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Appeal To Planning Board On Cobblestone Pub In Dublin Withdrawn

An appeal to An Bord Pleanála against a decision to refuse permission for a hotel at Dublin's Cobble...
Ben Finnegan
Ben Finnegan

11:55 AM - 29 Apr 2022



Appeal To Planning Board On Co...

News

Appeal To Planning Board On Cobblestone Pub In Dublin Withdrawn

Ben Finnegan
Ben Finnegan

11:55 AM - 29 Apr 2022



An appeal to An Bord Pleanála against a decision to refuse permission for a hotel at Dublin's Cobblestone Pub has been withdrawn.

The pub in Smithfield is known for its traditional music sessions and support for the arts.

Labour Councillor Joe Costello described it as 'good news' and thanked all those involved.

 

News that the pub could have lost 70% of its floor space to a new 114-bed hotel brought hundreds of people out onto the streets in protest late last year.

The pub is a protected structure, and the planning proposal would have seen it lose its backroom venue, smoking area and upstairs rooms.

The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has previously said he believes permission for a hotel at the venue should have been refused.

"If I ever have visitors in town and they want to hear some trad music, I'd either take them to the Cobblestone or Dame Tavern. It's an authentic spot, he said last November.

"Certainly my view in terms of what's being proposed there... with the hotel essentially enveloping the Cobblestone... I think Dublin City Council should refuse that application.

"I don’t say that lightly, by the way - I’m a former tourism minister, and I don’t have an ideological objection to tourists coming to the city.

"The question you have to ask yourself is in a world that’s becoming increasingly homogenised... why do people come to Dublin? They come to see what's unique and distinctive.

"If you start to take away places like the Cobblestone, you actually undermine our longer-term offering for tourism."

While singer Imelda May has previously said progress needs to be balanced with protections.

"Absolutely, like everybody else walking around Dublin, wondering what's happening as you're watching hotel after hotel being built.

"It's really worrying that the culture is been forgotten about, or not been guarded as much as it should be.

"You can always go by the people of a city; we know in Dublin we see it changing all the time.

"Change happens, and that's normal, but the people of the city know the heart of the city - and know it's been stolen and robbed and plundered.

"And that's what feels like is happening now; it's so many really important parts of our culture as a city - and as a country."



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Cobblestone Craic Agus Ceoil Dublin Smithfield TRAD Traditional Music

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