Dublin after the 1916 Rising: a geography of destruction and reinstatement

Open Access

Abstract

This commentary explores the spatialities, and in particular the urban legacies, of the 1916 Rising from the perspectives of 1916 and 2016. The focus is Dublin's north inner city and especially O'Connell (formerly Sackville) Street and the adjacent thoroughfares – the epicentre of the 1916 Rising. This commentary is presented as three short papers: the first addresses the immediate post-Rising legacy and explains how and why the O'Connell Street area was speedily reconstructed despite the stringencies of the First World War; the second examines the centennial legacy, recent efforts to preserve the memory of 1916 and their broader socio-spatial impacts; the third reflects on how the seminal historical event of the 1916 Rising has shaped and continues to shape livelihoods, politics and the built form of the city. The commentary concludes by highlighting the value of an inter-disciplinary approach to understanding the evolution of urban spaces and outlines some of the broader implications and lessons for planning, heritage and policymaking.