O’ Connell Street, Dublin
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I teach many of the tracksuit wearing fraternity, admittedly at a young age (teens) but even they can see the mess O’Connell Street is in, comparatively speaking.
As one girl said to me when we were returning from a trip to the museum and walking along Nassau street (hardly the epitome of Dublin’s elegance) ‘Miss, I wish our town looked like this’. I thought it was one of the saddest things I’d ever heard a kid say. Even she had already decided that ‘her town’ was cheapo Spar/Centra/Londis, broken down pound shops/phone shops and general crap. Just wait til she sees the ‘icing on the cake’ that is the JC Decaux metropole.
If you surround people with ugliness and ugly buildings and pepper the streets with ugly signage and ugly ‘civic information sites’, it can come as no surprise if they act and behave in ugly ways.
@newgrange wrote:
………………If you surround people with ugliness and ugly buildings and pepper the streets with ugly signage and ugly ‘civic information sites’, it can come as no surprise if they act and behave in ugly ways.
Im sorry but i dont agree with this, it doesnt matter about the so called ugly buildings,
and as for ugly signage? get a grip!!
The usual reasons are poor family life, poverty etc
Its the same ridiculous argument blaming the tower blocks in ballymun for all antisocial behaviour
It may sound like a pretty broad statement but i really think most dubs in general have very poor civic prideIf you want to talk about blaming architecture for dulling someones pride of their surroundings
Maybe if there was more buildings that ‘excite the senses’, or make people take a second look
rather than the same dull shit that is being built everywhere.“It may sound like a pretty broad statement but i really think most dubs in general have very poor civic pride”
paul h: now that is one of the saddest things I have heard you say, somehow people in Dublin lack civic pride, but it has nothing to do with ugly buildings and ugly signage: you seem to imply it is somehow intrinsic or inherited?
It certainly is very sad
I couldnt explain what it is, but i know that most other places /cities
people dont throw rubbish on the street with impuinity esp city centre streets
It could be a lack of respect for the law , the knowledgde that they most certainly will not be prosecuted
by our inept garda. It may be connected to petty vandalism that 99percent of the time goes unprosecuted
There is quality of life crimes – ie graffiti, loitering, drinking on streets etc that if were ruthlesly cracked down on by the garda would go a long way to clean the streets -as they sayps apologies for taking this off topic
@phil wrote:
I think there is a danger of over-reaction going on here. This statue was here before the restoration of the street took place. Whilst I am unsure of the details, it seems to be of significant importance to have been reinstated. Even if it is simply reflective of the power that the taxi-drivers have on the street, it is still part of it, and as I have said before, I am glad to see it make its return.
At times I feel there is an undercurrent on this thread that believes that only people matching certain criteria should have the right to be on O’Connell Street. One of the most positive things about this street is that it brings a wide cross-section of society together. This is one of the main reasons that it is regarded as the main street of the city. Whilst maybe it was not an intention, it seems that the pavement widening has only served to enhance this further, particularly around the GPO, Spire area. Long may it remain open to people of all backgrounds who dress in whatever manner they want.
Ah come off it , will ye. Regarding the statue, you say that you are glad to see it make its return. But do you not think that it is so fucking tacky whether it was there or not before. And bless the Dublin taxi drivers but one would never ask them for advice on anthing let alone ‘taste’, know alls they may be, having an opinion on everything but Catholic canon law would not be their forté either. By the way, the Pro-Cathedral is only around the corner in Marlborough Street if any of the taxi drivers feels the urge to talk to god himself.
Regarding the €40 million make over of the street, surely the likes of this further cheapens the whole look of the area. We’ve already had the Spire that easily tarnishes, ongoing tacky signage and shop fronts, uniform bins replaced by a hotch-potch assortment and several trees removed, adding to the overall botchiness. The whole makeover of the street was to project an image of modern Ireland; contemporary, pluralist and secular; (hence the Spire was non-political) instead we now have an icon of Catholic superstition reinstated all for the sake of the whims of the money grabbing cab drivers. (Does anyone remember the nonsense that was the moving statue hysteria way back in the 1980’s that plagued the country. Definitely a Father Ted moment.)
The plans for the GPO, should they ever materialize, will no doubt be another car crash for O’Connell Street and for the dignity of the building itself and its history.
Regarding your humanitarian bit about everyone has a right to use the street, well that is very true as it is a democracy but anti-social behaviour, public drunkeness, bawdiness, drug peddling, littering, guffawing, Sking, Skong, Skang etc…. should be prohibited, should it not. Should folk not adhere to a certain standard of civilized behaviour when in public. Blame the parents, blame the education system, blame the telly or what ever……
But maybe you don’t agree with this and think everything is fine overall..
@GregF wrote:
Ah come off it , will ye. Regarding the statue, you say that you are glad to see it make its return. But do you not think that it is so fucking tacky whether it was there or not before. And bless the Dublin taxi drivers but one would never ask them for advice on anthing let alone ‘taste’, know alls they may be, having an opinion on everything but Catholic canon law would not be their forté either. By the way, the Pro-Cathedral is only around the corner in Marlborough Street if any of the taxi drivers feels the urge to talk to god himself.
Regarding the €40 million make over of the street, surely the likes of this further cheapens the whole look of the area. We’ve already had the Spire that easily tarnishes, ongoing tacky signage and shop fronts, uniform bins replaced by a hotch-potch assortment and several trees removed, adding to the overall botchiness. The whole makeover of the street was to project an image of modern Ireland]As far as I know there was always a plan to put back this statue, despite the fact that the DCC didn’t want to. The main reason I am glad to see it make its return is that it is at least one trace remaining from the more recent past. A quirky piece of 20th Century history if you will. Of course I wonder what I would make of it if it was to be placed there now as a new statue, but the fact is that it isn’t. I agree about the signage on the shop fronts, trees removed etc, but I really don’t feel that this statue is in the same bracket as these. I wonder what would be though of it if all the above was in order?
Regarding your humanitarian bit about everyone has a right to use the street, well that is very true as it is a democracy but anti-social behaviour, public drunkeness, bawdiness, drug peddling, littering, guffawing, Sking, Skong, Skang etc…. should be prohibited, should it not. Should folk not adhere to a certain standard of civilized behaviour when in public. Blame the parents, blame the education system, blame the telly or what ever……
But maybe you don’t agree with this and think everything is fine overall.If this is what you were referring to, why didn’t you just come out and say it in the first place? Instead you simply threw the same net over everyone who dresses in a manner that you feel is below you. Do you think this is the only place that the activities you mention take place in this city? Do you feel the same about some of the more up-market establishements around this city where similar activities take place?
It is not simply about prohibiting such activities but attempting to find the cause of them. I am sure you would prefer to see everything that offends you hidden from the public eye, but that would not solve anything.
@phil wrote:
If this is what you were referring to, why didn’t you just come out and say it in the first place? Instead you simply threw the same net over everyone who dresses in a manner that you feel is below you. Do you think this is the only place that the activities you mention take place in this city? Do you feel the same about some of the more up-market establishements around this city where similar activities take place?
It is not simply about prohibiting such activities but attempting to find the cause of them. I am sure you would prefer to see everything that offends you hidden from the public eye, but that would not solve anything.
The penny will drop as ye get a bit older and streetwise!
@GregF wrote:
The penny will drop as ye get a bit older and streetwise!
Greg, there is absolutely no need to be so condescending. You know nothing about me or my background, or how old I am etc etc. Even if you did, it shouldn’t matter. If you voice your opinions on a discussion forum you cannot simply expect people to bow down to you and agree with you.
Phil,
So DCC didn’t want to put it back? They’re not idiots so. Oh, no, wait, they are, because they were convinced by, is this right, taxi drivers!?!?!?!? I must have missed the news that they have become advising consultants to the council. Forget the people, signs, rubbish etc on OCS…..the statue is ugly, tacky and an embarassment to the city. For shame DCC.
@phil wrote:
As far as I know there was always a plan to put back this statue, despite the fact that the DCC didn’t want to. The main reason I am glad to see it make its return is that it is at least one trace remaining from the more recent past. A quirky piece of 20th Century history if you will. Of course I wonder what I would make of it if it was to be placed there now as a new statue, but the fact is that it isn’t. I agree about the signage on the shop fronts, trees removed etc, but I really don’t feel that this statue is in the same bracket as these. I wonder what would be though of it if all the above was in order?
If this is what you were referring to, why didn’t you just come out and say it in the first place? Instead you simply threw the same net over everyone who dresses in a manner that you feel is below you. Do you think this is the only place that the activities you mention take place in this city? Do you feel the same about some of the more up-market establishements around this city where similar activities take place?
It is not simply about prohibiting such activities but attempting to find the cause of them. I am sure you would prefer to see everything that offends you hidden from the public eye, but that would not solve anything.
Phil, I’d like to point out that you were somewhat condescending here, for you know nothing about me or my background either.
Greg, my comments were based purely on the quote below. I felt it made your position fairly clear. I apologise if it was assumptive on my part.
@GregF wrote:
The Council aren’t helping, nor the shops and even the folk that pass by daily, particularly some elements of the local Dub folk who’s sartorial preference are shiny synthetic suits (with elasticated waists and ankles) topped off with matching hats. I’ve given up with this area of the city as well.
@herrkev wrote:
So DCC didn’t want to put it back?
I think I could have jumped the gun on that one. Will fill you in if I can find out more.
As Graham, pointed out, this statue is a tiny blight compared to the acres of illegal tacky signage, the forest of polls and the multitude of industrial bins. Of course, the taxi rank should be on Cathal Brugha street.
In favour of the statue:
✔ It makes a mockery of religion.
✔ It’s so shite that it’s cool.
✔ It’s a memorial to our horrible past, locked up nicely in an airtight box that the locals will presumably manage to destroy in a few weeks.
✔It’s not that big compared to the other statues on the street. So you can eyeball JC and consider His mighty works (and the peccadilloes of His earthly officials).Lots of ill tempered argument on this.
Nothing wrong with the statue, it is a piece of civic history (being recovered intact from the bombed-out remains of the street following the civil war) – so what if it isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as it something else there is noting wrong with it and it’s harmless (it’s not some 50m Antony Gomley having a piss that looms large – it’s two foot tall for goodness sake and in a part of the street that is not heavily trafficed). I don’t think religion has anything to do with this either – rather this is a civic history issue.
To remove this is akin to removing: the happy ring house advertising (don’t want to offend co-habiting couples now do we) or the Why go bald sign (… or the follically challenged) – leave these things alone, they are part of who we are as Dubliners and from a civic point of view should be cherished and not despised.
By all means get rid of all the new tat and temporary signs and harmonise the shopfonts, awnings etc and apply the rules of the IAP.
Its no Christ the Redeemer, Frank Taylor, is it?! Look, how is O’Connell Street supposed to become a 21st century city boulevard when this kind of tacky stuff is installed on the street? If it is such an important civic history item, put it in a bloody museum. Oh, and Rory W, I’d get rid of that other stuff too. It looks ridiculous. Move on people, embrace the present, forget about these trinkets of the past.
The temporary signage on the Spar shop on O’Connell Street should also be retained. After all, it has been there an awfully long time and is indicative/commemorative of a time (still ongoing and unlikely to disappear) when many commercial interests in the city had bugger all interest in the built environment.
Well low and behold, whilst sauntering down O’Connell Street I managed to encounter himself again for a second time. Like St Paul on the road to Damacus, truely this had to be a miracle that I beheld for from a shop window stood another vision of the ominipotent king, but this time manifested as a 7 foot figure surrounded by other such venerable religious curio. Attired in his customary red robes his languid hands revealing a little bit of his all loving rosey red heart and all for the princely sum of only €799.00. One would see such a little shop of quirky oddities perhaps in Talbot Street and the like years ago but here this was on O’Connell Street, Ireland’s premier street. And I thought to myself, doesn’t it compliment the Anne Summers store, Burgerking and of course the other manifestation of himself up the road at the taxi rank very well indeed! Classy stuff!
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