The Irish Times

The noted historian Prof FX Martin, has died at the age of 77. An Augustinian friar and professor of medieval history at University College Dublin, he first came to prominence by leading the campaign against the Wood Quay development by Dublin Corporation which occupation of the site in June 1979. Wood Quay was frequently in the news between 1976 and 1981, as the public became increasingly aware of its enormous archaeological significance in terms of the history of the Viking city. The High Court declared the part of Wood Quay within the old city wall a national monument, but the decision was finally overturned in the Supreme Court which allowed the Corporation to build the offices by Sam Stephenson. Asked what he felt about the new civic offices, he replied: "Every city, including Dublin, should have a permanent monument to ugliness as a grim reminder of what has to be avoided in the future."