Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans was the outcome of Mandy O’Neill’s PhD research project, which utilised photography-based methods to encourage discussion about the possible impacts of planning and housing-led development, through a case study of Cabra, Dublin 7. 

The modern town planning movement emerged at the turn of the 20th century, in parallel with the ‘garden city’ idea. Ideas for suburban housing were presented as part of the 1914 Town Planning competition, with speculative plans for Cabra included. A seed was planted that would eventually lead to the construction of the Dublin Corporation housing schemes in Cabra, between 1929 and 1948. 

In this talk by Mandy O’Neill will expand on her research into Cabra housing and the artistic outcomes of her PhD. An accompanying selection of her photo-sculptural work will be exhibited in the library on Thursday 2nd October from 11am to 8pm. 

Mandy O’Neill is a Dublin based visual artist with an interdisciplinary practice, encompassing photography, installation, sound, text works and public dialogue. The built environment is currently of particular interest with its material nature finding expression in the materiality of her photo-sculptural practice.