Join us for Main Street Matters, a panel conversation exploring the value and impact of Dublin’s main streets as places of connection, identity, and everyday life. The discussion brings together Andrée Dargan (Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Architect), Andrew Devonport (Dublin City Architect), Cian Harte (South Dublin County Architect) and Fionnuala May (Fingal County Architect) with chair Mary McCarthy, Director of the Crawford Art Gallery. Together, they will reflect on how our main streets shape the character and heritage of the city and its communities, and what their future might hold.

Panel

Mary McCarthy is the Director of Crawford Art Gallery one of Ireland’s National Cultural Institutions. Mary served as  Director of the National Sculpture Factory , Director of Programmes for Cork’s European Capital of Culture, the first Arts and Culture Manager at Dublin Docklands Development Authority as Chair of Culture Ireland, Ireland’s State agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide. Mary is currently spearheading the ambitious redevelopment of Crawford Art Gallery .

Andrew Devonport, new City Architect, started with Dublin City Council on 18th August. Previously a Senior Architect in the Office of Public Works. After graduating from the Mackintosh school of Architecture, Andrew has worked as an Architect for 25 years in both private and public office. He has worked on circa 34 projects with a capital value in excess of €800 million and has a strong record in delivery. His portfolio includes significant infrastructure projects, major civic building restoration, public realm, low energy, low carbon sustainable projects and a wide range of mixed typology high density residential projects with many of these projects being recognised by the awards process.

Cian Harte was appointed County Architect at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in 2023 after previously holding senior positions in SDCC, Dublin City Council and Ballymun Regeneration Limited. He holds qualifications in Architectural Technology and Architecture from the Dublin Institute of Technology (now TUD) and is a member of the RIAI. Key areas of recent project delivery in SDCC include a wide range of social and affordable housing schemes, as well as community facilities, enterprise, tourism and public realm projects.

Fionnuala May trained as an architect in the Dublin Institute of Technology and graduated in
1988. She worked in private practice on mainstream and conservation projects before undertaking the Master of Urban and Building Conservation degree in University College Dublin in 1993. She was awarded the MUBC in 1994. She joined the public service as an Architect for Fingal County Council in 1994 and served as a Housing Architect 1994-2000, Conservation Officer from 2000-2006 and Public Buildings Architect 2006- 2011. Since then she has held the post of County Architect. She is a registered Architect and is a grade 1 accredited Conservation Architect. The Architects Department in Fingal are practitioners across housing, public buildings, corporate offices, public realm and heritage buildings.

Pre-book only. Tickets are limited so please book early.

Main Street Matters will take place at IAF House, Charlemont Square, Dublin 2. This is a temporary use space and does not have direct access to toilet and washroom facilities inside the space. Participants and visitors have full use of toilets, including an accessible toilet, located in a separate adjoining building approximately 100 metres away in distance. The space and doorways open wide and the venue does not have any steps or stairs.

Please contact us at bookings@architecturefoundation.ie if you have any access requirements.