“One particular facet of living in Dublin city centre that I’ve always found hard to stomach is the persistence of abandoned buildings, which could benefit their surrounding areas.”
One particular facet of living in Dublin city centre that I’ve always found hard to stomach is the persistence of abandoned buildings, which could benefit their surrounding areas.
These spaces have effectively been “crossed out” of existence. The issue, driven by greed, legislative inefficiency and bureaucratic failure, has led, in the worst cases, to the utter deterioration of historic landmarks, such as the Iveagh Markets and the Royal City of Dublin Hospital. Despite sporadic positive efforts like the proposed Fruit and Vegetable Market refurbishment, the problem remains, revealing a skewed balance between community welfare and private interests.
My name is Gavin O’Brien and I am a graphic designer and visual artist based in Dublin. I create collage illustrations for posters, albums and the odd book. If you have a suitable project and would like to hire me, I can be contacted via gavinobrien.ie or instagram.com/_gavinobrien_.
As of April, only nine of the 23 ground-floor units across the Herberton Complex were occupied.
"Since moving to Dublin a year ago, my bag has filled with little pieces that reflect the rhythm of daily life here."
The Georgian building was once a meeting place for revolutionary leaders and the Gaelic League, and has been in council ownership, at least on paper, since 1998.
Because of its central location, the high footfall in the area, and its proximity to a lot of venues and cultural spaces, it’s become a premier flyering spot.
