Cork’s Moore Street links highlighted
Relatives of the 1916 participants will bring their vision for a rejuvenated Moore Street 1916 quarter to Cork City’s Nano Nagle Place this month from 12 to 26 March.
The Moore Street battlefield site dubbed ‘the most important historic site in modern Irish history’ by the National Museum of Ireland has been the subject of a two decade resistance between relatives of those involved in 1916, the Irish Government and UK property developers.
The Moore Street Historic Area Urban Master Plan prepared by Fuinneamh Workshop Architects, Cork and Kelly Cogan Architects, Dublin was launched to public acclaim in Dublin's City Hall last December.
Cork has very close links with Moore Street and the events of Easter Week 1916 which Seán Antóin Ó Muirí of Fuinneamh Workshop Architects explains to the Cork Independent.
“Skibbereen man Gearoid O'Sullivan was chosen by Padraig Pearse to hoist the tricolour over the GPO at the beginning of the Rising. His cousin Michael Collins led the evacuation from the burning GPO. Tracton man Diarmuid Lynch was the last man to leave the GPO inferno and seek shelter in the laneways surrounding the Moore Street terrace.”
He added: "The site has significant as five of the leaders of the provisional government; James Connolly, Pádraig Pearse, Seán Mac Diarmada, Thomas Clarke and Joseph Mary Plunkett occupied the Moore Street terrace with the volunteers during the last days of 1916 Rebellion.”
The relatives of 1916 participants plan re-imagines the historic area as a mixed use hub with a strong primary emphasis on the social, cultural and historical rather than commercial.
Apartments and housing will be subtly woven throughout the development alongside business incubator pods, studios, galleries and creative spaces, while the iconic Moore Street Market which has been degraded over recent years will be rejuvenated with extra stalls, providers and retail spaces.
The 1916 commemorative element will be carefully imprinted into the grain of the area.
Plaques, artworks and a visitors centre in No. 16 Moore Street will tell the story of the GPO evacuation and Pearse's surrender whilst honouring the 320 men and women who held out in the terrace in Easter Week 1916.
Seán Antóin Ó Muirí of Fuinneamh Workshop Architects will deliver a talk on the Moore Street Historic Area Urban Master Plan on Saturday 12 March at 2pm in Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street.