Essential repairs and maintenance work have been carried out on the campanile since June, with prominent scaffolding encircling the structure.
Built between 1852 and 1854 by Charles Lanyon, the campanile is the centrepiece of the main front square, and is one of Dublin’s most recognisable images. The four figures at its base represent science, medicine, divinity and law.
In June, an email was sent out advising students that “essential repair works”, including “masonry repair, repair to ironwork elements, repair to historic entrance door, and minor maintenance alterations” were to be carried out. A spokesperson elaborated that this was for “health and safety reasons” as well as “preservation of historic fabric” due to stone pieces falling from the tower and individual statues on the structure among other essential concerns.
Due to the space required to mount scaffolding, access to the campanile and pathways to the Rubrics will be closed for the next several months. Access to Library Square from Parliament Square will also be closed to tourists. The construction is expected to continue for another three months, until December.
Among other issues, the campanile was found to contain a buildup of salts internally, with trapped moisture and causing damage to the brickwork, as well as the loose stonework.
The ongoing construction is likely to be disappointing to tourists as one of Dublin’s most recognisable landmarks.
