation since 1828, the hotel closed its doors in 2004 in preparation for an extensive re-development project costing €50m.
The hotel now has 228 bedrooms, an increase of more than 120.
The 4-star hotel also features new conferencing facilities and a leisure centre, including an 18-meter pool. Diners will still be able to experience the most infamous feature of the hotel, the Bay Lounge which housed many celebrities including Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy.
The hotel's loyal clientele gave the makeover the thumbs-up, marketing manager Adrian Malloy said. "The feedback has been extremely positive," he said.
"Many old customers have been delighted that many of the old features have stayed."
Plans for the refurbishment were originally dogged by complaints from An Taisce in 2005.
In an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, it warned that the proposed development would detract from the visual prominence of the protected structure.
Residents of George's Street also made complaints against the refurbishment by developer William Neville and Sons who bought the property for IR£22m in 2001.
However, the planning body ordered only two changes to be made to the original plans - the omission of some balconies and an order to set the new bedroom block further back from the western boundary.
The refurbishment actually brought back many features previously lost, according to Mr Malloy.
"We have kept original features, including the bay lounge. But one of the best kept secrets about this whole development is the return of the Mansard roof.
"The ornate roof had been knocked down in the 1900s," said Mr Malloy, "if you look at the old pictures you see the roof is flat. Now it's back to its former glory."
Patricia McDonagh
Irish Independent
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