These were the sad scenes that woke Dublin residents as the demolishing of an iconic building which had been given the green light to be torn down by An Bord Pleanala started this morning
The home of 1916 Easter Rising leader Michael Joseph O’Rahilly, simply known as The O'Rahilly, at Herbert Park in Ballsbridge was torn down in the early hours of this morning as it makes way for a hotel and set of apartments.
The house, which was situated at 40 Herbert Park, was an Edwardian villa that stood alongside two others next door, which were also levelled recently.
Now, the historic grounds will make way for a possible 12-storey apartment and apart-hotel complex.
It is understood that work started on the building just after 6am this morning with diggers currently removing the last sad remains of the The O'Rahilly.
Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Bay South, Chris Andrews was one of the first people at the grounds this morning and expressed his upset at the loss of the legendary premises.
He said: "It is a big blow to our history and heritage and sends out the signal that all our historical sites are being opened to destruction.
"The house could have been re-purposed as a museum or a visitor centre."
He added: "But one thing is for sure, we don't need more offices and aparthotels."
The O'Rahilly was the most prominent Irish rebel to lose his life amidst the fighting of the 1916 Rising, after succumbing to gunshot wounds while leading a group of men away from the burning GPO down Moore Street.
He clung onto life after he was wounded diagonally from shoulder to hip by sustained fire from a British machine gun, eventually passing away from his injuries on Saturday, 29 April 1916 - the day of the Irish surrender.
