New Developments in Galway City

[Sulmac]

Found a pic of where the proposed fountain would be placed:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/1144-plans-1-000ft-fountain


And also, a €450m development given the go-ahead by planners:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/1143-january-start-450m-development

And this is the development's website: http://www.harrmack.ie/page.asp?menu=113&page=324

[THE_Chris]

I really hope they get planning for the fountain. Thats the kind of unique and original thinking we need in Ireland at the moment.

[Jammyd]

anyone know when the knocknacarra town centre is opening looks nearly finished??

[PTB]

That fountains mad. Would be nice to see it built, but it seems a tad unlikely that it will happen. I reckon that the running costs of a fountain pumping water 1000 feet into the sky would be fairly high.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Fahd%27s_Fountain

This requires ten full time staff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_d%27Eau

This runs on 2400 volt electrictiy so I imagine the Galway fountain would consume huge amounts of electricity

Is that Dubai-like island part of the plan? That causway could cause problems with sea currents and build some kind of bull Island type buildup

[Seanselon]

It's a totally daft idea. How ostentatious and inapproriate a plan. I doubt (hope) it will never happen. Shame we don't see very much quality architecture in modern Galway (either realised or proposed). The city is built at one of the country's most beautiful senic locations yet has very little decent architecture to match.

The problem is, I think, a lack of joined-up thinking amongst the various bodies who hold power. The lack of a council appointed city architect is also, of no help.

[Sulmac]

anyone know when the knocknacarra town centre is opening looks nearly finished??

If Dunnes are part of it (which I *think* they are), it looks set to be open on/by 25 September (next Tuesday).

Two links here:

http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0918/dunnes.html?rss

http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/?jp=MHCWIDMHKFID&rss=rss2

[cubix]

fountain is seriously class but this is way to exciting for ireland-hasnt got a hope in hell...

[Sulmac]

Noticed this today:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/1382-3bn-development-under-threat

Who's genius idea was it to put oil tanks in the middle of a city anyway...?

[galwayrush]

Noticed this today:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/1382-3bn-development-under-threat

Who's genius idea was it to put oil tanks in the middle of a city anyway...?

Probably the left wing politicians who are opposed to anything exciting proposed for Galway.

[paul moore]

The proposal for a fountain in Galway.
Not being an architect i read with great interest the variety of comments on the proposal for the fountain and thought i might add a few comments to clarify the proposal i put forward for the fountain.
1 the causeway into galway bay already exsists - mutton island could be used as a pre-existing causeway.
2 no survey has been carried out to confirm that this would be the best place for the the fountain to be sited
3 the fountain project is merely a proposal - no costing has been done- the idea is simply that - a concept put forward as an artist statement -
5 how much would it cost - well how high do you want it
4 the mechanics and design of the fountain have yet to be determined.

we envisgaed this concept are merely researched had it been done before - yes it has and it has been successfully ran for 20 years in jeddah

how much power would it consume - ( see 5 ) - it owuld also be possible to limit the power consumption by limiting the total time that the fountain was "turned on" - possibly using a half hour cycle - on and off for a limited duration each day say 10.00 till dusk - with occassional night time use with illumination only for special occassions.

We envisaged using computer controls linked to wind speed and direction to limit the mist factor so not to jeopardise pedestrians or local traffic - also siting the fountain far enough into the bay would control this factor .

the balance of capital and running costs of such a project would be balanced against the income it would generate to the buisnesses of the city - inevitably there would be benefit to exsisting local buisnesses - tourism - and generation of new buisnesses directly to the tourist facility
we also envisaged the possiblity of a Gaway bay ? fountain visitor facility -- this could possibly be along the liknes of the Cliffs of Moher concept? and linked to a tourist site seeing boatrip around the fountain and the bay -
no such trips currently exist.

Running costs - this could be assessed in greater depth comparing the upkeep and maintenance to that of the Jeddah project.-

Certainly as an art project it would provide a focus to the Bay- an entrance to the proposed harbour and a symbol for Galway and the west of Ireland . - apart from the power required the main resource ( water ) is already there and i presume the environmental impact would be related to the power consumption only.

in summary - im a dentist not an architect - but if there is enough weight of opinion that this is a good idea and is realisable - we will be able to approach the funding agencies with greater effect.

so thank you for your comments so far and if anyone has any further thoughts it would be much appreciated -
my diect email is drpmoore@eircom.net

[kefu]

Wouldn't be against the idea per se though I do think it's slightly gimmicky.
You could also make a strong argument that it's already been done in both Geneva and Saudi Arabia. It's a bit like the Eiffel Tower replicas that dot the globe, in Prague etc - everything always plays second fiddle to the original.

[FIN]

i don't think we should knock it. gimmicky it may be but a work of art nonetheless. if you get funding for it Paul then go for it. Arts council might be interested. oh! and i would probably site it closer to the docks rather than mutton island... it just means that when your on the spanish arch on a lovely summer day you will be abler to get a good view. i think mutton island would be too far away.

on other matters.. then big develpment on the tuam road built by Glenman... i was excited when it first started to go up but the finished ( or close to finised_ saw it about a month ago ) article is really disappointing.
the dunnes in ballybrit looks (ahem) interesting. i reserve judgement on it until it's finished.

[Jammyd]

Hi, was just wondering since Dunnes opened last month in Briarhill, what was peoples verdict on the new centre, Parking, Queues etc, also does anyone know if anything decent is planning on opening there, eg restaurants, sports/fashion stores, Music shops etc????? at the moment its as poorly served as the terryland centre.. lucky us

[BTH]

I don't know about the practicalities of the place but in my opinion it has to qualify as possibly the ugliest, most unwelcoming developments of it's type that I've ever seen. A collection of bog standard silver boxes would be more visually pleasing than what we've ended up with. And the worst thing is that it's obvious a huge amount of design, fine detailing and expense has been gone to to make it. I really think the black stained timber was a huge mistake and the signage is perhaps the tackiest i've ever seen - the huge yellow BRIARHILL is truly vile - even the typeface is awful.
Anyway rant over - I do appreciate that a lot of architectural thought and effort has gone into the building but the end result to my eyes is a bit of a disaster...

[Jammyd]

hope this works, heres a pic of the new briarhill centre

[Sulmac]

Seems the Docklands plan is starting to get moving now:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/2092-first-glimpse-dockland-project

Also, some idea to move the city airport:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/2088-moving-city-airport-be-examined

[THE_Chris]

biggest ever regeneration plan in the West of Ireland, which will also be the biggest every tourism project in the country.

Who proofread that??


Moving the airport is a ridiculous idea. Its in a good location, it just has rubbish transport links. A reasonably regular bus service there would be fine, or integrate it with any future Luas style plan. Its getting a junction nearby on the new N6, what the hell is the point of moving it??

[galwayrush]

Who proofread that??


Moving the airport is a ridiculous idea. Its in a good location, it just has rubbish transport links. A reasonably regular bus service there would be fine, or integrate it with any future Luas style plan. Its getting a junction nearby on the new N6, what the hell is the point of moving it??

Agree, there is a small road at the end of the existing runway, sort that problem out, and then it can be extended.plenty of land available.

[galwayrush]

Seems the Docklands plan is starting to get moving now:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/2092-first-glimpse-dockland-project

[/url]

Conference centre, some quite tall buildings, massive docklands, looks amazing, can't wait to see the plans of the final draft.I think the completion date of 2010 is ambitious, considering the usual \ regular objectors are already lining up.

[Sulmac]

Conference centre, some quite tall buildings, massive docklands, looks amazing, can't wait to see the plans of the final draft.I think the completion date of 2010 is ambitious, considering the usual \ regular objectors are already lining up.

Hopefully they'll integrate it with the Ceannt Station development, creating a huge new city quarter.

Also, noticed this as well:

http://www.galwayindependent.com/local-news/local-news/galway-%27luas%27-gets-green-light-from-transport-minister-/

Wonder if Dempsey's being serious or just saying whatever it takes to make the Wesht happy?

[THE_Chris]

The Green Party councillor said he was hopeful that the project would go ahead and said that if all went to plan, the new Luas could be up and running by 2012.

Some hope.

Would be nice to see in 5 years time, but in the short term a couple of million (short change almost) thrown into the bus services in Galway (and Cork) would be nice.

[galwayrush]

Hopefully they'll integrate it with the Ceannt Station development, creating a huge new city quarter.

Also, noticed this as well:

http://www.galwayindependent.com/local-news/local-news/galway-%27luas%27-gets-green-light-from-transport-minister-/

Wonder if Dempsey's being serious or just saying whatever it takes to make the Wesht happy?

Yes, the entire plan for the area includes the Ceannt Station area along with more land at the Docks, totalling 114 acres, it's proposed to build a new modern city centre " towards the sea"

[THE_Chris]

Its a good idea, but surprisingly little of the current CIE area will be used for Public Transport, which is stupid.

[galwayrush]

Its a good idea, but surprisingly little of the current CIE area will be used for Public Transport, which is stupid.

There are 3 Train Platforms in the plan, more than enough for Galway, as any Trains that may go north or south to Limerick and Cork will all change at Athenry. Even if a Light Rail was built, 3 Platforms are easily enough for at least 12 destinations.

[Sulmac]

Front page of Galway First today is about a few planned developments in Galway City and County:

http://editions.pagesuite.co.uk//PageSuite3.aspx?page=1&scale=100&height=700&width=1000&editionid=43531&filekey=&path=_PSEDitions/Galway%20Advertiser/Galway%20First/2007-12-17/

- Riverside concert hall / conference centre, capacity 2,500.
- 4000sqm "urban centre" in Ardaun, with 1.85km bus/bike corridor.
- 21km upgrade of the Galway/Athenry rail line.

Same story also found here: http://www.galwaynews.ie/2247-270-million-sought-fund-ambitious-gateway-projects

And also, the N17 [or M17] Galway-Tuam upgrade:

http://www.galway.ie/en/Services/RoadsTransportation/RoadProjects/m17/

"I wish I was on that M17...."