GrahamH
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Was passing the Square today and had a look at the site of the three ill-fated Georgians – the plot of the 3 houses is extraordinarily small, it really goes to demonstrate the density at which 18th century townhouses were built – we can learn a lot from them today (although without the two acres of back yard separating the house from the stinking stables and cesspools)
The application reads for 16 apartments in the new structures – 10 of which are one-bedroomed.
One senses the meddling fingers of Zoe Developments here…Is the National Ballroom lettering listed of something!?
Why the hell is it still there?I was looking at Malton’s picture of Charlemont House across the road from it on those facinating ‘Malton Trail’ signs (I’m not sure he deserves a tourist trail named after him) and there are lanterns atop the obelisks in the forecourt of the house – these should be reinstated.
Also the Nt Ballroom and the house on the other side of the Hugh Lane would appear to have been built as part of the compostion, flanking each side of Charlemont’s mansion which is unusual.Its extraordinary that the Savoy once held a whopping 3000 people – slap bang in the city centre, before it was subdivided in the 60s.
I passed the Olympia only the other day and was just thinking that it badly needed restoration – some of the ironwork is in poor condition and the stuccowork heavily over-painted.
Many of the signs outside are cheap and clutter up the facade.
Above street level its a bit grotty too.Still, a charmingly inoffensive building – so much more typical of the city’s previous music halls and theatres than say – the likes of the Gaiety.
Of course – Christmas in the future referring to a couple of years down the line – but really this street is going to transform the face of Dublin, esp at Christmas
Its one of very few cities in Europe that doesn’t have a hard landscaped area or piazza.
An Post should also invest in some decent garlands etc to dress up the GPO as part of creating a festive mood, and all of the trees surrounding the plaza could be covered in lights.
And of course, at last, the street’s Christmas tree will have an official home – in the centre of the plaza, centred on the portico of the GPO.The plans are exceptional and very exciting.
The idea of the street in the future at Christmas, packed with shoppers and ramblers, all of the trees down the street covered in lights, Christmassy stalls with hot drinks…..doesn’t sound like Dublin!
What a coincidence – I have lived in Dundalk for the past 15 years!
I know every inch of the town – it has indeed been completely repaved – and the town is absolutely sparkling – its 18th century core flaunted and appreciated by the council and business people alike.But certainly I agree the place was like a slurry pit, and many people today there are far from approachable – not least after the clock strikes 12.
Unfortunately the town is somewhat infamous in that regard.I have the pleasure of walking up O’ Cll St most days going to Connolly – pleasure in enjoying the fantastic buzz from the place and it’s many fine buildings – but also the displeasure of the disgusting paving – I was on it again today, and after seeing the place there is no way I can backtrack on anything I’ve said, it is a disgrace.
Although – Mc Donalds have washed the paving outside it’s premises and the difference is obvious – although this doesn’t take away from it’s poor condition.O’ Connell Monument’s base has been cleaned over the summer – where credit is due and all that – although some scribblers have already had a go at it.
Yeah I know, I keep typing that.
I didn’t mean you were scoring points, rather my listing of the problems may be interpreted by anyone as such.
Most people I know certainly would notice the condition/cleaniness of paving abroad.Well if you havn’t said your goodbyes its too late now I’m afraid – the 70s bus remains have already come down, exposing the building in all it’s breeze-blocked glory – the cladding being carted off to be recycled into milk bottles.
29 million is the figure being thrown around now – one of the conditions of sale is that the old printing presses be removed from the building.
I was really surprised to see what a nasty ‘suspended-ceilingey’ interior that lies behind the distinguished facade.How much bigger can Arnotts get now?
They’ll be eyeing up the GPO next, as a flagship entrance from O’ Cll St.O’ Connell St is disgusting.
It dosn’t matter what other cities are like, it is inexcusable and pathetic.
We have a small city centre and should lead by example.
This is’nt about scoring cheap points at the CC’s expense – its about an inexcusable lack of maintainance and an apathetic public.This is O’ Cll St’s partner in crime in terms of filth, every bin was overflowing with rubbish today, as were the pavements.
At last!
I suppose this building is really to large to sweep away – it’s massive to the rear.
Walked down the street today at lunchtime to Connolly – there were no less than 5 pools of vomit on the ground on the stretch between Bachelors Walk and Henry St.
Two were on the pavements edge, one was at the base of a rubbish bin (which of course was missed, hence it ran all down the side to the ground) and one, more sophisticated puker decided to adorn the base of a pilaster of the GPO – on both sides – creating a striking symmetrical composition.The place was coated rubbish – moreso than usual – my feet stuck to the ground the whole way – and the place stank to high heaven of vomit, urine and the joys of lunchtime at Supermacs.
I was on the verge of throwing up myself.
The paving on this stretch is the worst paving I have ever seen in any town or city in the world.
The slabs are cracked and subsiding, are cheap concrete, unbeliveably incredibly dirty – some are literally black in colour – the kerbstones are subsiding, every slab is coated in chewing gum in a variety of shades, hundreds of gaps are filled with tarmac, ‘juice’ is leaking out of every bin staining the surrounding area, and of course litter litter litter.
What really annoys me is that people think this is all part of the works for Luas or the repaving, hence letting the CC off the hook – this place has been like this for the past 10 years!
There is nothing in this city that the CC can be blamed more for than the state of the paving on this street – so simple to resolve – so cheap to resolve.
And this is the main street – it is just unbeliveable the state of this paving, imagine Trafalgar Square or Oxford St like this, it should have been fixed years ago.I was mortified passing all of the German and French couples on their Autumn weekend breaks.
Passed it today smirking broadly – I’ve always tried to think what it looks like – I think a big yellow lunchbox is the closest one can get.
I can’t think of any other building in the city where anything, anything at all, would be better than the one standing.
Even Hawkins House doesn’t come close –
well ok maybe thats going a bit too far…Whatever about the material underfoot, the design of this metal – ie it being ribbed – is silly, an inevitable dirt-trap.
The Ha’penny Bridge has been cleaned – should point it out considering the many complaints here of its condition just weeks after reopening.
The dirt is building already and could do with another in a few weeks.Does anyone else find it astonishing the cheapness of the finish underfoot on the Ha’penny considering the tens of thousands spent on its restoration.
All that was done was bog-standard tarmac poured and concrete kerbs laid as steps.
Not even a coloured asphalt or similar material was used.Just saw this this morning – oh what a mess, what a mess.
The OPW spend how many tens of thousands and how many months repaving, furnishing and cleaning up the Green walks – and then the CC’s road department come along slap a cumbersome island in the middle of the carriageway and adorn it with the crappiest of crap – unfinished lamposts and railings – their steel exposed for the world to see, and the island splicing the thoroughfare in two.
I despair, I really do.
Yes – considering the rest of the airport is plastered in his images – one can safely assume it was his.
‘Malton’s Views of Dublin’ is like gold-dust to aquire.
Charlie Haughey has many of the original prints.Thats what I was trying to figure – colour will brighten the area no end, not least outside the GPO which frankly is horribly drab – but colour dates so quickly – suppose you can’t account for everything.
About the GPO – it needs cleaning – it was sandblasted in 1984 I think,but a simple pressure washing is all thats required now – not least the base of the columns which are disgusting – they’ve never been touched and are disgraceful for a building of this status.
And if the windows were originally white they should be painted as such to lighten it up – although I’ve a feeling they were originally brown as part of that craze in the early 19th century.
