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Copies of report by Dr Frank Roche, Director of Colin McIver Associates Limited, "Exploratory Study of the Tourism Potential of Wood Quay", submitted to Irish Hotels Federation 12/1977; "Dublin's Wood Quay", a Civic Heritage Publication, Nuala Burke, Ph.D., signed by Nick Robinson, 20/11/1977; pull out map "Dublin c840-c1540, The Years of Mediaeval growth", prepared by the Friends of Mediaeval Dublin and printed by the Ordnance Survey 1977.

Material in this folder consists of correspondence and minutes relating to the case and includes correspondence between An Taisce [The National Trust of Ireland] and JB Molloy, City Manager, City Hall, Dublin 03/08/1977; minutes of meetings between representatives of Dublin Corporation, "Friends of Mediaeval Dublin" including FX Martin (FXM) and the Consultant Architects, Stephenson, Gibney and Associates 11/08/1977; letter from Michael J O'Kelly, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork to Dr Joseph Raftery, Director of The National Museum, 01/09/1977; letter from Principal Officer [Dublin Corporation, Development Section?] to the Secretary, Department of Education, relating to extent and nature of archaeological excavations, 08/09/1977; letter from Dr Michael Herrity, lecturer in Celtic Archaeology, UCD to Councillor Michael Collins, Lord Mayor of Dublin 13/09/1977 and response to it from Deputy City Manager to the Lord Mayor 20/09/1977; press release from Herrity "The Wood Quay Problem: an archaeologist's View" 09/1977; copy of letter from FXM as chairman of "Friends of Medieval Dublin" to Public Works Commissioners HQ, Dublin requesting that first Viking fortification at Wood Quay be designated a National Monument, 27/09/1977; letter from Dr Joseph Raftery to JB Molloy, 06/10/1977 and P.J. Molloy, City Manager 12/12/1977; minutes of special meeting of Dublin City Council, 10/10/1977; letter from Minister for the Environment [Sylvester Barrett] to Senator Trevor West, re representations about site and Corporation's proposed development, 13/10/1977; minutes of meetings between representatives of Dublin Corporation, the National Museum, John Paul and Company Limited [builders?] and the Consultant Architects, Stephenson, Gibney and Associates, 26/10/1977; letter from Michael J McCarthy, President of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) to Jack Lynch, Taoiseach, along with an address to the IHF's AGM by Dermot Walsh, Donegal Branch of the IHF 16-18/11/1977; letter from the consultant architects to Dublin Corporation 28/11/1977; correspondence from the consultant architects and The National Museum 01-16/12/1977 and letter from City Manager to SS McCarthaigh, Chairman, Commissioners of Public Works, 19/12/1977.

Material in this folder consists mainly of court documents, handwritten notes of Nicholas Robinson (NR) and draft affidavits. It includes letter from NR, solicitor, to John Paul & Co Ltd [construction company] informing them that Justice Costello, High Court had granted an injunction restraining defendants from demolishing, destroying etc. on contested site until 30th November 1977; draft plenary summons "The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin, Stephenson & Associates and John Paul and Company, Defendants", 28/11/1977; draft and typed affidavits for Francis X Martin, George Eogan [lecturer in archaeology UCD], and Consuelo O'Connor, [Deputy Chairman of An Taisce, the National Trust of Ireland], 28/11/1977; notice of motion for FX Martin to apply for a restraining order on 30 November 1977, 28/11/1977; draft and typed copies of Justice Costello's order, following FXM's motion, that defendant's be restrained from further work until 06/01/1978; handwritten notes (NR's) including a statement of claim, early Dec 1977; bound documents labelled "1977 No. 5919P The High Court Between The Attorney General at the relation of Francis X Martin, Plaintiff, and The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin, Stephenson & Associates and John Paul and Company, Defendants, Documents Relating to the Supreme Court Appeal Against Injunction, Nicholas Robinson & company, Solicitors...", 12/1977.

Save Wood Quay Campaign 1977

[Archivist's Note: some of this material was possibly photocopied at a later stage as part of briefs for counsel in the late 1970s but has since been separated. It is presented here based on date of creation of the original record, not when the copy was made.]

Material in this folder consists mainly of research material, photocopies of press articles, minutes of meetings between Dublin Corporation, the National Museum and the consultant architects for the proposed project, and correspondence. It includes correspondence between Dublin Civic Group and Dublin Corporation 15/01/1968; correspondence between Dept of Local Government and Dublin City and County Manager, City Hall 31/07/1972; copy of judgement delivered in similar case Tormey v Commissioners for Public Works, 21/12/1972; correspondence between Richard Haworth, Archaeologist, The National Institute for Physical Planning and Construction Research, and H Byrne, Principal Officer, Development Section, Dublin Corporation 28/02/1974- 07/05/1974; report of public meeting, Mansion House, Dublin, 12/03/1974 relating to Archaeological Investigation in Dublin and Wood Quay; minutes of meetings of Dublin City Council, Dublin Corporation and between representatives of Dublin Corporation, the National Museum and the Consultant Architects, Stephenson, Gibney and Associates 13/03/1974-01/07/1975; correspondence between The National Museum and the Consultant Architects 09/04/1974; correspondence between H Byrne, Principal Officer, and others, Development Section, Dublin Corporation and the Consultant Architects 07/05/1974-13/03/1975; copy of letter from Senator MR to Professor Otway-Ruthven following his verbal expression of worry, and including letter from several professors to the Irish times, 26/09/1974; correspondence between The National Museum and Dublin Corporation 10/3/1975-30/07/1976; photocopy of telegram from Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists' AGM requesting mechanical work on site be suspended, 23/04/1975, and correspondence from them 30/04/1975; letter between secretary, Department of Education and Dublin City Council 10/07/1975; report to Assistant City Manager from Assistant Development Officer, Development Department, Dublin Corporation, 20/01/1976

Archivist's Note: some of this material was possibly photocopied at a later stage as part of briefs for counsel in the late 1970s but has since been separated. It is presented here based on date of creation of the original record, not when the copy was made

Material relating to a campaign to preserve Wood Quay, a significant archaeological riverside site of a Viking settlement, which was owned by Dublin Corporation (now Dublin City Council) and had which had been selected by them for construction of new civic offices and their headquarters. The Corporation announced a competition to developers and a design by Sam Stephenson was selected as the winner. The plans were submitted for planning approval, resulting in two city departments rejecting the plans on technical grounds. However, the city manager, Matt Macken, decided to override these objections and grant full approval on 24 December 1970. More than 30 groups and individuals lodged objections, including the National Monuments Advisory Council. Many also appealed to the relevant minister, Bobby Molloy. An oral hearing was held in March 1971, with Molloy eventually confirming the decision by Macken in July 1972. This approval had 15 conditions, including "that all reasonable opportunities and facilities shall be afforded to the National Monuments Advisory Council to inspect, record and recover matter of archaeological interest" from the site. Large-scale archaeological excavations were conducted on the site by the National Museum of Ireland at intervals between 1973 and 1981, led by Pat Wallace, after some initial exploration of the site in 1969.

The campaign to preserve the site of Viking settlement at Wood Quay, Dublin and for Dublin Corporation to build the new civic offices in an alternative location, began in 1976, headed by Professor F.X. Martin (FXM), Chairman of the Friends of Medieval Dublin, along with others including Mary Robinson. In 1978 the High Court declared the area a National Monument, but Dublin Corporation who owned the land, used a loophole in the law to allow them to build new civic offices on the site. The campaign resulted in a large protest march on 23 September 1978, attended by 20,000 people called "Save Wood Quay". When the media attention and mass public protests brought no results, and when a crucial part of the site was bulldozed after the collapse of the legal challenge, dramatic plans were hatched to seize and occupy Wood Quay. The site was stormed on 01 June 1979 as part of ‘Operation Sitric’ (named after the Hiberno-Norse king of Dublin, Sitric Silkenbeard, c 970-1042) and eventually 52 protestors held the site, supported by thousands of members of the public. While conditions were rough and relations with the construction crew very hostile, it was the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold an injunction against them that forced the occupiers out, on 21 June 1979. The archaeological excavation resumed for a further two years, until March 1981, and the new offices were finally opened in 1986.

While the campaign ultimately failed and the development went ahead, the extra time spent over the protests and legal battles over the preservation of the site meant that the excavations were more extensive than initially planned. It also led to the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994 which introduced several safeguards to ensure that Wood Quay would never happen again.

Large black and white poster produced by Friends of Medieval Dublin "Save Our National Monument At Wood Quay", advertising a public meeting at Mansion House on 29/03/197[9] with FX Martin as Chair and Dr Henrik Jansen as speaker, and Wood Quay rally and march on 31/03/197[9].

File of material relating to the campaign opposing the construction of an Interpretive Centre at Mullaghmore.

Copy letter from a group of botanists, geologists and geographers to Dr Alan Craig of the National Parks and Monuments Service expressing dismay at the proposal to create a tourist complex at Mullach Mór / Loch Gealain. (19 Mar 1991) 1p;

Letter from E Charles Nelson to Robinson about opposition to the visitor complex, and a copy of Robinson's reply. Mentions the airport campaign. (25 Mar - 17 Apr 1991) 2pp;

Letter from Leo Hallissey to Robinson asking him to put a statement of opposition to the centre in writing, and forward it to the Burren Action Group. A copy of Robinson's statement which includes an extract from an essay he wrote for 'The Book of the Irish Countryside' invoking the banshee Brónach Bóirne. (25 Jun - 2 Jul 1991) 3pp;

Letter from [David Henry?] to Robinson enclosing a poster advertising an art competition, part of the Save Mullaghmore Area campaign. (25 Sep 1991) 4pp;

Copy letter to The Lord Killanin from Robinson asking if the National Heritage Council can influence the decision. Enclosed is a copy of a letter Robinson has written to the Irish Times (13 Feb 1992) 3pp;

Letter from Geraldine O'Dea to Robinson giving a list of TDs and MEPs the campaign is dealing with. (27 Feb 1992) 2pp;

Letter from Victor Westhoff to Robinson commenting on the Environmental Impact Assessment carried out on the Mullaghmore Visitor Centre. (2 Mar 1992) 4pp;

Copy letter to the OPW from Robinson commenting on the Environmental Impact Study and imploring the OPW to prevent the centre from being constructed (7 Mar 1992) 1p;

Copy of Dáil questions put to the Minister for Finance Noel Treacy by several TDs, and his responses. A compliment slip from Roger Garland, Green Party TD is attached to the list of questions. (8 Jul 1992) 9pp;

Copy letter from Finola Macnamara of the Burren Action Group to Robinson asking him to input into the consultation process on the environmental issues associated with the proposed site, and the social and economic benefits of locating the centre in a nearby village (16 Jun 1993) 1p;

Copy circular letter sent from the Burren Action Group thanking the recipient for their support. (Apr 1995) 1p;

Copy letter to the Editor of the Irish Times from Tim Robinson commenting on the ongoing controversy over the proposed Visitor Centre, and a press clipping of the published letter (28 Aug-2 Oct 1998) 2pp;

A poster for a rally to save Mullaghmore in Lisdoonvarna (1 Mar [ ] ) 1p;

Booklet entitled 'Mullaghmore The Heart of the Burren. A balanced view of an environmentally sensitive situation' issued by the Burren Action Group. (Undated) 4pp;

Offprint of Geonews, the newsletter of the Geographical Society of Ireland, with an article about the Burren Interpretive Centre. (May 1994) 1 item;

Card from Kit Ó Ceirín to Tim and Máiréad thanking them for their support over the course of the campaign (Mar 2000) 2 items.

File of press cuttings reporting on the controversy from the Irish Times, The Sunday Times, Galway Advertiser, The Sunday Tribune, and The Guardian (1991-2001) 48pp.

This series contains documents relating to the Saurin Estate. All papers relate to Mark A. Saurin. This series has been divided into one subseries and two sub-subseries. A bundle of Quit rent receipts has been included in this series as their origins are unclear as they are badly damaged but they were included with a letter which relates to Mark Saurin. All materials have been arranged chronologically within this series.