'Times' to leave D'Olier Street after 110 years

The Irish Times is to move from its current offices in the centre of Dublin after almost 110 years. The new head office is planned for nearby Tara Street.

The proposed relocation to Liffey House, a newly-completed eight storey building at the junction of Tara Street and Townsend Street, follows an agreement with its owner, Dublin City Council. The agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the members of Dublin City Council, gives The Irish Times a long-term lease of the 3,898 sq m (41,958 sq ft) building with an option to buy at a date in the future.

The newspaper has been located in the Westmoreland Street/Fleet Street and D'Olier Street triangle since 1895. Previously it operated from Lower Abbey Street, near Wynns Hotel, since its foundation in 1859. The present location was marked by the famous Irish Times clock which first stood over the public office in Westmoreland Street until the 1970s when it was transferred to D'Olier Street.

The main reason for the move to Tara Street is to provide modern office accommodation following the building of a new €70 million printing facility in Citywest.

The managing director, Ms Maeve Donovan, said the company was delighted to have identified a building that meets the needs of a modern publisher with an expanding media business. It was also good to be able to remain in a part of the city centre where The Irish Times had a long-standing and historic presence.

The Irish Times is open to consider a range of options for its current offices, including a direct sale or a joint venture redevelopment.

Liffey House was built by the city council on the site of a speculatively developed block which was occupied for many years by the corporation's by-law and fire departments.

The new building was designed by architects Donnelly Turpin and is distinguished by a bow-fronted facade and a particularly fine entrance foyer.

There will be little need to make changes to the high-quality building - except that the famous clock will once more get a new home.