The bridges of Dublin

Don’t you think the bridges (all together) really could be promoted as a tourist attraction? Or are there already plans for this? There are very few cities with so many bridges and such a narrow river – Paris is one, Prague I think another. I’ve been to Germany quite a bit, and in most German cities I know, the city doesn’t straddle the river the way Dublin does the Liffey… it’s not really a part of the town at all. The bridges are usually fairly anonymous, huge things. Dublin’s bridges really could be the centre of a promotion.

I remember the UCD Rowing Club had some great t-shirts a while ago for the Colours Boat Race (which goes under all the bridges), with each one pictured (line-drawing elevation) on the back and the names underneath – it looked fantastic, and it was the first time I thought to look at the bridges properly.
Siobh

Don’t you think the bridges (all together) really could be promoted as a tourist attraction? Or are there already plans for this? There are very few cities with so many bridges and such a narrow river – Paris is one, Prague I think another. I’ve been to Germany quite a bit, and in most German cities I know, the city doesn’t straddle the river the way Dublin does the Liffey… it’s not really a part of the town at all. The bridges are usually fairly anonymous, huge things. Dublin’s bridges really could be the centre of a promotion.

I remember the UCD Rowing Club had some great t-shirts a while ago for the Colours Boat Race (which goes under all the bridges), with each one pictured (line-drawing elevation) on the back and the names underneath – it looked fantastic, and it was the first time I thought to look at the bridges properly.
Siobh

The bridges look great at night, particularly the ha’penny bridge. Butt bridge looks a whole lot better after its recent clean, maybe they might get around to cleaning the key walls after all.

The Loop Line Bridge viaduct seems to have been neglected in this renovation drive. Quite disappointing considering that it is a lasting example of Victorian engineering that has been defaced with advertisement hoardings. The bridge may have an austere inky blackness especially when contrasted with the Custom House in the background, but surely the bridge deserves more respect than its’ present indignity.
It may well be that CIE are reluctant to discard the advertisement revenue but after developing Heuston and Connolly stations surely they can afford at least some measure of renovation for an overlooked feature. If they did it would make looking down river from O’Connell bridge less painful.
Does this fact escape the sensiblities of the Corporation?

I cannot uunderstand Ec’s love for the “Loop Line ” bridge. This montrosity destroys the Custom House’s splendour, obliterating it from Dublin’s skyline. It’s a first-rate example of Victorian disregard, decades before the 60s/70s nadir.

Don’t be too harsh on the Loopline.It has become a bit of an easy target to slag off.
If the adverts were removed and it was given a coat of suitably coloured paint it would’nt be that bad.There is too much empahsis placed on the ‘view of the Custom House’.Remember it is only a shadow of it’s former self, being destroyed in the conflicts of our history and not properly or fully restored. Anyway the IFSC detracts from the view too.

The Custom House might not be the original Gandon masterpiece, however, it is one of our finest buildings and the Loop Line bridge removes the impact it should have on the cityscape. How much better the view from O’Connell bridge would be if its ugly neighbour was removed.

I suppose I could’nt agree more, it would perhaps be a better view, but I think that it’s one of those mythological sentiments (……ah what if).There was a proposal once mooted to redesign the bridge, making it more lighter and see through in appearance.Nothing came of it though. Putting that part of the rail line underground would be far to costly just so as to enjoy the view,and to replace the bridge with a terminal station at either side of the Liffey with the passangers having to disembark at one station cross the river and board another train at opposite side would be ludicrous. Remember there was nothing beyond the Custom House when the bridge was placed there.

There is nothing mythological (ie, fictitious) about imagining what Dublin was once like: a beautiful Georgian city, one of the finest in Europe; and the Custom House, one of its defining statements. This might read like romantic mush, but we cannot continue to defend the mistakes of the past and the present. With architecture, it is possible to correct mistakes, or flaws. Moreover, it is an aesthetic discipline. Therefore, I do not think it is a waste of time and money or unjustified to recreate a Dublin in which we can have pride.

There is a difference between dreamily imagining and factually knowing.Beautiful Georgian Dublin was the product of our former colonial masters and was home to the fashionable rich and the wretched poor of the time.While every effort should be made to preserve and conserve this city’s wonderful heritage one should note that it is not soley Georgian today due to changes made throughout times since.To simply pick’n’mix will result in a toytown pastiche.If the bridge is to be removed (an example of Victorian engineering)what is to be done to hide the IFSC,a most ill fitting backdrop.

The loop line Ad boards just have to go, and when they do I’m sure we’ll have wondered how it could have ever have happened that they were there in the first place.
The Bridge is actually interesting and is an asset to the city. But I have seen an artists impression of a replacement, called O’Carralan Bridge (wrong spelling). It’s suspension type that gives little obstruction of the views beyond it.
What happened to those plans?

I agree that the advertising on the Loopline has to go… I have also seen that illustration of the lower impact bridge, indeed i may have a copy of the illustration somewhere (unfortunetly currently without a scanner).

See that Caltrava’s bridge has run into difficulties.The same regular bunch of objectionists….Sinn Fein,(now Men of Cuture),the Green Party who object to every bloody thing and other motley members (Labour,FF,FG etc…) rejected the EIS. Caltrava’s bridge is unique and would be a wonderful addition to the city.It’s suspended pivotal arm concept is brilliant. I remember when the Millenium Spire was proposed for O’Connell Street and Tony Gregory commented ‘I hope that it will not displace the flower seller that is there’…….and to think that these guys make decisions for the city. No wonder the place is a featureless kip. They would do anything for votes while the city in general continually loses out. We will probably end up eventually with something like the bland Frank Sherwin( or whoever the hell it’s named after) or Matt Talbot bridge.Ah sure it would suit lovely Gregory’s concept of inner city styled housing.

It looked like the EIS had run into difficulties rather than the bridge itself – something about an inadequate study of the traffic?

Here’s the EIS
http://www.dublincorp.ie/services/mackennt.html

Well done to HH http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Art_and_Design/Architecture/2000-09/archtwo180900.shtml