Its history will be commemorated in the new hostel, perhaps by a display in the cafe. “This is like selling the family jewels — like giving them away, really,” said John McCourt, the president of the International James Joyce Foundation, who led the campaign to preserve the house. The national planning appeals board would not comment beyond drawing attention to the detailed decision on its website. An agent for the two developers, Fergus McCabe and Brian Stynes, said they had no comment beyond what was stated in their planning application. For many Dubliners, the decision to redevelop the literary landmark is symptomatic of a wider erasure of the city’s street life and townscape by commercial development.

Source: New York Times May 11, 2021 15:45 UTC