The demolition of the well-known hostelry Kiely’s pub in Donnybrook to make way for a six-storey, shared co-living accommodation scheme has drawn a very negative response.
The board granted permission for the construction of a scaled down 85-unit shared co-living accommodation scheme, and a cafe/restaurant at ground floor level by Shane Whelan’s Domhnach Ltd on Tuesday despite strong local opposition.
Domhnach had originally proposed 100 shared accommodation units.
In total, 10 separate appeals were lodged on behalf of third party objectors against the Dublin City Council decision giving the shared co-living project the go-ahead last January.
115 objections were lodged against the proposal, including from politicians Ivana Bacik of the Labour Party and Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews.
Those to lodge appeals included the Herbert Park Residents’ Association, the Donnybrook Residents’ Association, the Hanley O’Reilly Partnership.
In her objection against the scheme, Rosemary Cullen Owens remarked that “the ghosts of many former Kiely’s patrons – not least its rugby regulars – will turn in their graves” over what is proposed”.
The board said the scheme would constitute an acceptable residential density in the village location, would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area, and would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development.
The decision brings to an end a 15-month long planning battle over the proposal.
Another @finegael of a building.
'Co-living' to replace Kiely's of Donnybrook and prevent it ever again feeling like it's a village (long a struggle). @murphyeoghan's rules promote these soulless obtrusions – that fail to address the city's real housing problems. pic.twitter.com/NEfWGW2nKU— Village Magazine (@VillageMagIRE) December 7, 2021
South Dublin's Diana moment. https://t.co/NaneJkt5Pj
— Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (@RossOCK) December 7, 2021
Disappointing to hear that An Bord Pleanála have agreed to allow the site of Kiely's pub to be demolished for a co-living scheme. Once an iconic Southside pub. Disappointing but not surprising given many other anti-heritage planning decisions of late. https://t.co/z5o3NiKYNY
— Ciarán Ó Meachair (@CiaranOMeachair) December 7, 2021
The new Destruction of Dublin continues.
This sick politically overloaded #BordPleanala is determined to destroy any Dublin icon for their developer cronies:
Green light for Kiely's shared co-living Dublin scheme https://t.co/D3sd52R19w via @rte— JIM FITZPATRICK (@jimfitzpatrick) December 7, 2021
