Dublin should be levelled again... like it was in 1916!

THE Easter Rising, 102 years ago, not only led to the formation of our nation but also, bizarrely, to the rejuvenation of central Dublin destroyed in the conflict. I was thinking of the current “rejuvenation” of the capital after the economic collapse of 2008 this week as I stood looking at the finishing touches being put to the new landmark on the site of the fabled “U2 tower” at the entrance to Dublin port at the East Link Bridge. Does anyone remember the ill-fated plans for a “watchtower” building at the Point Depot, mirroring the U2 tower opposite in what would be a breathtaking and uplifting addition to the city skyscape?

Originally proposed to be as high as the Spire opposite the GPO, the “twisted” design was the result of a competition with over 500 international entries.

But that dream collapsed. The properties all folded into Nama in 2012 and today the new landmark building is, in my opinion, an ugly, bland, prefabricated carbuncle.

By its height and location it will be known, by its uninspiring, dull and utilitarian appearance, it will be remembered.

Now it’s owned by the biggest property company in the State, Kennedy Wilson, who landed here when the property market collapsed and who are currently transforming the face of Dublin. Someone should shout stop. You don’t need to be stuck in the capital’s traffic to realise that no one seems either to care or be in charge of what is happening to Dublin, whether it be bland buildings or unmoving traffic.

The wall of buses that now line O’Connell Street because of the gridlock caused by the criss-crossing Luas is not beyond the wit of officials to solve.

Stuck in a taxi the other morning on Burgh Quay between Butt and O’Connell bridges it was clear to see that three traffic cops on point duty could get the traffic moving. But Luas rules the city. Who tolerated the eight ugly metal box monstrosities opposite Trinity College that we are told are vital to the technical operation of the trams but have been labelled “Luas-henge” by Dublin wits because of their awfulness? The city centre is now a maze of wires and poles – many of which serve no function.

It is worth remembering that when a very similar tram system was unveiled in Bordeaux the mayor insisted that the wires go underground in the historic city centre.

When cobblestones or pavements break in the busy city centre along comes a machine to “vomit” lumps of tarmac in the general direction of the problem.

On a historic bridge over the canal near Barrow Street, I counted five different types of ‘railings’ erected by the city council – each outdoing the other in its awfulness.

Has anyone even noticed that the street where our national parliament, National Museum and other important buildings are located is now divided in two by cheap, tacky plastic poles permanently built into the middle of the road?

The problems of Dublin are staring us in the face – 102 years after the Rising it’s time to rise again!