GPO and Moore Street Regeneration as a 1916 Cultural Quarter: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2025-07-01
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Jen Cummins (SD), Dublin South-Central

It is a defining moment for the preservation of our history. The GPO is fundamental to our past but it is not a relic. It has huge potential. I am lucky to live in Dublin South-Central, where Deputy Ó Snodaigh also lives and where history and historic buildings are preserved and celebrated. They include the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Kilmainham Gaol, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Of course we do not always get it right. I also live in a constituency where Kilmainham Mill has yet to see the preservation and restoration that it so well deserves. We must have a vision about things like this.
What I do not want to see is the GPO becoming some sort of a theme park where we have multiple shopping opportunities, like we do in other theme parks around the world. We want to preserve its history by providing learning spaces. I would love to see primary school children, secondary school children, researchers and third level students using that space to learn more about our history. I would also love to see a place where our historical crafts can be protected and celebrated and where there is space to thrive.
Whatever we decide, let us remember that our attractions and historical buildings are for our citizens as well as for the visitors who come here, so let us not commercialise our history but celebrate it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-07-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-07-01