kefu

I agree with Burge_Eye.
The problem with Dublin is that when you close off a turn or a road, there is always a way to circumvent it. That circumvention usually involves a tortuous route and inevitably leads to either more traffic on a road that can ill-afford it or rat run shortcuts.
From a driver’s perspective – Dublin has something akin to two extended pedestrianised squares miles, Henry Street and Grafton Street, with a handful of direct car routes like the North/South Quays, Pearse Street, Patrick Street, Church Street, Dorset Street, Amiens Street and so on running between and around them – all of these routes are completely congested already and any traffic alteration, no matter how minor, will only lead to more congestion.

Diaspora – as a northside to southside driver, I think you are jumping the gun on the Bachelor’s Walk to O’Connell Bridge right turn. Already, the other main option for us across the top of St Stephen’s Green has been removed. What would you suggest for people who have to drive that way? That they go along the NCR or along the Grand Canal – already two of the most congested roads in the city. Remember also that a lot of the right-turning traffic from the quays actually only goes down D’Olier Street and then turns left at the Screen – not going near Trinity or BoI.

My major concern would be that this turning circle would end up being a buspark, where the drivers had their ten-minute break before heading out of town again.
It would be entirely inappropriate for double-deckers to be parking around here and it would be probably worse than the old arrangement where at least the traffic was moving (albeit slowly).

In the absence of a definitive answer, I’ve come to the conclusion that the archway is support scaffolding to facilitate the constrction of this two-storey extension.
I don’t think anything is actually being built on the Church House side of the road. So I’m assuming they had to put this arch-like structure in place to ensure the road would remain fully open.

Last time I drove by, the pub appeared to be boarded up but because I was driving, I didn’t pay too close of attention. If you look at the roof of it, you’ll see that there are beams exposed, almost as if there had been a fire. Will have a closer look when I pass by again.

The first message in this thread specifically mentions a quote from Roddy Doyle about drink and says “any thoughts?”. So excuse me if I actually address the question that was asked.
The reason London came up was because the article was printed in a London-based English newspaper (and ironic because of that). If it had been printed in El Pais or its Portugese/Hungarian equivalent, nobody would have mentioned English opening hours.

It’s the second phase of the Smithfield Project.
Part of the Smithfield Market project:- http://www.smithfield-market.com/
Just to the left of the new building (covered in scaffolding) is the Smithfield Chimney Viewing Tower.

It’s on the website. Go to http://www.dublincity.ie and click in to the news section. It’s fourth one down.

The Bridgefoot Street dual carriageway should be narrowed. The side running down towards the Liffey doesn’t actually go anywhere and the other two lanes are just left and right filters for Thomas Street. You can see very clearly how there was a semblance of a plan for it to be a busy orbital route but it never happened.
I think the damage of the 1960s road plans can be seen clearly in places like Glasgow and Birmingham. And you’re all right about the finance issue – it was there but for the grace of God go us, it was the luckiest poverty we will ever endure.
Also I think that what’s called the HARP area, which includes Queen Street, Church Street, Brunswick Street, Nth King St, Smithfield and so on is really beginning to progress well. This was a non-area in the late 1980s and I think you can see it coming together now.

Condition

“The [O’Connell] Monument is primarily made of Ardbraccan limestone, with figures cast in bronze.
“In the hundred and thirty years since the monument was constructed – it has been exposed to the elements, gunfire, explosion, atmospheric pollution, bird droppings, graffiti, cleaning of graffiti. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the monument is in fair condition. Damage to stonework is generally superficial with only a couple of stones requiring indents as repairs. Some stone has been stained from copper oxide run-off from the bronze figures. The tooling to the surface of the stone has been eroded through zealous cleaning, giving the stonework an unsatisfactory waxy appearance.
“Although not usually recommended for historic buildings, it is felt that there is merit in considering the retooling of the stonework. Combed margins should be reinstated and the general surface finely tooled.
“Pointing to the stonework is generally required. This should be executed using a hydraulic lime based mortar.
“The bronze figures are in good condition. The sword of Patriotism is broken, and should be reinstated and there are numerous bullet holes through the figures, which can be left unrepaired.
“The winged figures stay in position under their own weight: while not verified, it is expected that the figure of O’Connell is anchored, as are the figures to the drum.
“The bronze figures merit cleaning and finishing with a patination oil, which should be applied regularly, possibly annually, care being taken not to allow oil onto the surface of the stone.

Presentation of the Monument

“As originally conceived and presented, the monument was surrounded by a small area, which was contained by railings surmounting a small plinth. In addition, the monuments setting was enhanced by the positioning of lamps relating to the four corners of the area.
“Early photographs indicated the ‘chicane’ of the tramlines as they move to avoid the monument.
“Subsequent developments involved the removal of the railings, allowing people to use the plinth of the monument for sitting. THe raising of the street level has resulted in the bottom-most stone of the plinth being subsumed. The second from bottom step has been cut back to allow a path to be maintained around the monument, although this is a very narrow path.”

* O’Connell Monument report requested by Dublin City Council. Written by Paul Arnold Architects. The previous report into all monuments was prepared by Archive Consultants.