Citywest : Mansfield’s giant heap of crap

@Graham Hickey wrote:

I am genuinely astounded that so many people thought this had any hint of credibility, don’t know whether to be sick with laughter or be thoroughly depressed (although the former has taken place regardless :D). Never even crossed my mind that it would be taken at face value!

…he says with a quiver in his voice 🙂 – and this from the Master Prankster himself!

I mean really – is this what we have come to expect of developers in this country, have things really sunk so low?
Has people’s estimation of Irish planning hit rock bottom or is it just that of Mansfield?
Admittedly I’d probably have at least fallen for the sports centre anyway – but the palatial conference centre – with a Ming Dynasty roof?!

you see it has all the hallmarks i like to out into a fake news story
– it plays on your worst fears (in this case buildings designed with lego)
– it has some basis in fact
– it is plausible after some recent event (in this case rezoning)

and finally it is Ireland after all – anything can happen – Fr. Ted was a reality tv show

nice one Graham

You really should post a warning before including something as funny as that, I nerly fell off my chair laughing. I’m still getting funny looks as I type this!

Seriously though, a bit of colour, similar to this Lego creation, might brighten things up out in the drap depressing hole that is City west. If it worked we could Legoise Parkwest and Eastpoint too!! 🙂

its ironic post modern laughing….

Sorry Frank, I have no idea, but on the other hand I just saw Graham HIckey’s Lego models. What a work of absolute genius Graham. It is nearly as good, if not better than ‘Ted Goes to Town’ on Fantasyjack’s site. I particularly liked the guys in helmets standing outside the structure with the large roof span. They reminded me of those depictions of people in artists impressions or photomontages.

Frank, it’s in the “national interest” because Ireland is currently losing out on large-scale conferences.
A relative of mine wanted to bring a big science bash to Ireland but couldn’t because there wasn’t a suitably large venue.
In general, it brings in a good type of tourist (not stags and hens) and also organisers tend to target off-peak times so there’ll be sufficient accomodation available and at decent prices. As a result, it brings more balance to the tourism industry.
You also get a lot of follow-up business – the people attending the conference are usually busy and only get a flavour of the city. If they like what they see, they will come back, usually with a family in tow.
That’s why so many countries will subsidise a loss-making conference centre – it’s the type of investment, which may not in itself make money, but will bring dozens of other tangible benefits.

I’ve always believed that the conference centre should be in the middle of the city centre, be it at the Spencer Dock site or something similar.
I think Mansfield’s monstrosity should be razed to the ground. I think foreign visitors coming to Ireland for conferences who end up waiting an hour trying to exit the M50 at the Red Cow Roundabout en route to Citywest will not be return visitors.
I don’t think they will have a favourable recollection of Ireland.
I would not be against an out-of-town solution per se, something along the lines of a conference village. But it would have to be within the bounds of the M50, on a train/LUAS/DART line and should not be more than twenty minutes from the city centre.

That sounds like Spencer Dock, does anyone have a link to any of the other proposals or will it be Spencer Dock or Mansfields giant legoland?

Harry & co at the Point are one of only two objects to the retention and completion of that mass od Sh!te according to SDCC web site which a decision is due today… It will properly take An Borfd Pleanala to refuse the development.