World City Icons.

Maybe if they had likened it with the little mermaid in Copenhagen; might have been a better comparison.

Agreed but it does highlight the absence of a single accepted symbol for the City.

@Papworth wrote:

….have Sherry Fitzgerald lost the run of themselves in attempting to imply that the little big titted statue of hooker Molly Malone is in the same league as Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty as a world city icon….there masters of exaggeration we all know but they should have some idea of scale !!

I personally think that the Spike is a more relevant comparison to the ones mentioned

I thought Molly was real 🙁

You can’t compare the Spike to the likes of Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, etc. It’s just a flag pole with no flag on it.

The south portico and dome of the Custom House would have done perfectly, given the proportions of the images.

Molly Malone was indeed real – but given the way she died (consumption) I strongly doubt she was big titted

Well Carrolls ‘Irish’ Gifts sell little steel models of her if that helps in the status stakes – only €7.99………apparently……

Is there a link that’s missing on this thread?

You have one don’t you Graham? :p

Don’t know what you’re talking about……..:o

No, but when a relative was here from America recently, he wanted to bring back the crummiest piece of Irish tat conceivable to show his new neighbours – hence I directed him to you-know-where :p
Couldn’t get out of the place quick enough.

@Morlan wrote:

I thought Molly was real 🙁

You can’t compare the Spike to the likes of Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, etc. It’s just a flag pole with no flag on it.

It’s hard to believe that the best known image of France, the Eiffle tower, was greeted with much the same attitude as yours there. It was seen as nothing more than a radio tower, and was intended to be taken down in the early 20th century.

I didn’t paticular like the spike when it was revieled but it has grown on me. And I rate it far above the likes of “Molly”. Some of our more famous buildings might be more valued on an historical sense, such as the GPO, but the spike is the frontrunner to achieve international fame. When you see the statue of liberty you know its nw york, when you see the eiffel tower even a child knows its Paris, The spike has a far greater chance, in years to come, to be a recognaisable symbol of ireland.

I am not sure that the tinny tower with all its 3rd. Republic associations is the best known image of France!

And let us not forget that the likes of Gambetta, Ferry , and later the awful Clémanceau, aka La Troisième Rép., lurk somewhere behind the the Statue of Liberty.

The Eiffel tower is impressive.. O’Connell’s pole is not.

Anyway, The Ha’penny Bridge is the Dublin City icon.

Nay, the Ringsend power station.

@PTB wrote:

Nay, the Ringsend power station.

To Dubliners maybe, but not to foreigners.

Thats the idea. What tourist shop would sell a model of a power station? Or an “I visited the Ringsend power station” T-shirt. A landmark to call your own.

🙂

A classic. Probably the only structures in this country from the 1970s that people actually like.

They’ll be listed within the decade.

Oooh, one of yours Graham??

@PTB wrote:

Thats the idea. What tourist shop would sell a model of a power station?

I’d buy one if they existed 🙂

It’s strange that a power station is loved so much, especially since that photo shows it sourrounded in a lethal looking smog. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that it was the last piece of Ireland that many saw leaving the country on a boat in the seventies and eightys. A bit like fasnet rock lighthouse, which became known as Irelands teardrop, for many a tear was shed seeing the last bit of Ireland dissappearing over the horizon.

Well you won’t be seeing it on a postcard anytime soon.

@PTB wrote:

Well you won’t be seeing it on a postcard anytime soon.

Oh?

Well whould’a thunk it?

Nice change from that twee John Hinde crap.

He’s cheating PTB – he only drew that up two minutes ago! 😀
Yes it’d be nice to have a model of it alright, as it would be with many buildings. Pity they’re not promoted in Ireland in that form like they are with other ‘world city icons’. (though I have heard of the Custom House moulded from butter, but that’s another story), The Spire could make quite a nice note holder…

Whatever about the Eiffel Tower being the most famous image of Paris, it has to be the most famous icon of any country in the world, if not the most famous building too – for good or evil. Nobody could possibly match that.

What always fascinates me walking by Molly every day is how everybody knows who she is!
How the heck do Japanese or Canadian or Belgian tourists have the faintest knowledge of this charitably depicted woman with a fruit cart from the depths of Dublin folklore?!

Yes I just may have snapped that Poolbeg pic Morlan 😉 – through the train window of all places, hence the slight blurring of the clouds through the chimneys. Now enlarged, framed and hanging on the wall above me here 🙂

There’s no smog PTB, merely wholesome mistiness – Poolbeg is now gas-powered and nothing but water vapour comes from the chimneys, though those lower ones may be a different story.

Yep, any excuse for a quick photoshop. 🙂

There’s the Dublin City Hall made completly out of LEGO in Ballyfermot Library. It’s got to be seen to be belived. It’s huge. Must get a photo on Monday,

Yeah, good shot Graham. Living on the southside, it’s more difficult to get good sunset/rise from this angle. Good work man.

Just a rough list of city icons from around the world off the top of my head.

Paris – Eifel Tower
London – Big Ben
Brussels – That world fair/exhibition sculpture
Berlin – Brandenburg Gate
Copenhagen – Little Mermaid statue
Oslo – That huge stone sculpture of people
Geneva – Jet d’eau
Rome – Collisuem
Athens – Parthenon
Mostar – Turkish bridge
Istambul – Hagia Sofia
Prauge – King? Charles Bridge
Budapest – The suspension bridge
Moscow – St Basils? Cathederal
Volgograd – The Motherland
Jerausalem – Dome of the rock
Dubai – Burj al Arab
Hong Kong – China Central Bank
Shanghi – Pearl Tower
Beijing – The Forbidden City
Tokyo – Tokyo Tower
Kyoto – Golden Pavillion
Sydney – Sydney Opera House
Los Angeles – ?
San Fransisco – Golden Gate Bridge
St Louis – The Gateway Arch
Chicago – Sears Tower/Hancock centre
Toronto – C.N. Tower
New York – Empire State building
Wasington D.C. – The White House

What did I get wrong or miss?

Spot on PTB, care to add Dublin and a suggest to that list,

The Empire State is by far the most famous skyscraper in the world, even though most people probably couldn’t recognaise it and only know the name. It would be nice to think Ireland could a land mark that people would know of it’s name through out the world.

I’d agree with most of that PTB. I’d still stick with the Ha’penny Bridge as the main icon of Dublin.

@PTB wrote:

What did I get wrong or miss?

You missed Egypt/Giza most school children could fill that one in. Some of the memorials in Wasington might rank as high as the White house.

Yes washington was very difficult. Capitol hill came close as did the reflecting pool and obelisk. What is a siuatable icon for LA?

L.A. – The HOLLYWOOD sign

and in San francisco – The golden Gate Bridge

kuala lumpur – Petronas towers
Barcelona – Sagrada Familia
Rio de Janeiro – Corcovado

@Morlan wrote:

The Eiffel tower is impressive.. O’Connell’s pole is not.

Anyway, The Ha’penny Bridge is the Dublin City icon.

Without meaning to cause offence to anyone, the ha’penny bridge is a poor symbol and when considering the wealth of impressive architecture in Dublin, doesn’t do Dublin Justice.
My favourites –
In the interests of humour I’ve stuck in a bogey one. See if you can get it…………………

The Spike
O’Connel bridge
The Chimney’s
Mc Donalds (O’Connell street branch)

Some others may be

Bombay – The Gateway to India
Agra – The Taj Mahal (Although how many people know the city?)
Rio de Janeiro – The statue of Christ the Redeemer
Edinburgh – Edinburgh Castle
Munich – The Olympic Stadium

Strangely, when I was asking myself the question, I came up with the Fernsehenturm for Berlin, although on reflection, the Brandenburg Gate is a better answer.

Within an Irish context, would people say outside Dublin

Cork – Shandon Steeple
Galway – The Spanish Arch
Limerick – King John’s Castle
Waterford – Reginald’s Tower

?

Provincial Towns:

Kilkenny Kilkenny Castle
Drogheda Boyne framed by the rail viaduct
Dundalk Imperial Hotel
Port Laiose Heritage Hotel
Tallaght The Square

😀

It’s nice that our regional cities have well-known icons of their own: something you don’t immediately think would be the case, but most have instantly recogisable structures of one form or another – for good or evil in some cases.

Yes I’d still go along with the Ha’penny being representative of Dublin, on a par with the Four Courts from the west – there’s simply very few other structures, or more importantly scenes, old or contemporary that equate to them. Though saying that, in reviewing one of very few Irish dramas that make it onto BBC 1 London, AA Gill in the Sunday Times wrote a piece under the impression the entire thing was set in Belfast, despite the Ha’penny featuring in it, and in the opening credits! – much to the delight of the letters editor the following week. “You were with us for 800 years and you’ve forgotton what you built us already”…..

Morlan! *taps watch*
Still waiting on that City Hall…

@Graham Hickey wrote:

Morlan! *taps watch*
Still waiting on that City Hall…

I didn’t make it out on Monday. I promise I’ll get a photo next week!

If I might be so bold as to stick another picture of the Poolbeg Chimneys up..

Took that a month ago outside the Dollymount House pub.
Great building (singular?), still the tallest structures in Dublin by miles.

They may not be our Sydney Opera House, but maybe our Sydney Harbour Bridge.

There’s something wonderfully honest about them, something quintessentially Dublin about the two big chimneys in red and white, that haven’t been turned into loft apartments or concert halls. Something tying us to our not to distant past.
Plus they have the best location of any structures in the country.

@Bren88 wrote:

You missed Egypt/Giza most school children could fill that one in. Some of the memorials in Wasington might rank as high as the White house.

Egypt isn’t a city – it is a country (topic is world city icons). Most, but sadly not all, schoolkids would have gotten that right.

What about the Customs House and Trinity. Surprised these haven’t received a mention. Do people really think that when some guy from Australia or Singapore or Seattle is asked what icon he associates with Dublin, he will say – oh ya, the Poolbeg Chimneys. Most foreign visitors won’t even know about them or have seen them. Oddly enough, despite their unabashed architectural splendour and the rich cultural heritage underpinning them, they don’t even appear on postcards. What is the Irish tourist board doing these days?

The same as most departments..sweet f.a. Either that or moving down to Kerry. Or both!!

The argument that the Poolbegs are a Dublin icon for Dubliners is fair, I think.
For me, the few upstream from O’Connell Bridge at dusk is Dublin. And donwstream for that matter. Or the view of a packed Grafton St you get from the top deck of any bus parked by the Provost’s House. Or the buzz in Temple Bar as afternoon becomes evening.

Building-wise, I go with College Green as an architectural set. Or the Custom House.

Though the big white Guinness building, seen from Collins Barracks is more Dublin than the two of those.

Sorry, another amazing view, and one I got frequently during my time as a tour guide on the open toppers, i in eventing time coming down Chesterfield Ave in the Phoeniz Park. When you see that White Guinness Building in the fading sun, when all the city lights are coming on and the traffic flow is heating up again but you’re not quite part of it due to your location in the veldt of the park..that’s a real Dublin view for me.

fergalr – you have a touch of the Joyce about you. One of the greatest pities I can imagine is that Ireland doesn’t benefit from more sunny summer evenings when such urban vistas take on a life of their own. For my own part, I still dream of the late evening sun over Salthill in June and July. Beautiful. Ireland has one of the greatest gifts any country can have – long summer evenings. Its a crying shame that the weather doesn’t go with them. I am getting homesick so I will stop.

Aha! I was saying the exact same to a friend of mine yesterday. We were discussing the merits of certain cities (Sydney) over certain others (Dublin).

There is nowhere in the world I would rather be than in Dublin on a summer’s evening. They are the best thing this country has going for it weather-wise.

In “How Many Miles to Babylon”, the main character’s mother says that she think s Ireland should be renamed “Isle of the Evenings”. Em..a little naff, but I agree with the sentiment behind it!

For example..and although taken in December…

@PDLL wrote:

Egypt isn’t a city – it is a country (topic is world city icons). Most, but sadly not all, schoolkids would have gotten that right.

Obviously egypt isn’t a country, but thats why I said Giza also. The pyramids are a national symbol as well as a city symbol. If you were to include a great temple from every anient city in egypt or greece it wouldn’t be as well known to joe soap on the streets. Exactly like the Taj Mahal comment from jungle.

I agree. Certain icons are icons more of a national nature rather than being asociated with any one city although I would imagine that many people would associate the Taj Mahal with Deihi or the Pyramids with Cairo.

The light in Ireland is what makes the scenery fantastic. How many times has one photographed the same view under different conditions? When living in Paris the flat grey light of winter nearly killed me!
Some more for the list:
Victoria,BC ….Empress Hotel
Boston MA……Town Hall dome
Long Beach CA geodesic dome
Madrid …………Cibeles fountain (or Puerto del Sol sculpture?)
Dubrovnik……..Citadel
Milan and Florence….Duomo
Bern……………bearpit
Warsaw………wedding cake building (Stalin’s present)
Vienna………shoenbrun (sp?)

KB2

disgusting chimney stacks as an icon of a city???
come on people get a grip!!
serious lack of landmarks in dublin if this is all we got

Well what would you suggest as a decent landmark paul h?

Looking back at my list at the top of the page it struck me that the Statue of Liberty would be a more universally recognised landmark for New York than the Empire State Building.

hard to tell PTB
there is no UNIQUE big structures existing in dublin that stick in your mind

New York is jampacked with icons: Chrysler Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, UN headquarters, the Trade Centre was another.
Others: City Hall in Philadelphia. St Mark’s Square in Venice. Ponte Vecchio or the Duomo in Florence. Pulteney Bridge in Bath, Clyde Bridge in Glasgow. The Guggenheim in Bilbao might be the most modern world city icon of all. Or alternatively that winking bridge in Newcastle.
I think it’s impossible to look past the Ha’penny Bridge as Dublin’s icon. And it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Still though, it didn’t come to mind straight away when I first started looking at this thread. And how many people living abroad would instantly recognise it as as a Dublin landmark? I think that the Spire/Spike will eventually become the landmark associated with Dublin from an international perspective. I believe that the thing was constructed, in part, to create a instantly recognisable landmark for the city. It may not be easy to photograph in a single frame but it may well be the city landmark in twenty years time

Exactly PTB, in many people eyes it isn’t anytyhing special. But that was said about alot of structures. It has the best potential to become an international landmark

It’s a sad notion that ‘The Pole’ will be a landmark of Dublin. Says it all about our country.

The Spire on O’ Connell Street is the the new icon for Dublin City. It will be fully marketed as such when the repaving works are finished I’m sure. Regarding buildings , Liberty Hall would have to be viewed as an icon too; that photo by Fergair on the previous page is the archetypal photo shot of Dublin, with the Liffey in the forground.. Liberty Hall should be given a makeover and restored to it’s original quirky glory. It’s just as good as the stuff they are building further on down the Liffey. It would somewhat of a loss if it were demolished.

(However it’s probably a pity that we did’nt get a miniature Chrysler type building here from an earlier date, as well as the loopline taking a much more distinctive form/shape. )

May be more a national symbol but don’t foget the Guinness gate on St. James St.

Liberty Hall is a well known to most because of it’s height, but I can’t ever imagine anybody from outside the country being able to recognaise it from a photo.

The Spire would have to be one. I like it but it could do with a good clean. I guess all the dirt from construction work going on in the area doesn’t help. It looks good with daylight bouncing off it.

My main problem with the Spire is the atrocious lighting at night time.

Well it can’t be an easy thing to flood light. It’s only how many feet high and only two or so meters wide at the base – sorry about the vaugeness of the stats. I’ve never seen it at night but what does the top part with the holes look like when it is lit? And wasn’t the Spire suppoosed to be self cleaning or something like that? Why does it get dirty?

@Morlan wrote:

I’d agree with most of that PTB. I’d still stick with the Ha’penny Bridge as the main icon of Dublin.

😎 The Ha’penny bridge rocks my boat as well, i love walking up the quays past the bridge and looking at the historic skyline of the city.

Actually looking back at the Grand Canal Square plans it struck me that that develoment has the potential to become a decent landmark for Dublin.

Ye think? 😮

ctesiphon:

It will be a case of needing a touch up of the Cardinal Red floor polish to keep it so crimson.

There was a question on University Challenge last Monday along the lines of ‘Known as “The stiletto in the ghetto”, “the [something]” and “the [something]”, a 120m Spire was erected in 2003 in what city?’

Only one person knew the answer and even then it sounded like a guess. Hardly good evidence of its international reputation.

(Sorry I can’t remember the other names- they were of the standard Dublin witticism variety.)

When the Eiffel Tower went up there were riots. It took decades to be accepted no mind admired. The spike is simple and elegant at night. In time we will come to like it, no doubt about it.

The Arch at the Grafton St entrance to Stephens Green has potential as does the Stephens Green centre in a peverse sort of way!

Where has a boyle gone?

Thank God for this.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/landmark-chimneys-denied-protected-status-1318383.html

Landmark chimneys denied protected status

Saturday March 15 2008

THEY have featured in numerous postcards and a very famous Guinness ad, but perhaps their most important cameo appearance came when they featured in U2s ‘Pride (In The Name Of Love)’ video.

However, Dublin City Council does not believe the Poolbeg chimneys are iconic enough to place on their Record of Protected Structures.

Following a request from Cllr Dermot Lacey (Lab) to have the landmark ESB chimneys placed on the protected record, city councillors heard that city planners had conducted a survey, history and full assessment of the chimneys.

They concluded from this that while the Poolbeg chimneys were considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance, they were not of sufficient value within the meaning of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.

Complex

The twin red and white chimney stacks measure 680 feet in height and were constructed in two phases between 1969 and 1977.

They form one component of a complex of late 20th century industrial structures relating to the production of electricity.

According to Patricia Hyde, Dublin City Council senior planner, the chimneys are functional industrial structures, but have become prominent landmarks in Dublin Bay and as part of the Dublin skyline. “The chimneys are located in a highly industrial area of Dublin Bay. (They) have become a focus of sentiment to the local community,” she said.

– Niall Bourke

Why do you say that Paul?

I’m surprised by this rejection, but more so that it was even proposed in the first place. Good to see someone’s taking the broader picture. What a terrible article – the whole crux of the story has been missed, aside from a reference to not being ‘iconic enough’, which in itself I’d imagine to be an inaccurate representation of the matters considered.

I think we have a problem in Ireland with accepting one of the fundamentals of the Venice Charter, as expressed in Article 1:

“The concept of a historic monument embraces not only […] great works of art but also more modest works of the past which have acquired cultural significance with the passing of time.”

The same is also applicable to Liberty Hall, which looks like we’re going to lose. Indeed can anyone name any example of a structure here that has been protected purely/principally for this reason?

What a shame; I hope no harm comes to them before DCC see reason on this.

@GrahamH wrote:

Why do you say that Paul?

I dont really see ugly chimney stacks as our city’s most prominent structures, as being particulary dignified. The same chimneys which might be seen in any dirty industrial plant anywhere in the world.

What is ugly about them?

Similar chimneys can be seen elsewhere; but the precise location of ours, their particular setting is distinct, storied and dignified by the common memory of the cities inhabitants.

I difficult decision as they are quite ugly structures but are definitley part of the Cultural landscape as explemplified by the Bank of Ireland Football ad that sees two dodgy painters jumping a wall after painting them Blue and Navy; their siting works out very well but the future of industrial activity in this location in 15 years must be in question.

In any event I’d hate to pay to remove them as I’d suspect from the construction period that they are riddled with asbestos which is generally harmless insitu but costs a fortune to remove and dispose of responsibly. They are probably safe on the basis their footprint is neglible whilst demolition costs would be substantial. These are a very unique piece of industrial plant but the dangers of creating a precedent probably outweigh the probability that someone would propose their removal.

My purely personal view is that it would be criminal to remove the Poolbeg stacks.

To me they are the greatest landmark of Dublin. Whether you arrive by air or sea, they are one of the first things you see. Approaching the city, particularly from the south, they again act as a landmark of the city.

Their sentimental value, not just to me, but to huge numbers of Dubliners is enormous.

I don’t think they’re ugly in any way. They’re quite beautiful.

Again, PVC King; what is ugly about them, they have a pleasing sculptural form, and the distance between them is somehow perfect. CAn you explain what about them you find ugly?

This is an interesting one alright. Their protection may compromise the ability to develop the area in the future (in theory anyway) but their demolition would remove the key point of orientation for the city. I’m not old enough to remember a Dublin pre-chimneys and find it impossible to imagine the view without them (a job for Missarchi?)

I think they are spectacular in their brutality which is compounded by their location. However in the long term I think their replacement by a new urban neighbourhood should be considered.

Hate to drag out the hackneyed Barca comparison but what would you prefer?

However one must always bear in mind how they can look:

Having lived on the Dublin coastline all my life I appreciate the Bay more than many and often enjoy being stuck atop a bus in traffic just to take in the view, while the drive along Strand Road is always a treat. The best I can offer is that I wouldn’t like to be the planner who has to decide on their future if and when that decision arises. In the meantime they should carry out the proposal to light them up.

What i find ugly is more what they represent, Dublin’s tallest, maybe most visible and prominent structures are industrial chimney’s ? What does it say about us?

For a second replace the Eiffel Tower with this power station , wouldnt have the same appeal:D
Maybe i’m looking too deeply into it

You see I knew it: this so called ugliness is a political not an aesthetic judgment!

Its a bit of both. I also dont think they look good .
Its hard to imagine the view without them, but then i picture it and , you know what its not too bad:D

@notjim wrote:

Again, PVC King; what is ugly about them, they have a pleasing sculptural form, and the distance between them is somehow perfect. CAn you explain what about them you find ugly?

The concrete base

The paint finish

Tha gaudy lights at night for air safety

As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and therefore it is all a matter of opinion and not fact but I find the odd 1970’s spandrel pannelled office block attractive but little else from that period including clothes, cars, architecture or power stations. I often thank god that I was too young to be culpable for my own design decisions for the part of that decade I was around!

If they had to stay then it’d be pretty cool if the area was developed along the lines of Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. With year round amusements etc.
With the chimneys converted into what else but a bungee rocket!!!
Keep me out of the pub on a sunday
[ATTACH]7093[/ATTACH]
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Some people say dublin has enough rain water ect all ready.
This would not be a world class icon but would seriously enhance the public spaces as per the 13
celtic knots thread fountains that dance!!! The celtic knots would be the locations for these fountains and or lights.
Tourists would navigate by celtic knots and connect dots!
I think Dublin needs to enhance what it already has in terms of proper landscaping and car free/pole spaces.
The only chance it has to create an icon would almost have to be in the canals and time is quickly running out.
The other sad thing is just one company is directing most of these spaces.
One track mind…

@PVC King wrote:

The concrete base

The paint finish

Tha gaudy lights at night for air safety

Ok; repaint and light it better, the base isn’t really visible and we all agree, they are lovely.

As for redevoping that area, I am sure the current port area is more likely to get the old navy pier treatment, not least because it will continue to be where cruise ships dock and the area around the pidgeon house has the sewerage works and is an important bird habitat. It would be good though if something interesting was done with the old power station.

I’m with alonso and notjim on this.

These things are poles, they’re red and white, if we take them down now, what message is that sending out to our largest immigrant community?

I wish DCC would would think these things through.

Was there not talk of converting it to a Science Centre? It would be perfect. Maybe build a observation tower on the top too?

Agreed, a lick of paint and a clever lighting system installed , it would be cool looking. As for the colour, I would pick Dark and Sky Blue. 😀

@notjim wrote:

Ok; repaint and light it better, the base isn’t really visible and we all agree, they are lovely.

As for redevoping that area, I am sure the current port area is more likely to get the old navy pier treatment, not least because it will continue to be where cruise ships dock and the area around the pidgeon house has the sewerage works and is an important bird habitat. It would be good though if something interesting was done with the old power station.

All agreed, wind it forward 15 years when the Diaspora have real clout; wil they want an asbestos riddled power station as centre point?

Have faith!

I think a lot of Dubliners living on the east side of the city would be sad to see the chimneys go. They ARE landmarks for the city..sure Dublin Tourism even have them on postcards :p If/when the powerplant is moved from Poolbeg, running a lift up one of them and having a discreet viewing point build built within the top of one of the chimneys would afford phenomonal views of Dublin.
Also, as has been pointed out before, they are very elegant structures and their slender build, the proportions between their height and the distance between them and the package as a whole indicates that some care went into making them more than mere industrial stacks.

@gunter wrote:

These things are poles, they’re red and white, if we take them down now, what message is that sending out to our largest immigrant community?

I wish DCC would would think these things through.

Ha ha very good!

Re. Proposed addition to the Record of Protected Structures of Twin ESB Chimneys at Poolbeg Generating Station, Pigeon House Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4.

Introduction
Following a request from the South East Area Committee a report was prepared to assess the significance of the Twin ESB Chimneys at Poobeg and whether the structures should be added to the Record of Protected Structures. A survey, history and full assessment was carried out. This concluded that while the Poolbeg chimneys are considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance, they are not considered to be of sufficient value within the meaning of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and therefore should not be added to the Record of Protected Structures (See photo in folders).

Request for Addition
Councillor Dermot Lacey proposed a motion to the South East Area Committee to ‘take all steps necessary to protect the Twin ESB Chimneys at Poolbeg as part of our industrial heritage and to initiate steps to have them included on the list of protected structures’.

Dublin City Development Plan 2005 – 2011
Zone 7 – To provide for the protection and creation of industrial uses, and facilitate opportunities for employment creation.

Planning History
2809/06: Alterations to previously approved extension (3155/05) at Poolbeg 220kv GIS Station.
3144/05: Alterations and extension to Poolbeg 220kv GIS station.
1088/05: Development of a prefabricated garage shed 2.8m tall.
2309/99: The construction of housing to enclose ion exchange plant at Poolbeg Generating Station.
3043/97: Erection of two water storage tanks and an associated pump house.
0588/97: Modifications to the previously approved Poolbeg Generating Station Extension (2674/91).
0374/94: Modify the Berthing Jetty on the site
0290/94: Construction of a chlorine monitor building.
1929/93: Replace the existing site security fence with new palisade fencing.
1152/93: Erect new entrance/reception building.
2674/91: Erect and operate additional generating plant as an extension to the existing Poolbeg Generating Station.

Site Location

The chimneys are located on the northern side of the ESB Poolbeg Generating Station overlooking the River Liffey.

Summary Description of Structure
The two chimneys form one component of a complex of late 20th century industrial structures relating to the production of electricity. The twin red and white chimneystacks measure 680ft/207m in height and were constructed in two phases between 1969 and 1977.

Assessment of Special Interest Under the Planning & Development Act 2000
Architectural: The chimneys are functional industrial structures similar to other industrial chimneys of this era. They are not exemplars of a building style or type. They are considered to be of some architectural interest as structures, which due to their height and location have become prominent landmarks in Dublin Bay. The chimneys are located in a highly industrial area of Dublin Bay but their height means that they have become part of the Dublin skyline visible from many parts of the city and also the Wicklow Mountains. However its present prominence will be diminished by upcoming developments in the docklands area.
Social: The chimneys are of social interest as they have over the past 30 years become a focus of sentiment to the local community around Dublin Bay. Its landmark status means that it is visible to residents of Dublin Bay across the city and has become synonymous with Dublin and Dublin Bay.
Historical: The chimneys are of historical interest tracing the continued production of electricity on the site from the late 20th century to today, beginning with the nearby Pigeon House (1903), the Poolbeg generating station (1969-1978) and the more recent gas turbine station (1999). However their significance is part of a grouping/setting of associated industrial buildings rather than in isolation.

Recommendation
The Poolbeg chimneys are considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance. However in isolation they are not considered to be of sufficient value within the meaning of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and therefore should not be added to the Record of Protected Structures.

It is recommended that the whole complex be reassessed on the cessation of electricity generation at the present Poolbeg station in order to carry out an overall assessment of the station.

Patricia Hyde
Senior Planner

@kefu wrote:

However its present prominence will be diminished by upcoming developments in the docklands area.

Ha! Has something happened in the docklands lately that we should know about?

I think they should stay, and I think the planner got it wrong in her assessment- on Social grounds alone, they would merit PS status.