Dunsink observatory and its possible closure!!!!!!!

To: press-office@environ.ie
Subject: Register of listed buildings

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been unable to find on your website a list of listed buildings.
Can you please let me know where I can find a complete list of the
listed buildings in the Dublin Area, and also the `grade` of each
building if appropriate, and what the requirements on preservation of
these buildings are?

Kind Regards,
Albert White BSc.

www.environ.ie is a really dire website, you'd almost think they designed it to be useless...

Dear Mr White,

The register of listed buildings is compiled by the relevant local
authority for their functional area in the context of the development
plan. You would need to contact Dublin City Council to get details of
the list for Dublin City.

I hope this information is useful.

Sean Dunne,
Press Office

Hmm.... time to get in touch with Fingal Co. Co.

www.fingalcoco.ie/PUBLIC_ATION/dev_plan/wslist1.htm
www.fingalcoco.ie/PUBLIC_ATION/dev_plan/wslist2.htm

This is getting interesting... According to list 1,
Dunsink - Observatory House and South Dome, Dunsink Observatory.

Sounds like the whole complex is a list 1 building according to the Fingal Co. Co. Devlopment plan.

But of course thats old information because they have now disposed of those lists in favour of a Record of Protected structures. www.fingalcoco.ie/devplan/yourfingal/Sta...TATEMENT/appenda.pdf But all are still listed:

539 Observatory House Dunsink Observatory, Dunsink Late 18th century house plus outbuildings Dunsink Lane
540 South Dome Dunsink Observatory, Dunsink Rotunda with copper dome housing telescope Dunsink Lane

If that is the case then it cannot be demolished for development etc.[1] This shitfs the discussions back to DIAS, and working out a way for DIAS and the IAS & SDAS to continue to staff open nights. Presumably these issues would mainly be around insurance, security, maintainence etc.

Curcially in the updated Record of Protected Structures the observatory is explicitly listed as housing a telescope, so presumably the scope cannot even be removed without going through the council and possibly the minister.

JohnF/Brian, any more updates?

Cheers,
~Al

[1] But then again since the National Monuments Act has been re-written to allow a motorway through Tara at the ministers discretion, there is presumably nothing stopping the minister making a similar desision to flatten the observatory if the national infrastructure could be improved by it...

At the moment on the 12:00 news, the police are searching for weapons and illegal things in possesion of the Travellers et all on the lane.

IOL News:

Two released following arrests at Dunsink Lane
19/10/2004 - 19:28:51

Two of the men arrested during Garda raids at a number of halting sites at Dunsink Lane in Dublin, have been released without charge.

Up to 200 gardaí swooped on the sites this morning and seized a quantity of fireworks, weapons, and counterfeit recording equipment.

Six men were arrested on charges of public order offences and criminal damage.

Four remain in custody.

539 Observatory House Dunsink Observatory, Dunsink Late 18th century house plus outbuildings Dunsink Lane
540 South Dome Dunsink Observatory, Dunsink Rotunda with copper dome housing telescope Dunsink Lane

If that is the case then it cannot be demolished for development etc.[1] This shitfs the discussions back to DIAS, and working out a way for DIAS and the IAS & SDAS to continue to staff open nights. Presumably these issues would mainly be around insurance, security, maintainence etc.

Well, that's some good news at least - makes talk of developing the site more difficult. Oh, and well done on navigating the labyrinth of County Council 'information' sources to find that out!

Still, although it can't be officially demolished, it doesn't stop it collapsing of its own accord through falling into a state of disrepair!

Hi everyone.

Just been away for a week, so just catching up with stuff. I've been told that the DIAS board meeting to decide the future of the Dunsink site is TOMORROW - and it doesn't look good. I'll fill in the details when they come to hand.

Brian