Reply To: The Greens and O Connell Street
Well whilst the south end does seem to be treeless in the 1940’s, this photo shoes that the north side from the pillar does have some pretty old trees on it.
The last photo show public toilets which are also of historical importance. They have railings which might be ideally suited for chains.
Still though, if I were them I’d be more concerned with the street being a shithole in general. I rang them and they’re emailing me their press release. Here it is (I’m not fixing the bad word wrapping):
GREEN TDs CHAIN THEMSELVES TO O’CONNELL STREET TREES
In Protest At Destruction
Green Party TDs chained themselves to trees in O’Connell Street, Dublin
this
afternoon in a last ditch attempt to save the remaining trees along the
capitol’s thoroughfare. The trees are due to be cut down to clear access
for
the construction of the new city centre Spike monument.
Green Party Environment spokesperson, Councillor Ciaran Cuffe T.D., said
that
the Green Party felt that they had no alternative but to hold this protest
to
highlight “this criminal destruction of Dublin’s heritage”. “We believe
that
the cutting down of the O’Connell Street trees is an absolute scandal. We
have
been inundated with calls from the public to see what we can do.”
“The Green Party believe that it is possible to achieve the aims of the
O’Connell Street plan and still retain the best of the remaining trees.”
Deputy Cuffe said that the Green Party had raised the issue in the Dáil
earlier
today calling on the Minister for the Environment to intervene immediately
and
call a halt to this wanton destruction.
Mr. Cuffe said that the Greens were also appealing to the public to make
their
voice hear and help save the trees. “We are calling on members of the public
to
write to the Dublin City Manager John Fitzgerald at the Civic Offices, Wood
Quay
and urge him to save the remaining mature trees which are due to be cut down
to
make way for construction work.”
Last April the following Motion in the name of Councillor Ciarán Cuffe was
moved
for report by Dublin City Council:
“That the City Manager ensure that the venerable one hundred year old Plane
Trees on Upper O’Connell Street that witnessed the Easter Rising in 1916 be
retained as part of any plan to rejuvenate the area.”
Ciarán Cuffe T.D. 087 265 2075
Stephen Rawson, Press Officer 618 4088 / 087 235 7551
