(Photos: 1908 courtesy of National Library of Ireland. 2021 Department of Housing, Local Govt and Heritage)
I'm thrilled to announce joint funding of €50,000 under the Irish-language shopfront stream of the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) for conservation and restoration works at 55 Amiens Street, Dublin.
No. 55 Amiens Street is a building of great historic significance due to its connection with the Irish Republican, Tom Clarke, who operated a tobacconist here from 1908 – 1911. Today’s funding will contribute to the conservation and restoration of the original Irish-language shopfront, while supporting the structural works necessary to safeguard this part of the building. It will also assist with the reinstatement of the gilded sign-writing on the shop windows. The funded works will help commemorate an important era of Irish history and are part of an overall plan to bring this historic, protected building back into use. The project is being overseen by Dublin City Council and, on completion, the building will house community, cultural and social enterprise.
Through the investment of capital funding in our valuable built heritage, the HSF assists owners and custodians of historic and protected structures across the country to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public. Today’s announcement follows the award in April of €3m towards 85 other projects under the HSF.
I'm delighted that my Department along with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is providing funding towards this very exciting project. The use of the ground floor by the Irish Republican Tom Clarke makes 55 Amiens Street a very significant historical building, and the restoration of the shop frontage with the traditional Irish sign writing will be the first step in bringing this important building back into use for the local community.
Applications to the Historic Structures Fund are now closed for 2021 but it is hoped to run the shopfront stream again in 2022. Applications for next year’s HSF will open later this year and details will be posted on the Department’s website and on the websites of local authorities