FROM THE ARCHIVES:With the promise of a loan from the British Government, Dublin city council began discussing the rebuilding of the city centre after the Easter Rising with a discussion about whether North Earl Street should be rebuilt immediately or widened first. – JOE JOYCE
MR DELANY (High Sheriff) moved the adoption of the report of the Paving Committee sanctioning plans for the rebuilding of the following premises: No. 4 North Earl street (for Mr. Philip Meagher); 5 North Earl street; 6 and 7 North Earl street (for Mr. James Kelly; and 16 Sackville place (for Mr. Egan). He said these owners ought to be allowed to commence building at once.
Mr. D. Daly was of opinion that, in the interests of the labourers of the city, the work of rebuilding should be proceeded with at once.
Mr. Sherlock said he yielded to no one in his interest in the working-man. There were some men who had money enough to rebuild at once. But all were not like Sir Joseph Downes or Mr. Philip Meagher. But it would appear that Mr. Meagher had no intention at all of rebuilding.
Sir Joseph Downes: That is not so.
Mr. Sherlock said it was common knowledge that Mr. Meagher did not mean to rebuild, and the site was in the market and the selling figure fixed.
Sir Joseph Downes: And withdrawn.
Mr. Sherlock said he accepted that statement, but the fact that it had been in the market indicated that the thing was being rushed, and did not bear the stamp of genuineness. No one would suggest that Earl street was not a congested district, and too narrow for such an important thoroughfare. They should all be anxious to see the bill through, to have widened streets in the narrow districts, to have power given for the advancement of money for fifty years at the current rate of interest, and thus to help in the reconstruction of their city. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Reigh strongly urged that those who were in a position to build should be allowed to go on with the work at once.
The Lord Mayor said there was an opportunity of widening North Earl street, and now Sir Joseph Downes opposed the idea for private reasons.
Sir Joseph Downes said he represented twenty-eight other property owners in the street.
Mr. Beattie said it was a disgrace to the Corporation not to do everything they could in the matter. There should be no discussion of a personal kind. Sir Joseph Downes had his own ideas about the widening of North Earl street. Alderman McCarthy said the question was; would the property owners get money in time to save their business?
Sir Joseph Downes said it was evident that the Lord Mayor was prejudiced in the matter.
The Lord Mayor said he did not like to see individuals making use of the Corporation for their own benefit.
Sir Joseph Downes: One would think that I was the only person interested.
The Lord Mayor: So you are.
http://url.ie/ciee