Conservation order for square

Dartmouth Square near Ranelagh, Dublin, which has been at the centre of disputes between Athlone businessman Noel O'Gara and Dublin City Council since 2006, has been granted special conservation status by the council.

The council last night agreed to change the city development plan to designate the square, which includes the two acre park at its centre and surrounding three-storey Victorian houses, as an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).

The designation will protect the square from any future unsuitable alteration or development, such as the tile showroom opened by Mr O'Gara in the park in 2007. Mr O'Gara bought the park in 2005 for about €10,000 from PJ Darley.

Mr Darley's ancestors built the square, the last formal square to be laid out in Dublin, in the 1880s.

The park had been in use by the public but in January 2006 Mr O'Gara locked the gates.

As well as a tile showroom, Mr O'Gara had announced his intention to turn the square into a cheap car park, and had moved vehicles and a caravan on to the land.

These were subsequently removed by a court order.

The council applied for and was granted a compulsory purchase order on the park, however, it has been unable to offer Mr O'Gara the €100 million he has said his claim to the land is worth and has yet to have a value agreed for the land. Mr O'Gara continues to dispute the legitimacy of the purchase order.

Mr O'Gara has also bought the freehold interest (ground rents) of 17 houses in Dartmouth Square.

The owners of the houses have taken legal action against Mr O'Gara, who has sought sums of up to €100,000 per house to sell the freehold interest to residents.

While the conservation order will stop any further unsuitable use of the park, pending the finalisation of the compulsory order purchase process, it also puts requirements on home owners who may have to restore original features such as wood framed sash windows and Bangor blue roof slates.

Olivia Kelly
© Irish Times