A decade of redevelopment has seen the neglected former industrial area transformed into a mixed use district
02.09.25
The transformation of Newmarket over the past decade from a largely-overlooked car park surrounded by decaying industrial spaces and warehouses into a district with residents, businesses, city visitors and people just enjoying the sunshine and space has been quite remarkable, despite the disruption of recent years and perhaps the disappointment of some things being lost or not achieved.
On a sunny summer’s day, the square finally feels like it’s developed into a space for people to live in and enjoy.
The square now has improved pedestrian space and new connections to the wider area, and the regeneration of previously empty streets like Mill Street. New parks have been developed closeby, including Weaver Park.
The past decade has seen the restoration of the area’s heritage features, such as the former St Luke’s Church (now an office complex) or No. 10 Mill Street, and the repurposing of spaces such as the former Mission Hall, the Dublin Liberties Distillery and the Brewers’ House at Ardee Street (in progress at time of writing).
New businesses have established and the area hosts one of the city’s most successful visitor attractions, the Teeling Distillery, itself marking a decade in operation and 1m visits in 2025.
There are ample places to stay and socialise, with prestige hotels, quality cafes and great restaurant options in the vicinity. New businesses have been drawn to the area, including architecture firms and design stores.
And most significantly, the square and its immediate environs are now home to 1500+ new residents, bringing new purpose and vitality to the area. Accommodation ranges from private apartments at Newmarket Yard, Sweeney’s Terrace and the soon to be completed 18 Newmarket Square, to new social housing schemes at Chamber Street and Cork Street. High quality student accommodation has developed at Mill Street and Ardee Street.
Previous posts on this site in 2017 and 2021 have showcased the progressive development of the area and the multi-million euro investment that has transformed the skyline and streetscapes of Newmarket.
There’s plenty more to do. The failure to deliver the City Council’s ambitious public realm scheme (envisaged in 2017) in tandem with wider development is a real shame and leaves the area with patchy quality of footpaths and green infrastructure. However, the recent changes to the layout of Newmarket create much-needed pedestrian prioritisation and mark a more incremental approach towards a revitalisation of the public realm.
Life and activity has returned to Newmarket, including some recent outings of a new flea market and there are opportunities now for more events and activities on the historic market space in coming years.
