Summer in Dublin was an exciting time when I was young, and PALS certainly took me back to those carefree, far-off days. The weather was always good, perfect for playing games and going on adventures – well, they seemed like adventures to me and my friends. Moments that I had forgotten came streaming back to me as I turned the pages of the well-illustrated PALS, and read about ‘discovering’ the old mill that had recently closed, the lake that sparkled in the sunshine for which that they built a raft (it had to be done!) to sail upon, playing cowboys in the long grass and boxing the fox (robbing an orchard) and getting chased by the angry owner. All these episodes, and many others, are beautifully captured, and for a short while after I closed the book I was back there wondering what me and friends were going to do tomorrow!
Of all the many bridges across the Liffey the Millennium Bridge was only the second pedestrian bridge to be erected. A little over a hundred meters to the east is the Ha’penny Bridge, the original of the species, which dates to 1816 and has become synonymous with the city.
A new bridge connecting Eustace Street with the Ormond Quay had been mooted since the 1980s, but it was not until the following decade with the regeneration of Temple Bar that action was taken. Originally a plan for the Wibbly Wobbly Bridge was suggested but this was rejected in 1994. Later, Dublin Corporation announced a competition for the design of a bridge and 153 entries were received from both Irish and international entrants. It was won by the Sandycove-based firm of Howley Harrington Architects, in collaboration with Price and Myers, a London firm of structural engineers. The win was announced on 8th June 1998, leaving only eighteen months for the bridge to be in place.
Millennium Bridge
Because of the busy location the bridge was fabricated in Carlow while engineers used a pontoon in the river, taking heed of the tides, to prepare the new abutments. The single span, 41 metres in length, with balustrades and integrated in place, was brought to the river on 7th November 1999 and swung into place in only half-an-hour!
The bridge offers new views of both quays and sits easily with its older neighbour to the east. It also helps it in reducing its traffic – 2,000 pedestrians per hour at peak time – which could be challenging especially because of the steps. The Millennium Bridge has no steps and its gradient of 1 in 20 allows easy access for wheelchair users. The design was highly regarded and received awards from, among others, the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK), RIAI, RIBA, and the Construction Industry Federation (IRL). It was officially opened on 20th December 1999 – just in time for the New Millennium!
Michael Kelly was born in 13 Mary Street, Dublin on Christmas Day 1762. A musical prodigy, he was trained by various local teachers before Venanzio Rauzzini, a well-known singer who was performing in Dublin, recommended that he should go to Italy for advanced training.
Michael Kelly by Adele Romany
On May 1st, 1779, the teenager set sail for Naples. On arrival there he presented himself, with letters of introduction, to the British Ambassador, Sir William Hamilton. Hamilton was a famous archaeologist whose interest in Mount Vesuvius earned him the nickname ‘the Volcano Lover’. He married Emma Lyon who, later, as Lady Hamilton, became Lord Horatio Nelson’s mistress.
Kelly studied at the Conservatoire and was soon singing at the homes of the Neapolitan nobility, the King and Queen of Naples before making his stage debut in Palermo on July 12th, 1780. He met Anna (Nancy) Storace, a soprano and her brother, Stephen, the composer, and they became friends and worked together for many years.
In Vienna, where he was introduced to composers, Mozart, Gluck and Haydn, he was offered a contract to sing in the Emperor’s new opera company. He accepted, particularly as Nancy Storace was also to be employed. In early 1786 he was hired by Mozart to sing in the roles of Don Curzio and Basilio in his opera The Marriage of Figaro. He and Mozart often sang parts of the opera at the composer’s house, and followed their work with a few games of billiards!
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The opera premiered on 1st May 1786 in the Burgtheater with the Emperor, Joseph II, in attendance. It was a huge success, and Nancy Storace played the part of Susanna. Kelly appreciated having been part of what many consider the greatest opera ever written, and he went on to sing in many more, including some written by Stephen Storace.
His last sang in Dublin in 1811, and died at Margate, Kent on October 9th, 1826. He is buried at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, London – the actors’ church.
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