Minister O’Donovan appeals to visitors of St Stephen’s Green to respect this important heritage site

Mr. Patrick O’Donovan T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), has called on visitors to St Stephen’s Green to respect this important historic heritage site. The Minister made the appeal following scenes in the park yesterday afternoon when a group of people gained access to the Victorian bandstand which had been fenced off just two days earlier by the OPW for health and safety reasons and in order to assess the fragile historic structure following incidents of reckless anti-social behaviour in this location over the previous days.

Minister O’Donovan acknowledged that

“as a society, we have all endured a huge amount in the past months and we are understandably eager to enjoy the outdoors now that brighter days have arrived.”

He continued:

“However, this is no excuse for damaging historic structures and displaying reckless behaviour as we have witnessed yesterday and in the past days at the bandstand in St Stephen’s Green. Covid-19 is still circulating in the community and to protect the progress we have made, basic health measures still apply outdoors, including avoiding crowds and keeping your distance.”

Minister O’Donovan concluded:

“We want visitors to enjoy the beautiful surrounds of the park this weekend, but we appeal to the public to respect this important heritage site and its historic features, to be mindful of other visitors in the park and to respect our OPW staff. The Green is an oasis in the city centre and I would ask you to help us keep it that way so everybody can enjoy it.”

The OPW’s role is to protect and preserve Ireland’s national heritage for this and future generations. St Stephen’s Green is a National Monument in our care, which contains a number of important historic sculptures and features, including the beautiful Victorian bandstand. Constructed in 1887, it is almost 150 years old and fragile, and, ordinarily, it would not have been accessible to the park’s visitors. This had not caused issues previously, as the public respected the small gate at the bandstand and its specific purpose for music performances and readings organised in summer time.

In the past week, however, the bandstand became a place where groups were crowding in, oblivious to public health guidelines and social distancing, and posing a risk to themselves and others by climbing the slender steel supports that hold the bandstand’s roof. To prevent accidents and to assess the bandstand’s structural integrity, the OPW took the decision to fence off the historic bandstand. It should be noted that the area that was closed off represents approximately 0.05% of the park’s 22 acres, all of which continue to remain open to the public for recreational purposes.

Throughout lockdown, the OPW kept the parks and gardens it manages in cities and the country open wherever it was possible – including St Stephen’s Green – providing important amenities for citizen’s wellbeing in a difficult time. Since the careful and gradual easing of restrictions in late April, the OPW has been able to open more historic heritage sites and has actively incentivised people to come and enjoy them by waiving any admission fees where they applied before at our heritage sites. We are working together with the Department of Arts, Tourism, Culture and Arts to facilitate test concerts in two of the OPW’s parks in June, and many of our sites are offering exhibitions and are planning events to contribute towards an enjoyable summer for locals and visitors in a safe environment.

-ENDS-

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