Described by Professor Kevin B Nolan as ‘a radical with a noble heart and a scholar of great merit’, urban activist Deirdre Kelly campaigned tirelessly to keep Dublin as a true living city where people came first, from the 1970s until her death in 2000. The author of ‘Hands Off Dublin’, a critique of Dublin Corporation’s development plan in 1976, Deirdre at once fought for the preservation of Dublin’s architectural heritage and pushed against the depopulation of the inner city, from organising the occupation of Hume Street in 1969 with Duncan Stewart to presenting the Dublin Crisis Conference in 1986 with Dean Victor Griffin and Frank McDonald. Join Susan Roundtree, Nicola Matthews, Duncan Stewart, Emma Gilleece and Grainne Shaffrey for a discussion about Deirdre’s work, impact and legacy, as well as the continued need to shout, ‘Hands off Dublin!’

Susan Roundtree is an architect with particular interest in building conservation and architectural history. She is a published author and produced the local history ‘Ranelagh in Pictures’ in 2009. She has been a resident of Ranelagh for over 30 years.

Nicola Matthews is a senior architect in the Built Heritage, Architectural Policy & Strategic Infrastructure division of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Prior to this she was Architectural Conservation Officer at Dublin City Council.

Duncan Stewart is an award-winning architect and television producer best known for his long-running RTE television programme ‘Eco Eye’. He has been a leading Irish advocate for environmental, health and conservation issues for over 40 years.

Grainne Shaffrey is Principal at Shaffrey Associates Architects, established in 1967 by Patrick and Maura Shaffrey. The practice is one of Ireland’s leaders for the conservation, adaptation and extension of historic buildings and new buildings in existing urban settings.