‘Notre-Dame was rebuilt quicker’ than Dublin community centre as delays slammed
Urgent clarification is needed on the future of Donore Community Centre, which was badly damaged in a fire in 2021 .
Sinn Fein Councillor Ciaran O Meachair is calling on Dublin City Council to deliver a clear roadmap after the reopening of the building has been plagued by delays and setbacks for years. He stated that it’s becoming “a running joke” in the community that “Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was rebuilt quicker than our community centre.”
The Dublin 8 Donore Avenue Youth and Community Centre was severely damaged by a “substantial” blaze on June 22, 2021. This saw 30 Dublin firefighters spend several hours at the scene putting it out.
The fire broke out at around 9pm in the upstairs rooms of the community centre, yet firefighters remained on the scene until 3am where thankfully nobody was injured. At the time it was hoped the centre would reopen within six months.
Considering such long delays, Cllr O Meachair has tabled a motion at the upcoming South Central Area Committee meeting requesting clear information on when works will commence. He stated he had previously been given a strong commitment that redevelopment would begin in September 2025.
“However, we have obviously missed that date and we are being met by a wall of silence from the Council when we ask what the new date is,” he stated.
“We were informed over the summer that there was just one outstanding issue to be sorted out before construction could begin, which was the insurance. We are now being told that there are ‘several’ issues and Dublin City Council have declined to inform us what these several issues are.”
The local community at Donore Avenue have been incredibly vocal about their need for their only community centre to be reopened. As an important space not just for young people, but for all the residents, locals gathered outside the damaged building in June 2022, one year after the blaze, to protest their frustration at the lack of progress.
With rooms to rent at a reduced price, the Donore Community Centre stood as an important place for activists and community groups to meet and gather. Cllr O Meachair’s motion will be heard by the Council on November 19.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme