Architectural gems in Tralee ‘finally given protection’

The entire village of Blennerville, as well as key Georgian and Victorian streetscapes in Tralee town centre, have been designated as areas worthy of architectural conservation.

Day Place, built in 1795 by the famous Justice Robert Day; Denny St where there has been “a slow but incremental loss” of architectural features; along with Blennerville, a historic port linked by canal to Tralee; and a row of cottages at Caherina will now be managed as areas whose overall architectural heritage must be protected and enhanced. These are the first areas in Tralee to be so designated, under legislation introduced in 2004.

Town planner Victoria McCarthy, whose MA thesis was a study of the Denny family, said the unique nature of these areas had never been fully appreciated until now.

“Public awareness has been a problem over years. What made these areas unique was never put on paper as part of conservation plans,” Ms McCarthy said.

She has expressed her delight at the decision by the town council to fully adopt the plans which will ensure that public lighting, window and door replacement, wiring, extensions, signage and so on must be sensitive and “sympathetic” to the character of the area.

It is recommended that out-of-character features be removed.

Plans for three more areas, including Castle St, are in train.

The plans are accompanied by detailed historical research.

Day Place and Staughtons Row and surrounds onto Princes Quay, with its three-storey terraced housing and ornate railings and tree lined streets, was “the desirable” place to live at the turn of the 19th century in Tralee.

Many of the buildings here, including the old Theatre Royal and town hall (now Fabric nightclub), display moulded stucco decorations, moulded quoins, decorative hood mouldings at upper floor levels and projecting cornices.

“The front elevation of many of the buildings display a high level of detailing which is often used to highlight the building’s importance and the wealth of the original builder,” Ms McCarthy’s survey finds.

* The full analysis is available on Tralee town council’s website at www.traleet.ie