On this day in 1990: Sneak peek of The Square during construction
By Mary Dennehy
On this day in 1990, more than 500 representatives from the Tallaght community got a sneak peek of the area’s new shopping centre, The Square.
This 28-year-old RTE news footage brings us on a tour of the iconic shopping centre just under five months before it was officially opened on the 23rd of October 1990 by Taoiseach Charlie Haughey.
The excitement in Tallaght at this time 28 years ago was unreal, as the community counted down the days to the opening of their new shopping centre – which was to deliver not only much needed services but local jobs.
According to RTE reporter Una O’ Hagan, Tallaght at this time had a population of around 80,000 – with 90,000 people living within a five-minute drive of the centre and 500,000 within 20 minutes.
The centre also boasted 700,000 square feet of retail space, 2,000 car parking spaces and a 12-screen cinema, making it the largest shopping centre in the country.
The Square being a catalyst for development in the area is definitely evident in this footage, with the shopping centre surrounded by fields on June 7th 1990 – land which filled up quickly once The Square opened for business.
The Lord Mayor of Tallaght Kay Brady is interviewed in the footage for RTE and welcomes the new centre.
“To me and I’m sure to a lot of people in Tallaght it’ll make all the difference in the world”, Ms Brady said.
“It’s just going to be about everything here, I’m particularly happy with the cinema situation.”
Watch the RTE Archives video here:HERE
