Smithfield, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Smithfield is an area on the northside
of Dublin. Its focal point is a public square, formerly an open market, now officially called Smithfield Plaza, but known locally as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Market.
Notable landmarks include the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery
and the Observation Tower. The area used to have a seasonal ice rink from early November to early January each year since 2003, but in 2010 the venue was not set up due to unknown reasons.
Historically, Smithfield was a suburb of Oxmantown
and lay within the civil parish
of St. Paul's. There is no general agreement on the extent of the area known as Smithfield, but it might be said to incorporate the area bounded by the River Liffey
to the south, Bow Street to the east, Queen Street to the west, and North Brunswick street in the suburb of Grangegorman
to the north.
and Elizabeth Taylor
spent time here, as Burton worked on the film set in Smithfield for the film adaptation of John le Carré
's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
. Smithfield "played a role" of Checkpoint Charlie
in the movie.
Smithfield was recently rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan) . An architectural competition was held and won by McGarry NiEanaigh Architects in 1997. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them. Following each monthly horse fair at the plaza, despite the best efforts of city council cleaning staff, the cobbles remain stained and grubby, with animal waste to be found permanently staining the plaza.
Contemporary architecture and twelve 26.5 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2-metre flame, now flank the square. Although the flames are rarely lit, the lighting mast shades are regularly to be seen in different colours, reflecting cultural events throughout the year. For example, they change to a vivid green shade as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The square was used to hold several concerts after its renovation but these were discontinued following complaints from local residents. Today, although the site has not developed as a 'Western IFSC' as had been originally anticipated (in reference to the city's main financial hub to the east, and its related significant 'white-collar professional' residential zones), many people are to be found at Smithfield Market at many times, with the plaza providing a convenient through route for local residents, as well as for a significant number of professionals and users of a range of court and legal-related services and buildings in the area. These range from the Prison Probation Services through to the Family Court and the Law Society of Ireland, amongst others, with Smithfield and Smithfield Market situated in convenient proximity to Dublin's legal/prosecution hub of The Four Courts.
However, the city council is continuing with its efforts of trying to move the centuries-old horse market out of the area, with many new residents to the area, including those from the facing Smithfield Market apartments, especially uncomfortable with its atmosphere, noise, perceptions of animal abuse and neglect, and occasional bouts of violence amongst a minority of animal traders, although a discreet police (Garda
) presence helps to maintain order. Although the Smithfield Horse Fair continues to draw heavy and sustained criticism from a wide range of sources, including An Garda Siochana, and the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA
) , legal difficulties in closing down and/or moving away the market , coupled with its centuries-old heritage, have left the city council and the horse fair defenders locked in an ongoing battle without any clear resolution ahead .
experts. Two men were arrested by Gardaí
.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin
, Dublin City Council
and the DSPCA
called for the immediate closure of the fair.
Smithfield's iconic tower, and its observation deck, is no longer accessible to the public, as it has long-since been closed due to health and safety concerns. Today, the tower's exterior - which is loosely clad in sagging, protective green safety nets - acts as a highly-visible marker for the area's continuing and unexpected decline in fortunes.
The Light House Cinema was resurrected in May 2008 in the Smithfield Square, after it had been forced to close its doors on Abbey Street on 27 September 1996 . It closed at this location in April 2011 due to difficulties in paying the rent.
" to the west, and the Four Courts district
to the east. These districts are largely residential and combined with the area around Smithfield square they comprise the main Liffey river frontage of Dublin 7.
Recent commercial, residential and cultural developments led to the area becoming newly fashionable in the first decade of the 21st century . However, most notably in the period 2008 to 2010, stagnation set in as developments stalled and the Irish economy/property market nose-dived once the post-Celtic Tiger economic recession struck. The significant issues of variable apartment occupancy rates, coupled with closed retail spaces and a near-absolute majority of unfinished and unoccupied commercial units at Smithfield Market have created a highly-visible reminder of the economic and community challenges still to be addressed in this historic part of Dublin.
The Red Luas Line skirts the square to the south, providing a convenient link to the nearby city centre, or to the far south of the city, to Tallaght or Saggart.
Northside
Northside or North Side may refer to:Music:* Northside , a musical group from Manchester, England* NorthSide, an American record labelPlaces:* North Side, California, former name of Oildale, California, United States...
of Dublin. Its focal point is a public square, formerly an open market, now officially called Smithfield Plaza, but known locally as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Market.
Notable landmarks include the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
and the Observation Tower. The area used to have a seasonal ice rink from early November to early January each year since 2003, but in 2010 the venue was not set up due to unknown reasons.
Historically, Smithfield was a suburb of Oxmantown
Oxmantown
Oxmantown or Oxmanstown is an area of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Northside of the city between the River Liffey, the North Circular Road, and Smithfield Market...
and lay within the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of St. Paul's. There is no general agreement on the extent of the area known as Smithfield, but it might be said to incorporate the area bounded by the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
to the south, Bow Street to the east, Queen Street to the west, and North Brunswick street in the suburb of Grangegorman
Grangegorman
Grangegorman Development Agency is an agency of the Government of Ireland charged with redevelopment of the Grangegorman Campus, formerly within the curtilage of St. Brendan's Hospital...
to the north.
History
Smithfield Market was laid out in the mid 17th century as a marketplace. Until recently the square was lined with inner city 'farm yards' housing livestock. In 1964 Richard BurtonRichard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
and Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
spent time here, as Burton worked on the film set in Smithfield for the film adaptation of John le Carré
John le Carré
David John Moore Cornwell , who writes under the name John le Carré, is an author of espionage novels. During the 1950s and the 1960s, Cornwell worked for MI5 and MI6, and began writing novels under the pseudonym "John le Carré"...
's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (film)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a 1965 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by John le Carré. It was adapted by Paul Dehn and Guy Trosper. The film stars Richard Burton as Alec Leamas, along with Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner, Peter van Eyck, Sam Wanamaker, Rupert Davies and Cyril Cusack...
. Smithfield "played a role" of Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was the name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War....
in the movie.
Smithfield was recently rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan) . An architectural competition was held and won by McGarry NiEanaigh Architects in 1997. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them. Following each monthly horse fair at the plaza, despite the best efforts of city council cleaning staff, the cobbles remain stained and grubby, with animal waste to be found permanently staining the plaza.
Contemporary architecture and twelve 26.5 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2-metre flame, now flank the square. Although the flames are rarely lit, the lighting mast shades are regularly to be seen in different colours, reflecting cultural events throughout the year. For example, they change to a vivid green shade as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The square was used to hold several concerts after its renovation but these were discontinued following complaints from local residents. Today, although the site has not developed as a 'Western IFSC' as had been originally anticipated (in reference to the city's main financial hub to the east, and its related significant 'white-collar professional' residential zones), many people are to be found at Smithfield Market at many times, with the plaza providing a convenient through route for local residents, as well as for a significant number of professionals and users of a range of court and legal-related services and buildings in the area. These range from the Prison Probation Services through to the Family Court and the Law Society of Ireland, amongst others, with Smithfield and Smithfield Market situated in convenient proximity to Dublin's legal/prosecution hub of The Four Courts.
Horse fair
The area is known for the historical Horse market which is held on every first Sunday of the month.However, the city council is continuing with its efforts of trying to move the centuries-old horse market out of the area, with many new residents to the area, including those from the facing Smithfield Market apartments, especially uncomfortable with its atmosphere, noise, perceptions of animal abuse and neglect, and occasional bouts of violence amongst a minority of animal traders, although a discreet police (Garda
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
) presence helps to maintain order. Although the Smithfield Horse Fair continues to draw heavy and sustained criticism from a wide range of sources, including An Garda Siochana, and the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA
DSPCA
The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a registered charity, established in 1840 to prevent cruelty to animals and is now Ireland's largest animal welfare organisation.-Activity:...
) , legal difficulties in closing down and/or moving away the market , coupled with its centuries-old heritage, have left the city council and the horse fair defenders locked in an ongoing battle without any clear resolution ahead .
6 March 2011 shooting
Around 11:30 am on the morning of horse fair on 6 March 2011 shooting occurred as a result of a feud between two traveller families. Three people were wounded. An explosive device was recovered and examined by Irish ArmyIrish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
experts. Two men were arrested by Gardaí
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
, Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
and the DSPCA
DSPCA
The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a registered charity, established in 1840 to prevent cruelty to animals and is now Ireland's largest animal welfare organisation.-Activity:...
called for the immediate closure of the fair.
3 April 2011 incident
3 people were arrested over a seizure when a horse galloped through the area.Features
The Smithfield area is also home to the Dublin City Fruit Vegetable and Flower Market. The Fish Market adjacent to it was torn down by the City Council who plan to redevelop the rest of the site.Smithfield's iconic tower, and its observation deck, is no longer accessible to the public, as it has long-since been closed due to health and safety concerns. Today, the tower's exterior - which is loosely clad in sagging, protective green safety nets - acts as a highly-visible marker for the area's continuing and unexpected decline in fortunes.
The Light House Cinema was resurrected in May 2008 in the Smithfield Square, after it had been forced to close its doors on Abbey Street on 27 September 1996 . It closed at this location in April 2011 due to difficulties in paying the rent.
Developments
Smithfield may include the satellite, and developing "Museum districtMuseum District
Museum District may refer to one of several districts in various cities, so named for their concentration of museums:* Museum District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania* Houston Museum District in Houston, Texas...
" to the west, and the Four Courts district
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
to the east. These districts are largely residential and combined with the area around Smithfield square they comprise the main Liffey river frontage of Dublin 7.
Recent commercial, residential and cultural developments led to the area becoming newly fashionable in the first decade of the 21st century . However, most notably in the period 2008 to 2010, stagnation set in as developments stalled and the Irish economy/property market nose-dived once the post-Celtic Tiger economic recession struck. The significant issues of variable apartment occupancy rates, coupled with closed retail spaces and a near-absolute majority of unfinished and unoccupied commercial units at Smithfield Market have created a highly-visible reminder of the economic and community challenges still to be addressed in this historic part of Dublin.
The Red Luas Line skirts the square to the south, providing a convenient link to the nearby city centre, or to the far south of the city, to Tallaght or Saggart.