Looks a bit different now?

i dont think so, i think the way it has been done now really opens the street up. in your picture, the street looks relatively small. so yes its a change for the better.

Flattering sun aside, that elegance has not been recaptured.

I stood in O’Connell street last week and could not get over the vast width of the street which is now much more pronounced since the trees were removed.

It really is taking on a new lease of life and all for the better. It is going to work wonders for the street in general.

But compare it to the nations 2nd city, Cork.. a recent major reworking of the paving around Patricks Street is following a similar approach to making it more open and has made some improvements.. so far so good.

Cork has a lot more of its original shop facades preserved.. thats a hugh advantage over O’Connell Street.. but rather than give an unobstructed vew of these.. some gobshite had to spoil it all.. they put up those stupid street lights that look like props from Close Encounters…I’m surprised they didn’t set them in milk crates or put them on wheels.

So be damn glad, O’Connell St. is looking the way it is.. because it shows one thing.. someone in city hall has their head screwed on.

Originally posted by wexfordplanner
Just a pic of O’Connell Street as it was in 1999.

Is the change for the better? Personally I think it looks far nicer in the picture attached????

I think you are being sentimental and nostalgic. O’Connell Street is far better now with the new paving, tree planting etc….When the newer trees mature a bit, the same effect will be achieved, but with a coherent and much better urban design. if ye look at that photo, those leafless gnarwled trees are haphazardly planted.

Never let nostalgia get in the way folks, else we’ll have nelson back on the pillar.

One thing that should be noted – O Connell Street is now a centre for entertainment. I stood watching the James Joyce celebrations outside Beshoffs and thought to myself that at last Dublin felt like Europe. Some compromises have to be made for diversity. It was sad to see the trees go – but bring on the changes.

Here’s a direct comparison pic – whereas wexfordplanner’s one benefits from flattering sunlight, the ‘today’ pic benefits much more from striking symmetry while not taking into account the impact of tree planting on the rest of the street. There is no question about the beautiful paving though:

Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be

Of course the street looks better now

The only difference I see from the photo above is new paving & new trees, so the street looks a bit cleaner. Also it is taken at a time when the street is less busy and there are less cars so of course it looks better.

Judging by the images I would prefer the old one. But I think as a scheme, O’Connell St. looks allot better now, nice and open and it works better as a main thoroughfare. All we need now is to remove the 5 million fast food outlets, the tacky cheapo shops and the gaudy ‘Schuh’ signage.

Bluefoam,
A major factor in the redevelopment of the street was the removal of cars and the return of the street to the public. It’s not just about aesthetics, A lot of time was put into rerouting cars around O’Connell St, thereby liberating the space to pedestrians again, more crossings, etc

If you want to get hung up on aesthetics, it looks cleaner because the dull grey is gone, replaced by a classier pavement. Other European Cities use such schemes because they encourage growth in the retail sector as well as bringing people back on to the street, to stroll around and enjoy the atmosphere. The old trees, with their gargantuan roots just obstructed that.