Students Against the Destruction of Dublin

Students Against the Destruction of Dublin was a student campaigning group active in Dublin, Ireland between 1987 and 1991.

It lobbied for the sensitive restoration of old buildings instead of their demolition. It also proposed a modern tram system in Dublin instead of destructive road proposals. It was known for using large campaigning banners draped on historic structures. The first meetings of the group were held in the School of Architecture in the Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin 1. The group was initially set up by four students of architecture: Orla Kelly, Eunan McLaughlin, Roísín Murphy,and Brian O'Brien. They were soon joined by other students from the Dublin Institute of Technology, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and the National College of Art and Design.

In June 1987 it campaigned to protect buildings on Clare Street in Dublin 2 that were threatened with demolition by the National Gallery Of Ireland. In November 1987 it organised a symposium on Dublin's future in the Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street. In December 1987 it helped organised a large protest march to Dublin's City Hall on Cork Hill to campaign against the City Council's proposals for an 'Inner tangent' road proposed to run through Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8.

In January 1988 it continued to campaign against road proposals. It was successful in seeking changes that reduced the eventual width of the redesigned street. In the same month it also campaigned unsuccessfully to save an historic Quaker meeting House in Gray Square in Dublin's Liberties from demolition. The following month members of the group addressed a meeting of the City Council and urged it to abandon its controversial road plans. In February 1988 members of the group occupied buildings on Eccles Street that were in the course of being demolished by the Mater Hospital and halted their demolition. In March 1988 it held an exhibition in the Atrium in Trinity College Dublin entitled 'Tempest, a storm in the mildness of the Millenium Year'. The group made submissions to Dublin City's draft City Development Plan in June 1988. In August the organisation spoke at a Bord Pleanála hearing and argued for the retention of buildings on Dublin's Harcourt Terrace. Later that year it campaigned against the comprehensive redevelopment of Dublin's Bachelor's Walk and produced a postcard entitled 'Don't destroy the central river bank of ireland' featuring a facsimile of a ten-pound note.

In January 1989 members of the group occupied buildings on Dublin's Arran Quay to try and halt their demolition.

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