Estate agent Ronan Crinion of Move Home Estate Agents has opened a new office at number 1 Capel Street, a premises fronting on to that street and Ormond Quay Lower.
Newly pedestrianised at weekends, it is within a block of Panti Bar, a gay bar that bills itself as a fun joint.
Hanging inside its windows is his statement of intent, a set of rainbow-striped sateen curtains swagged for additional drama.
“The office in Dublin 1 is to target LGBTI buyers. There is no other auctioneer concentrating on this specific market.” he says.
“I’ve been involved in the community for 25 years. I know it fairly well.” The company has supported charities and spends about €8,000 a year on community sponsorship including Dublin Front Runners, the Gloria DLGC choir, and Out and About, a hillwalking group, as well as advertising in Gay Community News.
He’s not alone in his support. Across the river on Molesworth Street, just down from Leinster House, Savills has wrapped its door in the rainbow flag.
“Savills is a people business and we have a proactive environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) agenda that includes a number of ongoing initiatives related to gender equality and diversity and inclusion,” explains Andrew Smyth, its director of marketing and communications. “This month, Pride Month, we have partnered with BeLonG To – our chosen charity partner for Pride 2021 – to organise informational events for our employees, fundraising activities, and other creative initiatives to show our support for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Commercial agents are getting involved too. In Ballsbridge, Cushman & Wakefield has installed rainbow lightboxes outside its flagship offices on Shelbourne Road and also outside its Galway branch. “It’s a way of showing support to our employees and to show our clients that we are trying to be inclusive,” says Gráinne Hunt, department head of valuations. “It’s not commercially driven.” Crinion’s Capel street office has a historic shop front and an earlier incarnation has been immortalised in ink by James Malton, in in his 1797 illustration, View from Capel Street, looking over the Essex Bridge in Dublin, Ireland.
The Irish engraver and watercolour artist once worked as a draughtsman for James Gandon. Sensitively restored by Smithfield-based Kelly & Cogan Architects, the building is now painted a classy inky black with gilded lettering in the signage, just below an earlier shopkeeper’s name; this link with the past was discovered in the renovation.
While getting this second office off the ground has taken several years, it has been a labour of love for Crinion. “It’s closer to home,” he says.
