Stardust Memorial Park

Stardust Memorial Park
An Pháirc Cuimhneacháin Stardust
Dancing Couple memorial
Stardust Memorial Park Location of the park within Dublin, Ireland
Type	Memorial park
Location	Coolock
Coordinates	53°23′46″N 6°12′18″W / 53.3961°N 6.2050°W / 53.3961; -6.2050Coordinates: 53°23′46″N 6°12′18″W / 53.3961°N 6.2050°W / 53.3961; -6.2050
Area	22 acres
Elevation	40 metres (130 ft)
Created	February 1992 (1992-02)
Operated by	Dublin Corporation Parks Department, now Dublin City Council
Plants	8,050 broadleaved plants
Collections	Maple, lime, mountain ash, oak, beech, larch, pine and birch
Designation	To commemorate the victims of the Stardust fire in 1981
Budget	£500,000 pounds
Parking	No dedicated parking; street only
Opened	18 September 1993; 28 years ago (1993-09-18)

Stardust Memorial Park (Irish: An Pháirc Cuimhneacháin Stardust), also known as the Stardust Memorial Garden, is a protected memorial park located in Coolock, Dublin built to commemorate the lives of those who died in the Stardust fire in 1981 in Artane, Dublin. The park was officially completed and opened on 18 September 1993, by the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Tomás MacGiolla.^[1] The memorial represents a circular pool with a bronze sculpture of a dancing couple in the middle, and the memorial was designed by the sculptor, Robin Buick.^[2] Water is pumped by 48 jets in the illuminated fountain which surrounds the sculpture.^[3] The fountain is enclosed by 48 fence panels, each panel representing a person lost in the tragedy. In the memorial park, there is a number of facilities open to the public including a newly renovated playground and a garden terrace. The park comprises 22 acres along the Santry River. The land was originally a 12th-century monastic site.^[4]

History, and development[]

The cost of the park was in excess of £500,000 Irish pounds and was partly funded by the Irish government. The design was prepared in 1991, and work on-site commenced in February 1992 with a combination of contract work, direct labour and a community youth training project which was operating through FÁS, the state agency in charge of assisting citizens seeking employment. The major works were carried out by Dublin Corporation's Parks Department with input from various divisions. The park is enclosed with a mild steel railing on a plinth wall, and the entrances are defined by piers of limestone which are of a similar design to that used in the memorial. 8,050 trees were planted, most of which were 11 years old making them as old as the incident in 1981.

Facilities[]

The park has a playground, an all-weather pitch which has been renovated by the Dublin City Council in late 2015, a football pitch and a garden terrace with seating. Various bridges are placed over the Santry River which runs directly through the park into a small lake in the middle where a small island is present which is the home to many birds including swans and ducks. There are various seating areas around the park, primarily facing the park for passers-by who want to feed the birds.

Refurbishment[]

Beginning in early 2020, the park was refurbished ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Stardust nightclub fire by the means of thousands of bulbs being planted throughout the park. As well as this, the other works consisted of some trees being removed, a butterfly bank being added and new paths being created. Noting the park's association with anti-social behaviour, the Dublin City Council highlighted the issue and recognised that their first undertaking was to ensure that the users of the park felt secure. As well as the refurbishments, a dedicated gardener has been assigned to maintain the upkeep of the park. The memorial itself has been cleaned and restored to its former glory and two benches have been added near the memorial itself.^[5][6][7]

References[]