A Russian Orthodox parish in south Dublin has joined forces with local residents in opposing a massive new development which they say “will damage the community”.
Residents of Harold’s Cross village are up in arms about the proposed development alongside Mount Argus monastery. And the joint action is bringing together a community already damaged by “reckless planning”.
Multiple objections are expected to be tabled at Dublin City Council regarding a development put forward by construction firm Viera Limited. It includes several six-storey apartment blocks and other buildings which will house up to a thousand new residents.
Locals say the density of the development will cause traffic chaos in the area, disrupt relations in the community and raise the risk of floods at the River Poddle, which flows along the site.
The latter is of great concern to the Russian Orthodox Church of St Peter and Paul, which attracts worshippers from all over Dublin and beyond. The parish has been established in the area since 2001, renting a disused Church of Ireland building. The church, and the adjoining Russian language school, has been repeatedly flooded due to its proximity to the river.
“We are flooded nearly every year now, but if the plan goes ahead we shall be at risk of daily flooding,” said Fr Michael Gogoleff, the dean of the church. “We are happy to join the local residents in opposing this irresponsible plan.”
The Russian parish has not previously engaged with community matters, but since the joint action began Fr Gogoleff has invited the local residents’ council to hold its meetings in the church. And following last week’s meeting, locals were also invited to attend the Maslenitsa pancake festival, a traditional Russian celebration, at the end of this month.
“It’s great to get to know Fr Gogoleff and his people,” said Lucy Johnston, a local resident who is opposing the development at Mount Argus. “Our community has already been damaged by reckless planning, so we don’t know each other. But now that we’re taking action against a common threat, this actually unites us.”
Tony McDermott, Green Party councillor for Dublin South Central and who lives just across the street from the site, said: “Local residents are well aware of the severe flood damage regularly inflicted on the church and school at St Peter and Paul. This proposal can only worsen the situation. It is unacceptable and intolerable that Dublin City Council would even consider a development of this magnitude.”
The 5.7 acres of land at the Mount Argus monastery in Harold’s Cross were sold to developer Twinlite Construct-ion last year for a figure believed to be in the region of €20 million.
