Press release
Iconic bandstand reopens in St Stephen's Green
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The Office of Public Works marks the completion of careful restoration works with gospel choir and festive cheer.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to announce today (14 December 2023) that they have reopened one of Ireland’s finest historic bandstands, at St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
The bandstand has been closed to the public since 2021 due to the discovery of structural issues, which made it unsafe for visitors.
Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, said:
“I am so proud of our team in the OPW for delivering this iconic structure back into the public realm. No matter the scale of the task, our teams work hard to protect, preserve and promote our built heritage and our national monuments. Damage to this structure in the past is just a distant memory now, as the bandstand has been carefully restored by master craftspeople and stands as a symbol for the enduring spirit of our capital.”
The reopening of the bandstand was marked by a rousing musical performance by the Newbridge Gospel Choir.
The Bandstand was erected by the Dublin Metropolitan Police in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and has been described as one of the finest remaining bandstands in Ireland.
The Bandstand in St. Stephen's Green was closed in 2021 due to the identification of structural issues and concerns over the sustainability of the structure.
The OPW commissioned historical reports and condition surveys and determined that it was necessary to carry out structural repairs, in order to safeguard the future of the structure and to prevent any further damage.
The work undertaken included repairs to the base plinth and entrance steps and structural repairs to cast iron columns.
Rosemary Collier, Head of Heritage at the Office of Public Works, said:
“I am delighted that the bandstand which has stood for over 130 years in St. Stephen’s Green has been restored. This restoration demonstrates the expertise within the Office of Public Works to conserve and preserve Ireland’s heritage. I am very pleased that the bandstand is now back open for the public to enjoy.”
Email pressoffice@opw.ie for all press queries or contact 083 1944 502 for interview requests.
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The Bandstand is listed on the NIAH (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) survey as “Bandstand” - Reg. No. 50100273
The NIAH (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) survey lists the structure as “Bandstand” and is noted as being of Regional Importance and the Category of Special Interest are “Architectural, Artistic, Social “.The building is considered of regional importance given its unique architectural design & detailing, its contribution to the Architectural Heritage of Dublin and it’s setting within St Stephens Green, as well as the social and cultural significance relating to the park.
Created in 1670 St. Stephen’s Green is the oldest of Dublin’s inner-city parks and its present form dates from 1880 and consists of a 22 acre area of largely informal pathways surrounding open greens with two large and irregular bodies of water.
St Stephens Green Bandstand is one of the finest surviving bandstands in Dublin constructed in 1887. It was designed by James H Owens, Architect in the Office of Public Works and constructed by Musgrave and Co, Ironworks of Belfast. The Dublin Metropolitan Police carried out fundraising for the bandstand. Musgrave & Co also made the bandstand in the hollow at the Phoenix Park, which is dated to 1890.
The bandstand is octagonal in plan and consists of a metal clad low-pitched roof surmounted by an urn shaped finale. There are eight decorative cast iron columns, four of which acted as rainwater pipes. These slender cast iron columns are well executed and display delicate proportions and good decorative detailing.
In 2020 it was noted that one of the cast ion columns had a vertical crack which affecting the structural integrity. Advice was sought by a specialist historic iron works contractor / craftsman to assess the condition of the bandstand and propose methodologies for the repair works. A series of investigations were carried out including 3D laser surveys, sonar testing and paint analysis.
It was noted that the columns, which acted as rainwater pipes, were compromised. A build-up of debris within the column trapped water allowing only a trickle to drain. The freeze / thaw action expanded the trapped water over multiple winters slowly compromising the interior of the metal.
The sonar testing demonstrated that the thickness of the metal varied considerable which together with impurities in the original metal led to a weakness in the cast iron.
The works initially consisted of the replacement of three of the slender columns, the bandstand was propped allowing one of the columns to be removed. This column was repaired and cleaned by Bushy Park Ironworks and used as model for the recasting at the cast iron works in Athy. Following the removal of paint a fifth column and some of the cast iron details to the capitals were found to be compromised and required further repair work.
The scope of the works was the result of historical research and detailed analysis to achieve a conservation best practice repair strategy of the bandstand retaining the maximum amount of original material. A detailed submission was made to Dublin City Council in September 2022 with work commencing on site in May 2023.
The works consisted of the following:
The timber sheeting to the floor deck was not original to the structure and was incorporated to enhance the sound quality while also providing a floor for dance upon.
Historic photographs indicate that the original masonry floor was at a lower level in relation to the concrete plinth. The timber was a quality hard wood and appeared to be good condition. However, the timber supports need to be replaced. Sisk Joinery workshop were appointed to repair the timber decking. Several of the first and second year apprentices worked on the project learning new skills and making a significant contribution.
Paint analysis revealed that since the Bandstand was built in 1887 it has been painted at least twenty-five times, so approximately once every five or six years. There were several different colour schemes identified in the analysis. The original was black and changed to various shades of green in the early 20th century, leading to shades of cream in the late 20th century. The painted scheme selected for the restoration is based on one of the early 20th century dark green colour schemes with gold coloured acrylic paint following the detailing visible in the 1890 photographs Lawrence Collection courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.
The roof structure consists of a timber and wrought iron roof structure with a galvanised metal roof covering, surmounted by a timber urn shaped finale with a cast iron sphere. Research with historic photographs indicated that the Urn finial was altered as part of previous repairs and was reinstated with the centrepiece turned upside down. The urn was repaired, repainted and reinstated to the original design.
The final restoration work has been carried out to using conservation contractors and craftspeople, and following conservation best practice to secure the bandstand for future generations.