urbanisto
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also think to overly concentrate on outsiders would be unfair to Fitzgerald who has established himself in the European pecking order as an individual of European standing in terms of the changes he has overseen. If every government promise for funding made was honoured on time he would have acheived a great deal more and I really hope that he is not let down at Grangegorman as many times as he was as City Manager.
I completely agree that John Fitzgerald has been an outstanding success in reinventing the council and changing its (often very negative) view of the city and its citizens.
My suggestion of a UK manager stems from the fact that (administratively at least) UK councils tend to be quite innovative and successful at pushing through new ideas. But its true, the choice should not be limited to UK. I just think that this is an important point fo Dublin. The new city manager needs to build on the achievements of push the city forward. Fitzgerald has broken through a lot of the psychological barriers to changing the way people use and view the city and a fresh outside perspective could go along way to developing Dublin into an important European capital.
Theres still plenty of things to do at DCC… a recent look at their website would show that. Its become so cluttered and second rate looking ( i still think you should be offering your services P Clerkin!). And dysfunctional departments like Roads and Public Lighting need to be tackled. Improving the city’s quays should also be a big priority for the next guy (why not any women?)
I think they should look at someone from outside Ireland…. a UK manager. Bring a fresh perspective on things
Im delighted to see Mr Davis back on view. 🙂 I agree its not the most attractive of statues, all its proportions are wrong and the face is odd to say the least. However its the whole ensemble I liked and I always felt so sorry for it, forgotten and forlorn on its traffic island. The floodlighting should improve its profile enormously. Incidentally, the works on this statue were completed by OPW as the statue is a national monument under their care (just like its sister monument of Wolfe Tone on the Green). I agree with your comments Graham about floodlighting the OConnell St collection….I’m amazed this wasn’t considered. Then again we have previously commented on the lack of hardwiring for tree lights around the plaza at Christmas and the inability to properly floodlight the lower sections of the GPO. Perhaps this project will open some eyes at the DCC.
I love summer in Dublin…all these lovely images of our city at its best. Dont know about that window though. I think swing-out, white PVC would have looked much better. And so much easier to maintain.:rolleyes:
Im sure this was a sarcastic aside on the part of mr Thomond Park in reference to the insanity of placing the new D of Marine in Cavan, a landlocked county. I would imagine Admiral Brown will be installed in Wexford (where I think he hailed from).
Im delighted Thomas Davis has finally come out of his closet. Will the fountain work is the next thing….we know the history of fountains in Dublin
This pub always puts n a good show…. definately one of the more civic minded businesses on Pearse St
The CC have given the green light to plans to change the former BOI banking hall beside Clerys into a shop. Significantly they included the condition that the two glass display cases meant for either side of the entrance be excluded. This is good news as I think these glass cases didn’t look so hot. There has been previous discussion about the challenges posed by this odd building with its grand but contraining entrance and lack of large windows. Still a retail use is much more appropriate than the sports bar and betting shop oiriginal planned. For those interested a pic of the proposed glasses boxes can be accessed from the planning file online.
I quite like the lower sections…I think it might be okay without the copper “sails” on top. Otherwise it is indeed a quite bulky building, although this may well be the angle its seen at. I’d like to see another perspective.
Has a decision yet been made in respect of http://www.tcd.ie/Buildings/projectspearcestreet.php ?
I think its still in planning…. last I saw there were a large number of requests for further info.
From the City Council’s Press Office:
PRESS RELEASE 21st May 2006
GIANT HARES TO TAKE OVER DUBLIN’S O’CONNELL STREET
The first steps to install Dublin City Gallery The Hugh’s Lane’s first-ever outdoor exhibition were taken over the weekend of 20th May 2006
. Six giant bronze Hare sculptures, by one of the world’s most renowned sculptors, Barry Flanagan, were installed on O’Connell Street for one of the most exciting, eye-catching exhibitions ever seen in the Capital. Barry Flanagan on Dublin’s O’Connell Street will be a world-class exhibition featuring ten pieces – eight Hares, a playful elephant and a pair of cougars.
The complete exhibition, which is being installed as part of the celebration surrounding the reopening of the Gallery and the refurbishment of O’Connell Street, will be in situ by 27th June, when the last piece will be unveiled by the artist himself. The exhibition is being organised in collaboration with IMMA.
“This is a major coup not only for the Gallery but also for the city of Dublin,†said Barbara Dawson, Director of Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. “This is Flanagan’s first exhibition in Ireland and it’s incredibly exciting to be able to bring art onto the street where it can be viewed in people’s very own environmentâ€.
Beginning on O’Connell Bridge, the Hares will progress up the central median of O’Connell Street and along Parnell square to the Gallery’s forecourt. “Barry Flanagan’s monumental bronzes have been exhibited in other prestigious streetscapes such as Park Avenue in New York and the Champs Elysées in Paris and this unique and quite exceptional exhibition demonstrates Ireland’s ability to host world-class exhibitions in the heart of the capital city. Exhibitions of this quality and reputation ensure that Ireland remains a key player on the international stage and will attract, not only local and national interest, but world-wide visitors too,†said Ms Dawson.
NOTES RE ARTIST:
Barry Flanagan is one of the world’s foremost figurative sculptors and the ten chosen pieces will allow the general public the opportunity to engage with the exhibition as it threads down the central median of O’Connell Street and along Parnell Square to the Hugh Lane Gallery Forecourt.
The giant hares range in height from 3m to 9m (9ft – 23ft approx) and weigh several tons apiece.
Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Barry Flanagan has lived in Dublin since 2000 and has become an Irish citizen. The six works installed over the weekend of 20th May 2006 are:
* An Unlikely alliance (Cougar and Elephant) Outside McDonalds
* The Thinker on Rock Opposite Easons
* Acrobats Site of Anna Livia Central median
* Hare and Bell Site of Anna Livia Central median
* Nijinsky South of Father Matthew Statue Central Median
* Drummer Nearly opposite old Aer Lingus offices, between trees on final medianThe point about the Botanic Road station is well made…it would be madness not to link the two lines at this point.
I also don’t understand why the RPA are developing Luas and Metro – because their brief is to develop new transport infrastructure – but Iarnrod Eireann are developing the Interconnector and Spencer Dock Station. Am I missing something? Aren’t these new infrastructure too? Surely the fact that we have so many cooks is one of the reasons why the city transport network (I use term loosely) is such a shambles.
And why the resistance to any talk of the Phoenix Park tunnel? There must be some rationale to it as it keeps cropping up …even if its only a temporary measure. Like the temporary Spencer Dock Station! What kind of planning is that….allowing a new station but only for 10 years when it will have tp be replaced! Honestly, there is no logic to any of this T21 rubbish. It sounds like something Martin Cullen put together on the back of an envelope. Although I am sure that was never the case!
Also where is this new “Dublin Transport Authority” we heard so much about. Not a dickybird since. The last I heard was that a business plan of sorts on what the DTA should actually do (after it having been created) was due by the summer. If it was so important that all this was in place to guide the development of T21 then why are all these agencies pushing ahead with their plans in such an ad hoc way.
Meanwhile the integrated ticketing project wallows in bureaucratic no-mans-land. Another union leader berating the lack of progress in the Times today.
Thats good to hear though its amazing it was left like that for so long. Its a small point maybe but the whole in the street was repaired but minus the line if gray cobbles that line the pavements. Its attention to detail but it would be interesting to hear of this was rectified.
On the above photos it would be nice to see a bit of effort put in by the fastfooders (whidh after all are multinational companies!) to spruce up their premises. Perhaps a direct approach to them Graham? Or is there a way of sending a link to Archiseek to the head honcho…see if it stirs his conscience.
How about a memorial to the gunboat “Helga”
What a load of nonsense…lets make up the need to commemorate someone to fill a bit of space on a bridge. Ruiari should be ashamed of himself. As should Lacey…. the man who famously derided the Spire as a monument to nothing!
Its good to see the same issues debated north of the border…even if it is in that particular Northern style :p
Protection of Northern countryside debated
Dan Keenan, Northern News EditorAssembly members have voted to establish a working party to “develop a balanced policy” for sustainable rural development and environmental protection.
The proposal was opposed by the SDLP, which had earlier submitted a highly critical private member’s motion condemning the Northern Ireland Office for its announcement of severe restrictions on planning permission in rural areas.
Last March, Lord Rooker, the minister in charge of rural affairs, proposed a virtual ban on new single buildings to counter “bungalow blight”. He pointed out that the number of rural planning approvals in the North had soared from 1,790 in 1991 to 9,520 in 2004, with indications that the latest annual figure will be well over 12,000.
However, Assembly members on both sides criticised Planning Policy Statement 14, as it is known, warning it would further accelerate the decline in rural populations and cause the loss of 10,000 jobs.
Sinn Féin boycotted the debate arguing they would not be part to a powerless talking shop.
Opening the debate, Patsy McGlone (SDLP, Mid Ulster) said: “This document shows no knowledge of our rural communities, displays no awareness of rural society and no consciousness of the sense of place and belonging that goes with those communities.”
His motion was opposed by Jim Wells (DUP, South Down), whose amendment called for the establishment of a working party to develop a balanced policy for the sustainable development of the countryside and protection of the environment.
“I think the one thing we are all agreed on is that something has to be done to prevent the indiscriminate loss of our countryside through speculative development.” The statistics were frightening, said Mr Wells, who has backed a campaign in Co Meath against a waste incinerator.
While the population of Northern Ireland was 1.7 million, he said, they passed three times more permission for individual buildings in the countryside than in Britain with 58 million people.
Leslie Cree (Ulster Unionist, North Down) supported the amendment but criticised the “quick fix, one size fits all approach” of direct rule.
Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford) expressed concerns about the restrictions the new proposals put on farming communities to sell their land.
“Rural people must not be forced away from their birthplace to towns and cities,” he said.
Independent unionist Paul Berry, a former member of the DUP who left that party after press reports about his private life, made his first contribution to the Assembly.
The DUP amended motion was passed by 35 votes to 17.
© The Irish Times
Helpfully bullet pointed by the Irish Times 🙁
he Veterinary Council; The Irish Horse Board Co-Operative Society Limited; The Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board; The Marine Casualty Investigation Board; The Mining Board; The National Advisory Committee on Drugs; Coiste an Asgard; The Civil Defence Board; An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta; The Advisory Council for English Language Schools; Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; An Education Support Centre as provided for in section 37 of the Education Act 1998; The Further Education and Training Awards Council; Gaisce – Gradam an Uachtaráin; The Higher Education and Training Awards Council; Integrate Ireland Language and Training Limited; International Education Board of Ireland; Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology; Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences; Léargas – The Exchange Bureau; The National Centre for Guidance in Education; The National Centre for Technology in Ireland; The National College of Ireland; The National Council for Special Education; The National Education Welfare Board; The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland; The National University of Ireland; The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; The Royal Irish Academy; The Royal Irish Academy of Music; The Company Law Review Group; The Craft Council of Ireland; All County Enterprise Boards; The European Social Fund Financial Control Unit; Science Foundation Ireland; Skillnets Limited; The Affordable Homes Partnership; The Building Regulations Advisory Body; The Dublin Dockland Development Authority; The Local Government Management Services Board; The National Building Agency Limited; The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; The Valuation Tribunal; The Advisory Board to Irish Aid; An Bord Altranais; The Crisis Pregnancy Agency; The Dental Council; The Dental Health Foundation; The Drug Treatment Centre Board; The Health Insurance Authority; The Health Research Board; The Health Services Accreditation Board; The Medical Council; The Mental Health Commission; The National Breast Screening Board; The National Cancer Registry; The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery; The National Treatment Purchase Fund; The Office of Tobacco Control; The Opticians Board; The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland; The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council; The Special Residential Services Board; Censorship of Films Appeal Board; Censorship of Publications’ Appeal Board; The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; The Human Rights Commission; The Registration of Titles Rules Committee; The Family Support Agency; The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman; The Commission for Taxi Regulation; The Medical Bureau of Road Safety; The Institute of Public Administration.
Isnt ABP already covered by FOI? And Councils? All the information you want on a planning file is available to the public.
Im very familiar with Tramore and I must say I never stop thinking what a golden opportunity the town is. It could be so lovely but unfortunately the tackiest elements of seaside town economics hold sway… not to mention the dump right behind the beach. A great contrast is with Dunmore East which still remains a charming coast town, although it has recently seen a huge amount of building.
90 or so pages into this great discussion of what needs to be done with O’Connell Street, how that is to be done, how work is progressing and how that work has turned out, could the NEW O’Connell Street now….finally….be deserving of a thread of its own?
Funny you should mention this as I was just thinking the same thing. It would be a shame to lose all the debate gone. However there are lots of new issues coming up to discuss. Perhaps Graham Hickeys promised before and after shots would be a good starting point…. and after all Graham did start this thread.
Yes I fully agree with you here- bus as the primary measure for getting people around the city is the way forward.
Good point about more efficient use of road space. You have me sold on Suffolk Street. Incidentially (as I mentioned already somewhere) the Traffic Dept of DCC had plans for a revamp of the street earlier this year although I never got to see them. You had to actually go up to the Traffic Dept offices and ask for them…. they were not on display in the Atrium nor were they on the website. A real waste of a good resource.
