Conorworld

I really like it too. It has a quirkyness that I love. It is at least different in style than a lot of the large scale developments in Dublin and you get the impression that they actually thought about the development and not just saw it as a solely money making scheme like a lot of developments are in Dublin.

I like the idea of Dame Street being more of a main street than O Connell street. When you look at it there’s a lot of untapped potential with the majestic bank buildings there which of course are empty and dark after banking hours but money dictates what will get the best streets and places which is unfortunate. While O Connell Street has been laying low due to neglect Dame Street has a lot of potential as a few of the banks have or have been mulling the idea of selling their branches there. While O Connell Street is more about defence of what is left, Dame Street has the chance with adequate ideas and planning to become a great street.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what is going t happen to the old Eircom building. It has been vacant for ages. I can understand the Fingal offices being vacant for various reasons known to all but the reason for the Eircom building being vacant is less known.

I quite like the design. The route from the quays to the Phoenix Park entrance seems very dilapidated and it is in a good location. I look forward to seeing it finished.

Oh that Gresham proposal looks all nice and fancy but that seamless heavenly glass box would be butchered by curtains on windows etc…Its not a good idea. It will with the plans across the street make O Connell Street into some form of architectural U Valley with high modern buildings drooping down to the older buildings and then to the street itself. Added the fact that this new modern backing on both sides are all of different height and size it destroys the uniformity of height on the street.

Why can’t developers not respect the natural height of the street and be a bit more imaginative in their designs is beyond me.

As much as the metro costs a lot and that it would be cheaper to just have more buses that has a lot of problems. There are a large amount of buses in Dublin already and if there is to be a marked increase then it would just add to traffic. Also buses are subject to traffic lights.

I don’t know if anyone has noticed this or maybe it is just on my normal bus route of the 39 but why are there bus stops BEFORE major traffic lights. It annoys me that you wait ages in the queue to go through the traffic lights to halt right beside them for people to get on and off and by that stage you’re stuck again at the sam traffic lights that if they had it AFTER the traffic lights,a hundred metres or more you could pull out and away and not into traffic lights. That’s my rant.

I live very close to Castleknock train station. Kind of in between the station and Blanchardstown village where the evil 39 is. I would gladly take the train than the bus as you don’t have to factor in the what-if-theres-bad-traffic time. I can be either late or early with buses due to traffic. Trains are generally better, especially metro etc. You have a time table, you know when the train is going to be there. It is not a question of waiting forever, not knowing when a bus comes and then 3 come-one packed and two empty.

Planners seem to neglect the fact that although the initial costs are high once it is built it is there, forever possibly. London Underground is using the same tubes as 150 years ago. Increased capacity over time is better invested in extra trains with higher occupancy rates than roads with single commuters (something that irks me in the mornings seeing people in traffic one person to each car almost). It is better for the environment and better for later planning.

As much as the M50 upgrade is needed the 1bn or so is a capital investment after the possible 1bn or so taking into inflation that the m50 took to build and finish only a few years ago. And talking about the M50 we can see the massive inconveniences to people and public pocket by cutting corners by building woefully inadequate interchanges with laughable roundabouts with traffic lights. A monkey could plan things better. It is better to build now, build big and build metro.

I am all for metro. Although with the public finances as they are it may not be possible. We should be allowed to break the Stability and Growth Pact for a year or so, especially in this period of global slowdown. The pact was designed as a means to cut day to day spending and not major infrastructural programmes which this country seriously needs. I hope it isn’t scuppered or a victim of major cost cuts (a metro equivalent of the M50 interchanges?) but 6bn is a joke.

That is my ramble for this morning

South Great Georges Street, even in its still slightly shoddy state is probably my favourite street in Dublin. It has such a nice diversification of shops, pubs and restaurants and has a wonderful faded grandeur. It has so much potential for today as well. One thing I miss is the Oil and Vinegar store. That was great. The street could do so well with more stores like that.
Aungier street is such a dive though. It is kind of hilarious. From The Capitol bar to the hostel it is dark and depressing, somewhere you walk quickly heading to the fun of Wexford street. Do you notice the amount of drnken/drugged people who always seem to inhabit this area. It is kind of funny and a personification of what the street is like now.
Does anyone know what happened to the Oil and Vinegar store?