What has come to civic space in Dublin?

I agree ….It is bad that events have been curtailed somewhat in Smithfield especially when they are trying to rejuvenate the decrepit place. Maybe a plan could be mooted to move out those in the rather ill fitting and ugly Corpo houses and put something else on that corner of a more civic merit. A greater change for the betterment of the whole of the city.

The reason that the Meeting House Square events are blocked off like that is for crowd control reasons only. Could you imagine being at a film screening on a Saturday night only to have a bunch of English lads on a Stag weekend running through the place Lager in Hand and shouting En-ger-lund!! You can get the free tickets for these events from the TBP offices on Eustace Street.

As for Smithfield square – grrrr 1 and 3/4 hours it took to get from Abbey Street to Marlay Park by special (roasting hot) Dublin Bus on Thursday 19th July to go and see David Gray. Compared to the 25 minutes walk from the IFSC.

I have no problem with large civic areas being used for pay concerts. Most cities have such event in such places. We have too much of a Nimby attitude in this country.

Smithfield square should have things running in it constantly – and not that 1-step-from-the-glue-factory nagfest once a month. Civic squares should be in use constantly (see anywhere on the continent for numeous examples) and not the windswept piazzas that we have at present.

There’s a special place in hell for David Gray and his works!! – maybe the 1.75 hrs was a precursor to that – a kind of divine warning – Mend Yer Ways!!.

As to three days of the whingy bugger I think I would’ve gone mental!!.

And yes I think the ‘locals’ were right to protest the concerts, they repeatedly pointed out that they had no objection to free entry civic events – only to privatisation of a public resource.

[This message has been edited by James (edited 30 July 2001).]

[This message has been edited by James (edited 30 July 2001).]

I think James you disagree because the status quo oppinion on the forum have disagreed with your views of late. Whatever one thinks of David Gray and his music but one should’nt be negative and disagreeable just for the sake of it. Think man rationally and fairly before you state your case. It’s all psychology….or are you showing your young age.

Sorry to disappoint you Greg – I was one of the ‘locals’ objecting to the concerts originally so my opposition is not exactly a ‘gut’ reaction to this web page.

As to my relative youth – I’m nearer 40 than 30 (the sweet bird of youth has long since flown off to crap on someone elses shoulder) so terminal immaturity is probably a better explanation.

PS: Status Quo were another crap band

What ever my musical tastes may be, it doesn’t change the fact that places like smithfield should have things running in it all the time. If the corpo had the resources to devote to having concerts like David Gray and Buena Vista Social Club and whatever takes your fancy, people would moan saying it was a “waste of resources and could we not spend it on a new cats home or something” I do not know where half this town gets its idea of civic pride.

So you cant really blame the corpo handing it over to a private company to run.

Nation of begrudgers !!! We invented it

PS James: My friends down in Smithfield Village were going to have a party the night of the David Gray concert, so instead of enjoying a Glass of Wine and dinner before the concert I had to make do with the old plastic glass of Heineken and some half cooked chips. Not everyone in Smithfield wanted the concert called off!