Dáil Chamber silent and empty
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Where: Dublin, Ireland
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When: Unknown
Try to find the date or year when this image was made.
Until the advent of television, sights such as this were relatively rare, the inside of the national parliament was considered almost sacrosanct. Now the activity there is streamed live, relevant clips appear daily on the news channels and people are familiar with the appearance and décor.
As Niall McAuley notes, the main parliament chamber at Leinster House was originally a lecture theatre leased from the Royal Dublin Society. It was bought outright for Dáil use, and redesigned in the mid-1920s (likely putting this image after that date)...
Photographer: Unknown
Collection: Eason Photographic Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1900-1939. Likely after mid-1920s
NLI Ref: EAS_1755
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 21107
As Niall McAuley notes, the main parliament chamber at Leinster House was originally a lecture theatre leased from the Royal Dublin Society. It was bought outright for Dáil use, and redesigned in the mid-1920s (likely putting this image after that date)...
Photographer: Unknown
Collection: Eason Photographic Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1900-1939. Likely after mid-1920s
NLI Ref: EAS_1755
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 21107
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dáiléireann
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Niall McAuley
This space was an RDS lecture theater until 1922, so this must be 1922-39. From wikipedia: it was decided to hire the main RDS Lecture Theatre attached to Leinster House for use in December 1922 as a temporary Dáil chamber. The building was bought outright from the RDS in 1924.
Niall McAuley
The room is octagonal in shape and its original seating capacity was 700. Little alteration was needed to adapt it for parliamentary purposes - the floor was raised and the seating capacity reduced. This photo matches a modern one, so I think it is after the alterations. The DIA says "alts for use as Dail" were from 1925-29, so I think this is earliest 1925.
Niall McAuley
The RTE stills library has some shots from 1969, no help. The flat wall with the pictures hung on it has been painted white by then, dark in this picture.
DannyM8
I wonder what all the controls on that piece of furniture are for?
DannyM8
maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,716267,733681,12,9
Niall McAuley
Tuesday, 12 August 1924 Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 8 No. 22 AN CEANN COMHAIRLE: Before entering upon the business, I would like to say that in order not to interrupt the very necessary alterations being made in our own Chamber, we meet today, by the courtesy of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, whom I consulted in the matter, in the Chamber of the Seanad.
Niall McAuley
The report of the committee which decided to stay at Leinster House in 1924 (rather than move to the Roayl Hospital or Dublin castle).
Niall McAuley
This debate indicates that Leinster House "has been in our possession for six months" in May 1925 - so from November 1924? That would line up with alterations in 1925 in DIA...
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] I'm thinking the electrical panel controls the lights?
guliolopez
The RTE 1960s Stills Library image which [https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] shares no longer shows "cages" in the upper gallery. Seemingly by the 1960s, those seated in the upper gallery were trusted not to throw stuff upon (or fall upon) the deputies.
Niall McAuley
I think the galleries are glassed in these days?
DannyM8
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley Niall to my mind it looks a little too complicated for lighting control?
oaktree_brian_1976
theatre seating? Parliament here is more of a large square room with desks for each MP, flat floor.
Niall McAuley
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] It was in fact a lecture theatre until 1922, and altered very little.
sam2cents
Absolutely fascinating. Almost eerie. Where could they be? It probably indicates the summer recess or something similar.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Thanks all! Description, map and date updated. Below is a roughly equivalent view from 2010. As shared by our next-door neighbours. Still very familiar (though the mystery dials are gone). Have a great weekend! www.flickr.com/photos/oireachtas/4998260693/
O Mac
Perhaps the dials were for controlling the temperature of heated debates?
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] Perhaps.....
Houses of the Oireachtas
It's may before 1931, as the Ceann Comhairle's bell is not on the desk. This bell is a half size reproduction of the ancient bell of Lough Lene Castle, presented to Dáil Éireann in 1931 by the widow of a former member of the House, Major Bryan Cooper. The original bell was found at Castle Island, Lough Lene, Castlepollard, County Westmeath in 1881 and is now in the National Museum. Hope this helps.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
https://www.flickr.com/photos/oireachtas Thanks neighborino! Very interesting to know - and always great to get extra refinement on the date range. Any thoughts though on the "mystery dials"? Perhaps an ejector seat button to use in case of unparliamentary language? :)
Bernard Healy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland If it's not used for controlling the lighting, is it possible that it was part of some kind of stenography or tape-recording arrangement?
Limb Reaper
I pretty sure those "controls" would be for trap doors & ejection seats. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7hgPwyQUTc
Houses of the Oireachtas
Pretty sure they are not ejector seat buttons, what fun, but no. I'm sure its part of the voting/bells system as there seems to be a wire coming from the unit and back then the only electronic system may have been the bells to ring for votes and quorums etc. I will ask around the Houses... Chat soon Neighbrino...
Can Pac Swire
I was there, well, not inside, but I saw Leinster House during my visit in 2014.
Carlos ZGZ
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]] Thanks for having contributed to the group All Free Pictures. You were one of the first contributors to the group pool. A few months later, the group pool has more than 50k pictures, and not a single one has "All rights reserved"! I would like to invite you to participate in our monthly photo challenge. Every month there is a new theme (black & white, portrait, nature...) and the winners are portrayed in a gallery. I wish you an excellent day and I hope to see more of your free pictures in the group sometime soon!