Sir, - On the front of a building in Pearse Street there is a notice (undated) seeking permission to demolish the "fire damaged annexe at rear of Academy Cinema".
Is that building Dublin's Ancient Concert Rooms?
This was the pride of the city when it opened in 1843 - a purpose built concert hall with a Telford organ. The RIAM began its work there. World famous singers and musicians - Jenny Lind and Catherine Hayes, Rubenstein and Joachim among them - performed there.
Esposito's Dublin Orchestral Society gave many concerts there.
Father York delivered his famous "Turn of the Tide" speech to an audience of 1,200 there in September 1899. The first play in Irish ever to be staged in Dublin was presented there by Willie and Frank Fay on August 27th, 1901. James Joyce, John McCormack and J. C. Doyle sang there. Joyce also acted in a play there in January 1901 when he took the role of the villain in Margaret Sheehy's Cupid's confidante. - Yours, etc.,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.