Chaos at the Crossroads

Got my tickets,

Thanks Valerie

Thanks Paul

K.O. This evening 630

TP- the website says 6pm- has it been put back or was the original a mistake?
Thanks.

An enjoyable and insightful night – the ‘usual crowd’ gathered 🙂
A great pity it didn’t go on for longer – I think most people were surprised at how short the Chaos debate was.

McDonald’s and Nix’s upcoming publication seems to be the tin opener for another can of worms, which hopefully will spark media and wider public interest.
The utter frustration of the two speakers was surprisingly evident at times for experienced-in-their-fields people – McDonald shaking his head in his hands quite a few times at points being made 🙂

Debates like this are crucial in raising planning in the public’s consciousness, which is why it was a pity it was limited in scope and time – the very elements that ought to have set the event apart from television and radio debate.

Excellently produced though in one of the stunningly restored ‘Pink Pair’ on the Green (and what a fantastic opportunity to have a good nose about :D). The crown glass shimmering in the sashes behind the stage was quite a distraction 🙂

What they needed was Seamus Caufield of IRDA and Neil Callanan of the SBP to really stir it up. It sounds like this years must have publication but I couldn’t help feeling they were talking to the converted.

Most definitely – something of a scoffing session 🙂

Which is not really what they wanted both can really justify their arguments; I got the impression that they wanted a good opportunity to have their theories tested.

The one on the Abbey was similar; Dunphy did his best but no-one would disagree with Ulick O’Connor who was a revelation.

I will be one of the first in the line at the signing; this will not be a Construction or a Saving this will be a full blown Destruction me thinks

Indeed – though as rightly pointed out by someone down the back, of greater importance are the solutions offered to the mess we’re in; real, viable alternatives.

Saying that, these ‘alternatives’ have been playing out in other countries for the past 30 years, so it really is the ‘blockage’ as was mentioned so often tonight of so-called PR in this country that is the problem. As it is we’re going to have difficulty resolving the mess already created, whatever about changing the mindset of policy-makers.

Ulick O’Conner is one of the most eloquent speakers on this island, he was fantastic. You could listen to him for hours.

A read of the press release section on http://www.environ.ie in relation to announcements versus delivery really is depressing

Is that the title of the book, chaos at the crossroads, and when is it expected to be released!!?!! any and all info greatly appreciated.

@t.scott wrote:

Is that the title of the book, chaos at the crossroads, and when is it expected to be released!!?!! any and all info greatly appreciated.

The title is indeed Chaos at the Crossroads. Expect it out for Christmas; a little birdy mentioned to me that it is being published by Bandon in Cork, so perhaps a quick call thru may secure you one of the 1st copies – and/ or if youre feeling really cheeky, you might be able to find out from them details as to the launch night :p Hope this is of help –

H

In the course of his remarks Frank said “it will be published next month (October) – I don’t know when next month though”.

Good title huh?

@vinnyfitz wrote:

In the course of his remarks Frank said “it will be published next month (October) – I don’t know when next month though”.

Good title huh?

Well if u concrete all the hillsides, the chaos will be at the crossroads

[align=center:gp9yoql3]CHAOS
AT THE CROSSROADS

Frank McDonald + James Nix

Thursday 24 November 2005, at Civic Offices, Wood Quay, 5.30-8pm

Introductory words by John Fitzgerald, Dublin City Manager

The book will be launched by Kevin Murphy,
former Ombudsman and Information Commissioner[/align:gp9yoql3]

Aaah! I was wondering what happened to this book. I asked recently at Waterstones but they said it had yet to be published. Well for Frank and James getting such a high-profile launch. Fererro Roche anyone?!

“at Civic Offices, Wood Quay”
“Introductory words by …., Dublin City Manager”

Well who would have believed it?

I hear Jackie Healy Rae is invited too!

Ah twas such a shame – no sign of Jackie Healy Rae, though there is a nice pic of him & his offspring in the book… 😀

@ 400 pages long I suspect that Chaos will keep some contributers off the discussion boards here for a little bit… Frank seems to be back on track – the efforts by him & James Nix have produced a publication that would appear on first inspection to rank alonside Destruction of Dublin ( which in my own opinion was far finer than “Construction”) .

A polemic work – well done to Fmc & JN!

Gandon Books.

Hutton, I wouldn’t say myself that Destruction was ‘better’ than Construction, or vice versa – I don’t think there’s any comparison in so far as they were both products of a very different time.

The new book seems to be powerfully conveying the lunacy of the policies the goverment has been following in almost every aspect of planning, development and the environment. It pretty much shows what will happen if there is no change and we keep doing the things we’ve been doing (i.e. there has to be change).

James Nix speaking at the launch, with Frank and the Dublin City Manager (left) in the background:

do they offer an alternative vision IN THE BOOK?

Yes – the improvement of urban areas – the last chapter deals with it.

Frank and James were promoting the book with Pat on the radio this morning – as predictable as clockwork 🙂
19 minutes long, it can be heard here if you scroll to 24.06:

http://www.rte.ie/rams/radio/latest/Tue/rte-todaywithpatkenny.smil
(RealPlayer needed)

Im half way threw this but construction of dublin is more interesting

@missarchi wrote:

Im half way threw this but construction of dublin is more interesting

Although is does demonstrate how little “real” progress had been made in the intervening years….