How a plan to donate €1m Harry Clarke windows led Bewley’s and Johnny Ronan’s firm into legal showdown
Supreme Court rules that all six stained-glass windows belong to the building's owners, RGRE Grafton Limited
Bewley's managing director Cól Campbell in front of a Harry Clarke stained-glass window in the Grafton Street cafe. Photo: PhotocallIt all started with a seemingly innocuous announcement by Bewley’s owner Paddy Campbell as he headed into retirement. The cafe on Dublin’s Grafton Street “belongs to the people of Ireland”, he told the Irish Independent in December, 2020.As a parting gift, he declared his wishes for six Harry Clarke stained-glass panels on the premises to be donated to the public. Bewley’s Cafe agreed to transfer ownership of the windows, among other assets, to its parent company, Bewley’s Limited.
