Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery to close for ‘at least 3 years'
Hugh Lane Gallery was founded in 1908 by Sir Hugh Lane and his supporters, who donated a collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century European art to Dublin.
It is the oldest extant 20th-century public modern art gallery.
A council spokesperson said the gallery would close its doors to the public on September 28 to 'facilitate renovation and safe removal of the gallery's collection'.
'It is expected to remain closed for at least 3 years,' they added.
The planned refurbishment is a part of a major investment in Parnell Square North, which will transform the square into a 'significant cultural quarter' set to enrich the experience of Dubliners and its visitors.
'The refurbishment will upgrade the original 1930s wing to 21st-century museum standards of security and environmental controls,' a statement from Dublin City Council said.
'It will ensure the preservation of the collection for future generations and will enhance our ability to secure significant international loans for major temporary exhibitions.
'The refurbishment will also include a direct link between the gallery and the new Dublin City library, creating a unique cultural experience across art and literature.
'The Hugh Lane Gallery conservation team is working hard to safely pack and transport the gallery's renowned collection to museum-standard storage facilities.
'This ensures the public's collection is being cared for to the highest standards and will be ready for display when the gallery reopens.
'Francis Bacon's Studio will be fully protected throughout the temporary closure period and will remain on-site,' the statement added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Warehouse deals lead a property recovery
The recovery in the value of Irish retail warehouse properties got a major boost in the second quarter of this year following recent big deals. However capital values of all other retail sectors continued to stagnate. These are among the findings of the authoritative MSCI/ SCSI index which monitors the performance of Irish commercial investment property. Retail warehouse values rose 3.1pc in the second quarter lifting capital values by 3.7pc off the trough it reached in the corresponding quarter of 2024. This recovery was partly due to a 7.8pc rise in rents in this sector during the quarter and also due to US investor Realty Income Corporation becoming a major player in this market this year. It spent €343.5m buying two portfolios with a combined 11 retail parks including Belgard Retail Park in Tallaght, Dublin 24; Gateway Retail Park, Galway; Parkway Retail Park in Limerick; M1 Retail Park in Drogheda, Co Louth; and Poppyfield Retail Park in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. In contrast, capital values for shopping centres continued to slip, down 0.4pc in the quarter and 1.3pc over the 12 months, while shopping centre rents were unchanged in the quarter. Rents on Dublin's two main shopping streets, Grafton St and Henry St, stabilised in the quarter, both up 0.7pc. But the capital values of these properties stagnated with 0.6pc and 0.8pc dips respectively, despite signs that Irish investors still have a liking for some of these trophy properties. Values for all offices built before 2010 continued to slip but those built since then remained stable with 0.7pc growth. Office rents overall stabilised with a 0.5pc improvement. A spokesperson for MSCI said investment in Dublin contracted during the first six months of 2025 by 63pc from a year earlier, causing the city to slide into 22nd place in a ranking of the top European investment destinations. That is a drop from 14th position at the end of December 2024. Meanwhile, a separate but smaller-scale index from agents JLL, based on a €608m mixed-use property portfolio, reports a 2.5pc increase in Q2 returns for investors bringing the 12-month increase to 7.6pc. JLL Ireland chief executive John Moran said: 'This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of positive growth (in returns) continuing the positive trajectory established in 2024. The data confirms that the real estate market recovery is gaining momentum, solidifying a new growth phase in the property cycle.' With JLL's industrial property capital values also increasing by 3.4pc in Q2 and 7.8pc over the 12 months, the agent points out that overall capital values grew for the third consecutive quarter and are now up 1.4pc year-on-year. His colleague, Niall Gargan, says this growth in overall capital values represents a turnaround from the previous declining trend, which reached a low point in Q3 2023 after having fallen 16.1pc. Commenting on the strength of the industrial properties, he said 'strength can be attributed to continued supply constraints, strong occupier demand, and sustained rental growth, with industrial ERVs (rents) up 9.4pc year-on-year'. JLL's index also includes residential complexes and it shows some signs of improvement with 1.2pc growth over the first half of this year bringing 12-month growth to 0.5pc. Nevertheless, that growth is much slower than values for individual apartments. According to the Geowox Housing Market Report, apartment prices grew by 6.7 pc year-on-year in Q2 2025.
Agriland
13 hours ago
- Agriland
Watch Mercosur Deal Will Not Destroy Eu Agriculture Costa
The President of the European Council has said that the EU-Mercosur trade deal will not destroy European agriculture. Speaking in the European Parliament this morning, president Antonio Costa urged EU countries to 'move forward and sign' the Mercosur deal by the end of the year. Last December a political agreement was reached between the EU and the founding members of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). But the deal still needs to be ratified by EU member countries including Ireland which is concerned about its potential impact on Irish agriculture and the environment. The European Council, guided by unity in the diversity of our nations, works hand in hand with the Commission and this Parliament. Together we are strengthening our defence, reinforcing our competitiveness, and defending our values and interests globally. — António Costa (@eucopresident) July 9, 2025 Today President Costa told MEPs the EU should focus on the 'long-term benefits' of the deal for Europe. "The Mercosur agreement's quota for beef represents 1.6%, I repeat... 1.6% of the total European beef production," Costa said. "This is also less than half of our current imports from Mercosur. This will simply not be able to destroy European agriculture. "If we want to export our social and environmental standards, the way to do this is through trade agreements because tariffs don't spread standards, trade agreements do. "This is the message that Europe should send to the world, while others raise barriers, we build bridges, so let's move forward and sign the Mercosur agreement by the end of this year " he added. Amidst ongoing discussions around the EU-Mercosur trade deal, a recent report showed that EU-Mercosur trade was 'up substantially in the last decade'. The report from Eurostat outlined that, in 2024, the EU imported €56 billion-worth of goods, a 4.2% increase on 2023. The EU also exported €55.2 billion-worth of goods to the four countries last year – a 1.3% decrease compared to 2023 exports. According to the report, in 2024, the largest Mercosur partner measured by its share in total EU trade – both imports and exports – was Brazil followed by Argentina. The controversial Mercosur trade agreement would allow an additional 99,000t of beef enter the EU tariff-free from Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. The political agreement will open up the EU market to goods from Mercosur, but limits imports from those countries of 'sensitive agricultural products' such as beef, ethanol, pork, honey, sugar and poultry. The Tánaiste has confirmed that 'engagements' are continuing with the European Commission over the Mercosur trade deal and that the government will seek 'sufficient clarification' on priority areas before any final decision on the deal.
The Journal
14 hours ago
- The Journal
New private members club to open on site of former O'Connell Street hotel
PLANS FOR A large new private members club on O'Connell Street have been welcomed by Dublin City Council, who claim the restoration of a significant Georgian building will have wider benefits for the area. The development firm behind a a €500 million masterplan for a major regeneration of a 2.2-hectare site in the O'Connell Street area has applied for planning permission for a change of use of the former Royal Dublin Hotel at the northern end of the city's main thoroughfare to a private members club. Dublin Central GP is seeking approval for extensive conservation, repair and refurbishment works on the interior of the property as well as for a temporary mural on the side of the building. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British property development group, Hammerson, which owns Dundrum Town Centre as well as the Swords Pavilions and ILAC shopping centres. The developers said the interior design of the proposed club was 'to provide a comfortable home-from-home environment where members can meet, work, eat and socialise in the heart of Dublin city.' The plans provide for various dining and recreational facilities across all four floors of the building including a stage, two dining rooms, two living rooms, several bars including a library bar and 'snug lounge' as well as changing rooms and locker rooms. The site at 42 O'Connell Street Upper contains O'Connell Hall – a protected structure – to its rear adjoining Moore Lane with another building known as 'the Billiard Room' linking it to the main building. The plans provide for O'Connell Hall to have a multi-purpose space with the potential to accommodate occasional public events by invitation of the club and its members. Dublin Central GP said a number of potential end users to run the private members club, who have extensive experience 'in the sophisticated design and operation of hospitality venues' have been identified. Advertisement It added: 'The proposed use will reopen the buildings for active use and enjoyment by members and their guests, and will make a positive contribution to reviving cultural heritage assets and sustaining the activation, vitality and passive surveillance of O'Connell Street both by day and night.' Planning files show council planners supported and welcomed the restoration of the building as well as acknowledging the significant investment required to bring it back into use fully. They also expressed satisfaction that a proposal to use O'Connell Hall as a commercial gym was no longer going ahead. The council said it was satisfied that the development is compatible with the overall policies and objectives of the zoning of the site and would have 'a positive, imperceptible and long term and not significant impact on local tourism and amenities.' However, planners have sought further information about the plans from Dublin Central GP to address some concerns about aspects of the project before reaching a final decision on the company's planning application. Construction of the four-storey Georgian townhouse began in 1752 when it was used as a private home. It went through periods of use as a solicitor's office and by various societies and clubs before being taken over in 1882 by the Catholic Commercial Club, which was established to provide a social space for Catholic businessmen excluded from other clubs. The club, which remained in the property until the 1970s, built O'Connell Hall as a multi-purpose space used for concerts as well as a gymnasium. The property subsequently became an extended part of the Royal Dublin Hotel in 1991 after briefly being used as a Garda Advice Centre. The building has been vacant since the closure of the hotel in 2008 and the demolition of the original hotel property. Planning permission for various elements of the masterplan, which includes the retention of historic lanes associated with the Easter Rising and the development of two new public squares was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála last year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
