The Five Lamps

An apt entry this time, coinciding with the recent conclusion of the Five Lamps Arts Festival this weekend. The Five Lamps is a well known Dublin landmark, situated at the junction of five streets: Seville Place, Amiens Street, Portland Row, Killarney Street and North Strand Row. Opinion is divided as to whether the five lamps themselves represent these streets or if they symbolise five great battles fought by the British in India in the colonial nineteenth century. The latter seems likely, as the lamp post was originally erected as a monument to General Henry Hall, a Galwegian who served in the British Army in India.

Famously, it's said that any one born north of the Five Lamps is not a true Dubliner - which seems a little harsh as it lies less then a kilometre from the Liffey! Originally the lamp post incorporated a fountain feature, but this has long since been removed.

The Five Lamps survived the nearby North Strand bombings of Dublin in 1941 thankfully unscathed.

References:

WIL 13[8], National Library 

Parnell and Upper O'Connell Streets

After a somewhat impromptu hiatus, we're back and looking at the east junction of Parnell and O'Connell Streets. The shop that the lady on the left is walking past is No.35, Cathal Ó Bróin's stationers. Sadly long gone, the spot is now occupied by a newsagents. No. 36 at this time (turn of the 20th century) was John Averill's, confectioner.

This corner of Upper O'Connell Street rounds onto east Parnell Street, for years a run down, undeveloped and altogether sad looking route. In recent years though this street has surprisingly evolved thanks to a burgeoning immigrant community, with quite a few authentic Korean and Chinese restaurants and other businesses attracting custom to the area. Upper O'Connell Street and beyond have always been the poor relation next to Lower O'Connell Street, being less developed and verging on less salubrious neighbourhoods than its southern neighbour.

Nonetheless, there must have been something wonderful on the ground there to entrance the three little boys in the background so.

References:

CLAR_002, National Library

Recognise This Building?

After a break from blogging in January, we're back with a request for assistance from a Canadian reader. Having found this image in a family photo album, he would very much like to find the building's Irish location - a very long shot most probably, but you never know! Should anyone think they recognise it or indeed the people in the image, please get in touch with me and I'll pass any details on.

Back to regular posting from this week - I hope your new year is treating you well so far!

A Drive Down Grafton Street

A quick post today on an amazing video posted on Youtube by Dubliner Max McQuillan. His dad and a friend filmed themselves driving from St Stephen's Green to Parnell Street (via now pedestrianised Grafton Street) in 1974. A wonderful glimpse of 1970s Dublin - keep an eye out for the Central Bank, under construction!

More details here.

Cinema Week: Carlton Cinema

For the last post this week I decided to take a look at one of the most visible old cinemas in Dublin. Located on Upper O'Connell Street, the Carlton facade still exists today almost exactly the same as it did during the theatre's heyday. It's still a theatre of sorts - part of the building is used by an XD simulator.

The first Carlton cinema was located at 52 O'Connell Street and opened in 1915. This cinema was closed in 1936 and the building demolished. The second incarnation of the Carlton took over the two buildings adjacent to No. 52 and reopened with 2,000 seats in 1938. The first film shown was The Awful Truth with Cary Grant.

The cinema was hugely popular, showing such fims as Rock Around the Clock (which had over 100,000 admissions during 1956). In later years it also became known as the House of Horror due to the amount of horror movies shown. Like the Adelphi, it staged many concerts during the 1970s by artists including Johnny Cash and Marlene Dietrich.

The Carlton finally closed, after several takeovers, in 1994. For old times sake, the last film shown there was the old favourite, Rock Around the Clock.

Thanks for reading this week!

References:
Picture: Bill Doyle, 1972
Jim Keenan, Dublin Cinemas: A Pictorial Selection

Cinema Week: The Savoy

Today's entry is a special one, as it's the only cinema I've talked about so far that is both a) still standing and b) operational.

The Savoy on O'Connell Street today hosts many Irish premieres, and it started life in an equally glamorous way. It was built by Associated Cinemas at a cost of £200,000 and was opened by President W.T. Cosgrave in November 1929. The site was formerly the location of the Crown and Granville hotels, which were both destroyed in the 1916 Rising.

With 2900 seats, it was the largest cinema in Ireland, and the expense lavished on its construction was evident. The interior was designed as a Venetian streetscape. Small lights were embedded in the blue ceiling of the auditiorium twinkled to depict a dusky star sprinkled sky. Despite the sophistication of the cinema's interior, perhaps the clientele's tastes were not quite its match - when Citizen Kane was released here it ran for less than a week.

In later years the Savoy became Ireland's first two screen cinema. It has changed hands many times and now is a six screen cinema. It's lovely to see a cinema with such a history which is still going today.



References:
Pictures: Irish Architectural Archive
Jim Keenan, Dublin Cinemas: A Pictorial Selection

Tomorrow: The Carlton

Cinema Week: Mary Street Cinema

I took these pictures on a lovely sunny summer's day. The building is now covered with tarpaulin and scaffolding so it's just as well! The Mary Street Cinema (known forever by locals as 'the Mero') was founded by John J. Farrell in December 1912. As we've seen with many cinemas of the time, the interior was very decorative - the Mero had a richly embellished carved ceiling to its name.

On 26 November 1928 an unknown ruffian left off several stink bombs. Unfortunately the cinema patrons thought the smoke signified fire, prompting a rush for the exit. the cinema was badly damaged and several people were injured.


The Mero was known for its somewhat rough clientele but it was nonetheless popular for many years. It closed on 11 January 1959, and the building now houses AXA Insurance offices.



References:
RTÉ Stills Library
Jim Keenan, Dublin Cinemas: A Pictorial Selection

Thanks to NoDisko on Twitter for the reminder of the Mero!

Tomorrow: The Savoy