O’ Connell Street, Dublin
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The Custom House is now my desktop wallpaper – how cliched.
I think previous criticisms of the building’s floodlighting are more than justified looking at this pic, indeed it would appear that only the end pavilions are lit – and way too bright. And just look at that dome…The light mid-way up the Spike is a regulatory feature – and unlike the old beacon at the top, I don’t think anyone has actually found out what it’s for.
It looks like the lighting at the tip of the Spire will have to be re thought … the current temporary measure is pretty awful … I quite liked the led’s but think we can do better …
Any ideas on what can or should be done ???
I thought a single slender white beam (as strong as possible) pointing sky wards from the tip might be an idea , although this would probably involve some modification to the tip …
Those people there should have put their hands underneath the railing – they could be one of the small few to claim they touched the top of the Spire!
The view from outside Penneys towards the GPO is quite bizarre at the moment, with the six columns landing down into a load of muck.
So weird seeing the building out of its urban setting, just shows what a construct cities really are, built on what were just fields and grass not too long ago.
I was walking home at about 3 in the morning when the top section was lying on the ground. A crowd of girls pleaded with the security guard and he lifted the fence and let us crawl under to touch the tip! We were all so euphoric afterwards I remember even though we didn’t know each other! Could have been the drink I suppose!
The lights on the tip are pretty second rate, but wouldn’t look so bad if the rest of the Spike was floodlit. If it was in any other country, a couple of spotlights would be trained on it and it would look great.
Wasn’t it originally planned to be floodlit?
On the lights half-way up; I thought they were also aviation warning lights…
They look crap, too…:rolleyes:I’d suspect they plan to floodlight as part of the general O’Connell St upgrade and will compleate it sometime in the near future!
I agree. I would imagine once the plaza section is complete they will tackle the Spire. Its just such a scandal that such a new feature should require such snag work. Between floodlighting, cleaning and the tip lights.
Elsewhere on the street. what do you make of the new groups of tree which have been planted. I like them although it looks as if the project team are moving away from the boulevard style planting of the original design no? And the side paving seems to have very little provision for trees. There are 200 new trees to be planted as part of the whole scheme.
Also I have always wondering what the iron ‘bollards’ were for at the base of the GPO collumns. Anyone enlighten me.
I saw you thread about the freize on the GPO Graham. I seem to remeber a story in the mid/late 80s regarding the removal of a freize from either the GPO or the Bank of Ireland. The usual bunf about symbols of oppression if I am correct was mentioned. I know both were cleaned up for the 1988 Millennium. Jog anyones memory?
All I know is that the cornice was replaced in the late 80s, along with the blank frieze underneath, which is why that upper part of the building is so clean and crisp in comparision with the rest.
Still don’t know about the coat of arms though.The bollards are original to the building, and rather charmingly, are individually listed on the protected structures list. Presumably their purpose was to protect the columns from carriage wheels, with the tall corner ones protecting the corner columns from crashes, which were very common. You can see their foundations exposed at the moment.
One confusing aspect about them is that in a picture from 1818, the year the GPO was finished, they are missing. In the same pic, tall oil lamps are attached to the railings surrounding the building.
In another pic of exactly the same scene, also from 1818, the bollards are evident and all of the lamps have been replaced with big lanterns hanging from curly brackets; these lanterns are also evident in much later paintings and sketches.
Perhaps the building wasn’t finished when the first painting was painted and the artist presumed that the proposed lanterns would be the standard oil-lamps evident all over the city, and the bollards hadn’t yet been installed.I’ve always really liked them, esp the ridges or fluting on them. The House of Lords portico has two small granite bollards, one at each corner.
The Spire will be lit eventually, perhaps it is best it’s in darkness at the moment because it’s really filthy now.
Where are the latest trees Stephen, I read about them but havn’t seen them on the street, are they behind O’ Connell Monument behind the fencing there or something?
Check out the trees between the Larkin statue and Abbey St. There are tow groups of 6 trees (birch and rowan I think) and they are installing uplights today. It will look quite good at night but its certainly very different from what I expected.
Interesting peice by Frank McDonald in the Times Property last week regarding the thnking behind the lastest Draft Development Plan (have you all made your submissions!). Planner were discussing the devlopment of PArnell Sq and the possible removal of the GArden of Remembrance (‘a dead space’) and the building up of the 3 inner sides of the square. Interesting idea…cant see it getting by the FF and SF councillors though. But it begs the question: where would be a suitable location for the Children of Lir monument (has to be one of my favs). I am proposing on the site of the current Father Mathew statue on O’Connell St, perhaps with a fountain. Thoughts anyone?
Forgot to mention that Dublin Bus’ new shopfront has been unveiled, it looks great – clad in limestone. (Not that I don’t think the building should be replaced with a building in the style of those in the terrace)
The stone or concrete surround of the building is being removed at the moment, and most extraordinarily – it would appear the original brick walls of the Georgian townhouses on the site are the retaining walls of the new building!
The removal of the cladding has revealed old brickwork, and it’s not that of the neighbouring buildings.
It’s as if the facades of thetwo houses were removed and the horrible 60s windows simply slotted into place!That would be great if parnell sq was to be revitalised, its a tragedy such a huge and potentially important space is so neglected. However, I would be suspicous of plans to build on it, would it not be better as a badly needed green space on the concrete jungle of the north inner city, sort of contemporary stephens green, but more open etc. WE Need more tREES!! Could not the statue of the children of lir be reintegrated , with a contemporary open space??rather than moving it and causing a furore.Where could one see a copy of the new draft development plan??
Stephen C …I think the statue of Kelly’s Children of Lir would be far too large to have on O’Connell Street.
Perhaps if it is removed it will end up with the Floozy….aka Anna Livia fountain.It’s as if the facades of thetwo houses were removed and the horrible 60s windows simply slotted into place!
I thought that is what had happened – just a new facade stuck onto the old buildings
I’m pretty sure those fluted iron bollards at the ends of the GPO potico were the bases of lamp standards, which are seen in some early prints, and some very early photos too. The upper parts were removed a long, long time ago – maybe around 1870.
In that piece by Frank McD last week the DCC planner was saying how wonderful the new Roches Stores building was and that it combines very well with the Spire. And it does. When you stand near the Ilac entrance the conjunction of the Spire and the new Roches facade is very good.
BUT, from further back, the picture isn’t so pretty. The new Roches building has a ‘feature roof’ which projects several feet beyond the Henry St streetline. If you stand at the western end of Mary St, this roof cuts unfortunately into what should be a clean channel view to the Spire. Annoying!
Have you noticed that a new pub has opened in the former AIB building on the junction with Abbey St.?
I also noticed a planning application for a new pub (well they say cafe/bar!!) in the old Man U shop on D’Olier/ Westmoreland St.
What with the existing bar on the corner here (Redz! – Yrrrggghh!) and that new pub beside Wolfe Tone Pk at Jervis St I think this proliferation of new pubs is reaching epidemic proportions!!
Quote “Have you noticed that a new pub has opened in the former AIB building on the junction with Abbey St.?”
So Louis Fitzgerald eventually got it finished.
Fair play and also fair play with the former AIB on Dame St ‘The Bankers is great too’.Victorian Banking halls really make great Bar/Restaruants. The pomp and ceromony of the Victorian commercial architecture is really conducive to the licenced trade.
Is it really true that the former TSB at the end of Grafton St is about to become a Spar?
That really would surprise me if an owner was that unambitious in what is a pivotal property.
😉
It was a Spar even before the restoration!
Now that you mention the lamp standards Devin on the GPO bollards, I do remember seeing a print years ago with them featured.
So I’ve scouted around and found a pic of them here:
http://www.antiquemapsandprints.com/p-9696.jpgNo doubt the large bases still served a defensive purpose, as any lamposts of the age were slender and elegant, a far cry from these cumbersome lumps!
And just look at this one of the Wide Streets Commission development – it’d make you cry!
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