The Daily Star Ireland
Ivana Bacik, leader of the Labour Party, recently deleted a video in which she expressed opposition to a proposed redevelopment of Kenilworth Square in her constituency. The redevelopment, which involves transforming part of the square into an all-weather pitch with floodlights, has sparked division among local residents.
Opponents of the project, including a group called Protect Kenilworth Square, argue that the redevelopment is not suitable for the area and have raised over €60,000 for a High Court challenge against the Dublin City Council’s approval of the plan’s first phase. The plan allows St Mary’s College in Rathmines to replace the current grass rugby pitch with a synthetic one. The college has owned the park since 1947 and claims the new pitch will be rented to local soccer and GAA teams, addressing a shortage of training grounds in south Dublin. However, the park remains closed to local residents.
Bacik publicly opposed the development, stating that the square must be protected from what she called the “wholly inappropriate development plans” by the school. She also raised concerns with the council and proposed designating the square as an Architectural Conservation Area to protect its heritage. The video Bacik posted on social media, which expressed her concerns, drew criticism from supporters of the school, prompting her to remove it, citing the ongoing legal action related to the case.
The redevelopment is being promoted by a group called Kenilworth for Kids, made up of parents of students from St Mary’s College. This group argues that the planned improvements are necessary to modernize the sports grounds and meet current needs. They also emphasize that the school plans to share the new facilities with local sports clubs, continuing a practice that has been successful with the school’s front pitch.
In contrast, Martin Joyce from Protect Kenilworth Square countered claims of misinformation, stating that their petition, which has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures, represents widespread opposition to the plans. He outlined concerns about the project’s impact on the park, including the installation of a synthetic pitch, a fence, floodlights, the removal of heritage trees, and the creation of a car park and new pavilion. The group believes the plans are inappropriate for the area.
Local political candidates have also weighed in on the issue. Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews and independent candidate Nick Delehanty expressed support for the redevelopment, while Fine Gael candidate Emma Blain refrained from commenting due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
