dún laoghaire harbour company

2003

•  Linkspan Lock Modifications - 04/05/2003 posted
•  Harbour Road Maintenance - 04/02/2003 posted
•  'Press Release' - 29 January 2003 - Victorian Fountain at Dún Laoghaire Harbour
•  Harbour Road Maintenance planned for January and February 2003
•  Information Boards
•  Civil Works Completed for the Victoria Fountain
•  Victoria Fountain

2002

•  New Public Art Commission for Dún Laoghaires' East Marina Breakwater.

Harbour Road Maintenance - 04/02/2003 posted

Victorian Fountain at Dún Laoghaire Harbour

'Press Release' - 29 January 2003

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is pleased to announce that erection work on the restored Victorian Fountain has started today, Wednesday 29th January 2003. The work is expected to be completed within eight (8) days.

The fountain is being restored at its original location at the entrance to Dún Laoghaire Harbour near the Ferry Terminal. The restored fountain incorporates many of its original features including the fountain itself, the mosaic and granite base and two exquisite cast iron lamp standards, which formed part of the setting for the fountain.

Commenting on the restoration, Michael Hanahoe, Chief Executive of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company said, "We have put a lot of work into ensuring that the monument is exactly as it would have been when first placed here over a hundred years ago. The colour scheme chosen, we believe faithfully represents the original colour scheme. Where features of the fountain no longer exist they have been replicated using the original manufacturers drawings".

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council granted planning permission for the restoration in 2001 and the project has been grant aided by the Heritage Council as a project of historical and architectural importance.

The drinking fountain and the lamp standards are extremely fine examples of 19th century architectural ironwork and form part of a highly significant collection of Victorian ironwork in the Dún Laoghaire area. In his definitive book of the urban heritage of Dún Laoghaire, the author and architectural historian, Peter Pearson, described the fountain as, "a magnificent and beautiful monument" and is an outstanding example of high quality decorative ironwork, which was such a distinguishing feature of the Victorian era.

Erected in 1901 the fountain was one of the best-known landmarks in the town and its restoration is being carried out as part of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company's commitments to protect the Harbour's heritage. The restoration of the fountain will complete the renewal of an important focal point at the entrance to the harbour and will improve the connection between town and harbour that is the shared objective of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Construction of Dún Laoghaire Harbour began in 1817 and is widely recognised as one of the finest artificial harbours in the world. The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is the statutory body charged with the managing, control, operation and development of the Harbour. Profits from its commercial activities are used to fund the maintenance and preservation of the Harbour.

29 January 2003
For further information please contact:
Roy Dooney
The Media Group
Tel: 087 2414165 or 01 275 5975

DHB 9728

Harbour Road Maintenance planned for January and February 2003

Information Boards

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is presently erecting Information Boards at various sites around the Harbour. The Boards portray an illustrated map of the Harbour giving historical information as well as points of interest. A 'walking' map is also portrayed showing approximate distances and walking times from various points. Initially four sites have been chosen:

• At the pedestrian entrance to the Marina and East Breakwater
• In front of the Ferry Terminal
• At the entrance to the East Pier
• At the entrance to the West Pier

Civil Works Completed for the Victoria Fountain

Victoria Fountain

The Victoria Fountain was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's visit to Dún Laoghaire in 1900, it was manufactured in Glasgow by Walter McFarland & Co. Ltd. The monument was vandalised in 1981 but is now to be restored and reinstated by Heritage Engineering Ltd., Glasgow, who are the successors of Walter McFarland & Co. Ltd. The replacement works are based on the original patterns used by McFarlands during the construction of the 1900 fountain.

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has submitted an application to the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for planning permission to reinstate the Victoria Fountain at its original site in the Harbour. The Victoria Fountain was described by architectural historian, Peter Pearson in his book 'Kingstown' as, "a beautiful monument, a defenseless symbol of the bygone age".

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is targeting Summer 2002 for the completion of the restoration work.

RESTORATION OF THE VICTORIA FOUNTAIN AT DÚN LAOGHAIRE HARBOUR

'Press Release'

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has applied to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for planning permission to repair and reinstate the Victoria Fountain at its original site in the Harbour area.

The Victoria Fountain described by architectural historian Peter Pearson in his book 'Kingstown' as: "a beautiful monument, a defenseless symbol of the bygone age" was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's visit to Dún Laoghaire in 1900.

The company which manufactured the Fountain, Walter McFarland & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, has since ceased trading. However, original drawings have been traced to another Scottish firm, Industrial Heritage Company, which has now been commissioned by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to repair and restore the monument.

The cost of the restoration project will be fully funded by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and will be met from revenues from 'Pay and Display' parking in the Harbour. Subject to the necessary planning approvals being obtained, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is targeting Spring 2002 for the completion of the restoration work.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is being assisted in this project by architects
Shaffrey & Associates and Consulting Engineers, John Moylan & Associates.

ENDS

Late 2002

New Public Art Commission for Dún Laoghaires' East Marina Breakwater.

To celebrate the completion of the harbours new marina the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company recently commissioned artist, Fiona Mulholland, to create a large scale public sculpture.

The theme for this art work is derived from a familiar maritime symbol and a metaphor for human insecurity and survival. The work entitled "The Commemorative Tower to the Hobblers" is in recognition of the perilous work the Hobbling Community once performed in guiding incoming vessels safely into the port of Dún Laoghaire and assist in mooring right up to the 1930's.

The sculpture, which will be sited on the East Marina Breakwater, will add to this civic amenity being visible from different vantage points within the harbour and enhancing visitor enjoyment.

The public promenade, accessible by foot, is already a popular attraction providing spectator areas for sailing events and stunning views across the bay and of the town.

Fiona Mulholland, MA in Fine Art Royal College of Art, London, has exhibited widely internationally and her works are held in both public and private collections. She was recently commissioned to design the awards which will be presented to winning bodies in this years Business2Arts scheme.

"The Commemorative Tower to the Hobblers" will be unveiled in:

June 2002.