Iveagh Trust
Encyclopedia
The Iveagh Trust is a provider of affordable housing
in and around Dublin, Ireland. It was initially a component of the Guinness Trust
, founded in 1890 by Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh
, great-grandson of the founder of the Guinness Brewery, to help homeless people in Dublin and London
. It is not otherwise related to the brewery company.
as a member of the Guinness Partnership, a group of housing association
s.
However, the Iveagh Trust became a separate organisation in 1903 with responsibility for activities in Ireland. It was given a statutory legal basis by the "Dublin Improvement (Bull Alley Area) Act" of 1903. Today it is run as a charity under Irish law and liaises with such bodies as Dublin City Council
and the Homeless Agency.
, Patrick Street
and Christ Church Cathedral
are still managed. Following a report by Dr. John Lumsden
, they were all built in or by 1905 by the Iveagh Trust, including formerly the Iveagh Public Baths and the Iveagh Markets building on Francis Street. Lord Iveagh also made donations to St Patrick's Cathedral and created the St Patrick's Park gardens in 1901 between the cathedral and the Iveagh Trust buildings. Today's buildings were therefore only a part of a larger urban renewal
plan, at a time when Dublin was infamous for its poverty and its unsanitary tenements.
In more recent times new estates have been acquired in Swords
and Finglas
, and a home for the elderly at Mount Anthony in south Dublin. Unlike Dublin City Council's housing list based on need, the trust has aimed to create mixed communities with smaller numbers. Each estate has a resident caretaker and a formal system of elected tenants' councils to advise of complaints or problems. The trust was run by Fred Stephens for many years until 2005, currently by Gene Clayton.
The Trust also runs the Iveagh Hostel in central Dublin for homeless men, providing basic accommodation, meals and such facilities as a gym and a computer room. The original 508 cubicles have been converted to 195 bedrooms. Former residents include Liam O'Flaherty
after leaving the army in 1917, and Patrick Kavanagh
.
A former trust building for children to play in, known as "The Bayno", was closed in 1975, and now houses Liberties College
.
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
in and around Dublin, Ireland. It was initially a component of the Guinness Trust
Guinness Trust
The Guinness Trust is the oldest member of the Guinness Partnership, a group of housing associations. It is a UK registered charity providing affordable housing....
, founded in 1890 by Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh
Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh
Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, KP, GCVO, FRS was an Irish philanthropist and businessman.-Public life:...
, great-grandson of the founder of the Guinness Brewery, to help homeless people in Dublin and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is not otherwise related to the brewery company.
Guinness Partnership
The Guinness Trust extended its objectives outside London in 1962 and today operates in all parts of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as a member of the Guinness Partnership, a group of housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
s.
However, the Iveagh Trust became a separate organisation in 1903 with responsibility for activities in Ireland. It was given a statutory legal basis by the "Dublin Improvement (Bull Alley Area) Act" of 1903. Today it is run as a charity under Irish law and liaises with such bodies as Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
and the Homeless Agency.
Current
In today's central Dublin several original buildings in the area of St. Patrick's CathedralSt. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
, Patrick Street
Patrick Street
Patrick Street is an Irish folk group.The band was formed in Dublin in 1986 with Kevin Burke on fiddle, Jackie Daly on button accordion, Andy Irvine on bouzouki and vocals, and Arty McGlynn on guitar...
and Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
are still managed. Following a report by Dr. John Lumsden
John Lumsden
Sir John Lumsden KBE was an Irish physician and the founder of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland.-Early years:John Lumsden was born in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. He was a medical doctor.Dr...
, they were all built in or by 1905 by the Iveagh Trust, including formerly the Iveagh Public Baths and the Iveagh Markets building on Francis Street. Lord Iveagh also made donations to St Patrick's Cathedral and created the St Patrick's Park gardens in 1901 between the cathedral and the Iveagh Trust buildings. Today's buildings were therefore only a part of a larger urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
plan, at a time when Dublin was infamous for its poverty and its unsanitary tenements.
In more recent times new estates have been acquired in Swords
Swords, Dublin
Swords is the county town of Fingal in Ireland. It is about 13 km north of Dublin city centre and is part of its commuter belt.- History :...
and Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
, and a home for the elderly at Mount Anthony in south Dublin. Unlike Dublin City Council's housing list based on need, the trust has aimed to create mixed communities with smaller numbers. Each estate has a resident caretaker and a formal system of elected tenants' councils to advise of complaints or problems. The trust was run by Fred Stephens for many years until 2005, currently by Gene Clayton.
The Trust also runs the Iveagh Hostel in central Dublin for homeless men, providing basic accommodation, meals and such facilities as a gym and a computer room. The original 508 cubicles have been converted to 195 bedrooms. Former residents include Liam O'Flaherty
Liam O'Flaherty
Liam O'Flaherty was a significant Irish novelist and short story writer and a major figure in the Irish literary renaissance, born August 28, 1896, died September 7, 1984.-Biography:...
after leaving the army in 1917, and Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, his best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and the poems Raglan Road and The Great Hunger...
.
A former trust building for children to play in, known as "The Bayno", was closed in 1975, and now houses Liberties College
Liberties College
Liberties College is an educational institution in Bull Alley Street, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Liberties College offers Further Education courses, including Post Leaving Certificates-External links:* * -See also:...
.
Further reading
- F.H.A. Aalen, The Iveagh Trust: the first hundred years 1890-1990, Iveagh Trust, 1990. ISBN 978-0951594209
- Joe Joyce, The Guinnesses, Poolbeg Press, Dublin 2009. ISBN 978-1842234037
- Dublin Public Libraries video, 2011