TU Dublin and Grangegorman Histories on RTÉ Nationwide
Exciting news! On Friday, 7th February, RTÉ Nationwide aired a full episode delving into the rich and complex history of our Grangegorman campus. This episode explores the layers of history that have shaped Grangegorman, from its early days to the campus we know well.
The show tells the fascinating story of the area as a house of industry, including its time as a penitentiary, its role in the treatment of mental health, and its transformation into a vibrant educational and cultural hub it now is.
Philip Cohen, Chair of the Grangegorman Histories Expert Working Group, takes Anne Cassin into the campus and shares the diverse and multifaceted histories of the Grangegorman campus and Brendan Kelly, a Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital. Brendan's book “Asylum: Inside Grangegorman” which delves into the history of the Richmond Lunatic Asylum (later renamed Grangegorman Mental Hospital).
Dr. Mary Ann Bolger, the Head of Discipline for Media Arts at the School of Media, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), who also works with Grangegorman Histories, talks about the new campus and the role it plays in the local community.
Conor Sreenan, Director of Strategy and Design, Grangegorman Development Agency, said
Alongside the important work of the Grangegorman Histories project – and its very significant contribution to sensitively revealing the site’s past – the Agency is continuing to advance exciting plans with colleagues across Government for new projects.
The next phases of development include neighbourhood housing with the Health Service Executive, new public thoroughfares further linking the site with our neighbours, the next significant building for TU Dublin, the West Quad, along with new play spaces and public realm. With these development plans in place, the Agency will be approaching approximately a third of the permitted development at Grangegorman; so, there is lots more to look forward to!
It’s a fascinating insight into the lives that were lived in the area before we arrived here – make sure you set your TV to record. And don’t forget, Grangegorman Histories hosts free, public walking tours of the Grangegorman site on the last Wednesday of every month at 3pm. The meeting point is the entrance to the Clocktower building. No booking is required.