Derelict former home of maths genius to be restored

The green light has been given for the restoration of the derelict former home of maths genius George Boole, the father of modern computer science.

Sanction for the first phase of the project on the property at Grenville Place came from Cork’s city councillors last night as UCC marked the 150th anniversary of Boole’s death with a commemorative service in St Michael’s Church in Blackrock, where he was buried.

Led by Venerable Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson, it was attended by academics, church, civic and community leaders, with the sermon preached by Reverend Dr Mark Hocknull, Canon Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, and member of the academic staff of the University of Lincoln, Boole’s home town until he was appointed as professor of maths in Cork at the age of 33.

UCC also announced plans to present pupils of a local school with credit-card sized computers next year as part of its year-long series of events to mark the bicentenary of Boole’s birth.

The restoration of Boole’s house on Grenville Place, the first phase of which is estimated to cost in the region of €600,000, will form part of those commemorations.

The council has now been cleared to proceed with the compulsory acquisition of the building, which will lead to it being redeveloped, and handed back to UCC for development as a landmark building.

Boole, a self-taught mathematical genius, was UCC’s first professor of mathematics in 1849. His pioneering work with algebra and logic led to the creation of Boolean Logic — a key building block for modern coding and computing.

During his time at UCC, Boole, who lived with his family in Ballintemple, had lodgings at 5 Grenville Place, and wrote some of his most famous work there.

However, the building had fallen into a state of disrepair and dereliction.

As the city council liaised with the legal representatives of the building’s owner, who had inherited it around 2004, it emerged that the title to the property was defective and attempts by the owner to resolve the situation had failed. The property was declared derelict in 2009 and suffered a partial collapse in October 2010. The council undertook stabilisation works to prevent further damage and explored with UCC possible future uses for the building, but lack of funds on both sides stalled progress. A technical survey and a feasibility study were commissioned and when UCC designated 2015 as the Year of George Boole, the redevelopment became a reality. As part of the restoration, the council will undertake internal building work before handing it over the UCC.

UCC’s George Boole200 celebrations in 2015 will include a Boolean Art Exhibition, and three international conferences.