Minister O’Donovan announces contracts for historic Moore Street project

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’ Donovan today (22 May) announced that a series of contracts have been placed by the OPW that will allow work to proceed on the creation of a new 1916 Commemoration Centre at 14 – 17 Moore St, the site of the decision by the leadership of the 1916 Rising to surrender so as to avoid further loss of civilian lives.

The contracts establishing a professional Design Team will mean that detailed planning and design for the new 1916 Commemoration Centre can now proceed.

Welcoming the news, Minister O’Donovan said:

A Design Team comprised of Conservation Architects, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Structural Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Fire Engineers and Archaeologists has now been appointed and will lead on the design and planning of the new Centre which will be provided in the four original buildings on the eastern side of Moore St., resuming work that was halted in 2016. Further specialist professionals as required will be appointed in due course.

Once complete, the site will be opened to the public and people will be able to view the place where the final decision to surrender was taken in 1916 and hear the stories of the individuals involved, both combatants and ordinary citizens.

A detailed project scope has been set out for the designers which is based on the scheme agreed with key stakeholders though the Moore St Advisory Group, a collection of interested parties including groups representing families of some of the 1916 Volunteers and representatives of the local community in Dublin 1 which was set up by Government to resolve the issues around how the site would be treated.

A Project Steering Group has been set up comprised of officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of Public Works to supervise the project and to provide the assurance of proper governance.

The project is being funded by the Exchequer and is expected to be complete in early 2026.

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

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The companies appointed to the Design Team are:

• Conservation Architects: Shaffrey Architects
• Mechanical & Electrical Engineers: ARUPStructural Engineers: Barrett Mahony Consulting Engineers
• Quantity Surveyors: Andrew P. Nugent & Associates / DL Martin & Partners
• Fire Engineers: Michael Slattery Associates
• Archaeologists: Courtney Deery

All relevant works will be carried out in accordance with Ministerial Consent granted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended).

The work to create the Commemorative Centre at Moore St is being funded by the Exchequer through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with the work being managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The membership of the third and final Moore St Advisory Group (MSAG) to the Minister was:

• Tom Collins - Chairperson
• Neasa Hourigan TD - Oireachtas
• Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - Oireachtas
• Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD - Oireachtas
• Bríd Smith TD - Oireachtas
• Cllr Eimer McCormack - Dublin City Council
• Cllr Donna Cooney - Dublin City Council
• Cllr Nial Ring - Dublin City Council
• Coilín O Reilly, Exec Mgr (North City) - Dublin City Council
• Tom Holbrook - Moore Street Traders Association
• Catherine Kennedy - Moore Street Traders Association
• John Daly - Save No. 16 Moore Street Committee
• James Connolly Heron - Save Moore Street Committee
• Brian O'Neill - 1916 Relatives Association
• Catherine (Carmel) Smyth - 1916 Relatives Association
• Nessa Foley - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage