O’ Connell Street, Dublin
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Well lets hope that they put a bit more effort in decorating these trees than the usual ‘Lets drape the lights diagonally, and let them all gather at the bottom on the tree’….
😀
That drives me nuts! Though London also seems to have the same regimentalising problem in fairness – apparently only the Americans can light their trees properly!
An elegant tree has been sourced for this year for O’Connell Street anyway – nicer than last year and surely the tallest we’ve ever had, if not quite the largest. It shall be interesting to see what barriers are put in place to prevent these silver stars from being nicked and sold for €20 a pop round the corner on Henry Street.
Great idea to attach decorations to the lampposts the whole way down the thoroughfare. Just a pity something a bit more distinguished than blown up tacky Henry St versions weren’t selected for the city’s main street.
The plaza trees are being fitted with lights today. And they look to have been more thoughtfully added.
Just to let you know, I have now removed the “prototype” pedestal from north of the Spire and replaced it with a newer type. I think SDCC are going to let me place two or three of these on the pavement between the colums directly outside the GPO on the footpath!
I am replacing the pedestals in Grafton Street and Henry Street with the same product but I still think that all companies should have a uniform design. Smart Telecom Payphone division is up for sale so maybe some of you should buy it.
Tom
@Fennetec wrote:
Just to let you know, I have now removed the “prototype” pedestal from north of the Spire and replaced it with a newer type. I think SDCC are going to let me place two or three of these on the pavement between the colums directly outside the GPO on the footpath!
I’m sorry but over my dead body should phone kiosks be placed between the columns on the GPO….
@Fennetec wrote:
I think SDCC are going to let me place two or three of these on the pavement between the colums directly outside the GPO on the footpath!
@Paul Clerkin wrote:
I’m sorry but over my dead body should phone kiosks be placed between the columns on the GPO….
I assumed that was meant to be a joke of some form… Just an attempt to wind us up. However, it is a worrying reflection on this city that part of me takes it seriously.
I think SDCC are going to let me
Most definitely although I doubt South Dub would have any objection to an issue of this scale notwithstanding the ludicrous nature of the idea outside their patch. 😮
Going home last night and the Xmas lights on O’Connell street did’nt seem to be lighting. I thought the Minister for ‘An Gaelige agus An Daingean aka Dingle’ Eamonn O’ Cuiv switched them on earlier this week.
maybe Greg, but the official turning on is this sunday afaik …
looks like the Royal Dublin may be history soon…
O’Reilly’s experience in leading the Castlethorn team that developed the successful Dundrum Town Centre has come in handy at the Ilac Centre where a redeveloped frontage on to Mary Street has the high profile fashion retailer H & M as one of the new anchor tenants.
Only last week O’Reilly acquired the Royal Hotel on O’Connell Street to open the way for a larger development on the Carlton site. Dublin City Council has strongly supported the plan to link up O’Connell Street with Moore Street and the Ilac Centre.
The scheme is expected to greatly enhance the top end of O’Connell Street which has been in decline for a long number of years. The council has indicated that O’Reilly is the preferred developer for the Carlton site if its efforts to compulsorily acquire the property from its owners are successful. The purchase is being contested through the courts.
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/commercialproperty/2006/1213/1165221949851.html
Few will mourn its passing I’m sure
The two obstacles to completion of the Street are the Fingal Office block the ownership of which I am not sure and the early Georgian town house which cannot be lost given its quality and importance given that it is the last house of a logical high quality terrace that was once one of the City’s finest terraces.
My fear on this scheme is that with such a large frontage to O’Connell Street and the problems created by Dick Roche on Moore Street that two seperate and not properly linked schemes may emerge; thus reinforcing the poor permeability between Upper O’Connell Street and the Ilac Centre / Moore Street.
16 Moore Street must be revisited
@PVC King wrote:
The two obstacles to completion of the Street are the Fingal Office block
It’s owned by Joe O’Reilly and has been boarded up. I expect the Royal Dublin will also be boarded up leading to a scene of dereliction along O’Connell Street.
We have heard that the Courts have never operated more efficiently; this will be the test of that claim.
I hope that this case is settled and does not leave the main thoroughfare in the City a throw back to the Destruction of Dublin days.
Even as things stand The Royal Dublin’s closed Aer Lingus premises, shuttered Carlton cinema, dead frontage of derelict site, and the substantial boarded up Fingal offices present a bleak vista on the upper street, and that’s not even counting the derelict Findlater House across the road (though work here is hopefully to start shortly).
Half of Upper west has essentially become a well-paved wasteland of bus stops and yet more bus stops with their enormous crowds of patrons standing aminlessly about at peak times filling the entire pavement from front to back.Nobody’s fault in particular just at the mnute, but swift movement must be made to resolve these properties’ issues.
The new Chrismas lights erected on every lamppost on the street are pictured here – they alternate from white to blue frames between the posts, the blue ones featuring the odd flashing light.
A clever concept, if the units hardly elegant. More classical, vertical strips in line with the architecture of the posts would surely have been more appropriate. A relative rather aptly described them to me as whimsical ice cream cones – more suited to a summer festival than Christmas.
Here they are illuminated.
Watching over O’Connell Street’s resident public transport fleet:
A few months ago, probably following on from the GPO installation, new exceptionally powerful LED strips were installed on many, if not all, of the city’s bridges in place of the older ones. Because they are so intense, there’s thankfully no need for an ugly strip to be placed at the top of the balustrade too – now it’s just at the bottom. The shiny casings still need to be toned down though – why can’t they have a matt stone finish?
The orange on O’Connell Bridge contrasts very well with the white halogen bulbs of the lanterns above. The light also makes quite a statement on the inside of the bridge as viewed from the pavement.
The punters are impressed 🙂
Graham H,Shame on you Sir….
How could you remain unaware that the allocation and design of the O Connell St Bus Stops is the result of a process known as the Bus Stop Action Plan.
This BSAP was apparently devised jointly by BAC and DCC and involved a full architectural survey of the opportunities offered by the standard Bus Stop Pole.An Integral part of the O Connell St Bus Stop Action Plan is the inventive use of the spatial integrity of the Bus Stop Pole.
This allows the full 360 degree spectrum of the pole to be utilized by both pedestrians and motorists alike,and when each pole is topped by an imaginitevely crafted headplate carrying inscribed upon it the ancient Celtic term for Bus…..Bùs. the resultant icon serves to attract both casual pedestrian and potential Bus Passenger alike.There were some Phillistinic populist murmurings alledging that there was a popular demand amongst the lower-orders for some form of Bus Shelter structures in which the poor could take shelter whilst awaiting their omnibus.
Thankfully this proposal was resisted even though its proponents were to be found claiming the working classes would be in danger of catching Scurvy or Consumption due to the extended nature of their wait for the said contrivance.
I feel sure Graham that you will be supportive of the Gentry`s efforts to ensure our lower classes maintain a robust good health which the free unimpeded flow of fresh air along the street will do much to propogate.
The new Taxi Rank is a classic example of this,with no reports as yet of any fatalities amongst the Cabmens clients unlike the old Rank which had such fripperies as a shelter complete with seating,which only served to encourage laziness and slothfullness amongst the citizenry….
Your photographic records are very much appreciated by myself and other regular users of Gardiners Mall and I trust you will be well rewarded !
PS I saw the good Senator Norris out for his constitutional yesterday and well he looked too….Bring back the Boulavardiers I say…Hip Hip..!! 😮
Royal Dublin Hotel to remain open for at least two years
The Royal Dublin Hotel, which has been sold to property developer Joe O’Reilly, will continue trading as a hotel for at least a further two years.
At the time of the sale in December 2006, it was announced that the hotel would close in early January 2007. Following discussions between O’Reilly and Hotel Partners, which manages the hotel, it was agreed that the hotel would continue to trade as normal while O’Reilly finalises his plans for the site.
O’Reilly bought the hotel from businessman Michael Holland. Opened in 1971, the Royal Dublin is a three-star hotel with 117 bedrooms. Located on O’Connell Street in Dublin, the Royal Dublin Hotel employs 45 full-time staff and a further 17 people on a part-time basis.
Is there a curse on the upper west side of O’Connell St? At the moment, it’s anchors are a McDonalds, Dublin Bus HQ and AIB..
Yes, I’d say the proposed revamp has definately been shelved (won’t this 2 years take it past the 5 years since planning was granted?). The area is falling victim to landbanking.
How’s the Eircom monstrosity doing across the way? It was still empty last I checked.. what a site though. Findlater Place would be a fantastic area for a restaurant with outdoor seating. I don’t have a pic at hand, but you know the spot I’m talking about, it has a couple of mature trees growing over a wide pedestrian area.. or did I dream that?
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