Campaign to preserve the unique character of The Liberties in Dublin.
The Liberties is an old and historic neighbourhood of Dublin city. The area has become run down, and the population has declined from 30,000 to 10,000.
To understand the problems facing the community, Minister for Local Government Robert Molloy takes a three hour fact finding tour of The Liberties, accompanied by TDs for the area and representatives of the Liberties Association. The tour goes from Saint Patrick's Cathedral, through Werburgh Street, Cornmarket, Newmarket, Francis Street, The Coombe, ending at the Brazen Head.
The Liberties Association was established in 1966 to protect the community. The association want to see The Liberties redeveloped along community lines, rather than for commercial interest. They have taken a practical approach to saving their community, hiring a firm of architects to draw up alternative proposals to the Dublin Corporation plan. They have a proposal which they think is as good, if not better, than the draft corporation plan.
The draft Dublin Corporation plan proposes major road widening through the centre of The Liberties. The alternative plan drawn up for the association shows not only how this road could be successfully rerouted around the area, but also how The Liberties can be kept a living and thriving community. Their proposal includes the construction of enough houses for 1,200 people, more than Dublin Corporation provides for in their plan for blocks of flats in the area.
This report uses film shot around Thomas Street and Meath Street in The Liberties.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 November 1970. The footage shown here is mute.
