He makes some good points but they’re lost in a sea of catastrophising and hyperbole here.
BananaHammock1757 on
Id only be in Dublin two or three times a year now and every time it feels more and more dead behind the eyes.
Tomaskerry on
It’s the opposite really.
The population between the canals is increasing all the time and still lots of big developments on the way.
The Irish glass bottle site isn’t exactly between the canals but will add another 10,000 people.
I find Dublin city centre very buzzy, energetic and youthful.
Go to some European cities and they can be dead, particularly on a week night.
funpubquiz on
Dublin is a kip. They seriously need to raze half the city centre to the ground and start again.
shinmerk on
Some good points and hyperbole.
I never trust the “I don’t go in anymore because of crime”. I suspect most of those responses are from people who were at that stage anyway- older and less interested but now have something tangible to point to.
The younger people point is anecdotal from him. The decline in bars in a one year period where Covid tax subsidies were called in is not the same as a general pattern. I get the criticisms of late night venues closing, but that appears to me to be a function of changing habits in young people too. You can’t go out during the day in Dublin and claim it isn’t vibrant. The culture has changed with less focus on clubs.
Dublin absolutely needs to improve on its policing, management of the streets and also transport (we are unfortunately at the point here where a lot is coming but won’t be evident for another decade).
We need to be building on the micro projects. DCC inhibit private development as a sport. In terms of public projects, we are not seeing delivery. White water rafting, the Abbey Theatre, new Dublin City Library in the Parnell Quarter, the Children’s Science Museum, Trinity’s Docks projects, Waterways Ireland project at the Docks…it feels like despite loads of money no new amenities have been built in the last decade.
We can criticise the authorities for sure and planning, but we also need to look at ourselves as Dubliners. The visceral reaction to the White Water Rafting facility was pathetic. Also look at the opposition to the Children’s Science Museum on the Concert Hall site. RTÉ ran a Prime Time special on it last month where various vested interests opposed it for spurious and selfish reasons. Now Mary Lou McDonald has got on board with the opposition, it is absolutely pathetic.
RJMC5696 on
Do my best to avoid the place tbh
BXL-LUX-DUB on
After 30 years of predicting imminent economic collapse is David McWilliams talking shite again?
Tomaskerry on
The population of Dublin between the canals was around 90,000 in 1990. Now it’s more than 170,000 and approaching 200,000 with lots of big developments on the way.
That’s a huge difference.
mrnesbittteaparty on
I’ve a question about his remarks on ‘nightlife’ in Dublin that young people are crying out for venues, nights etc. Is that actually true? I don’t know a huge amount of young people but none of them seem that bothered about nightclubs or pubs or even live music. It’s more online and about hanging out with friends in smaller social settings.
lucidporkbelly on
Yeah I hardly ever go in, for the most part it’s a shite hole. Also if you go for a night out it’s impossible to get home so it’s easier to avoid.
CheraDukatZakalwe on
McWilliams can be full of shit at times, but right now I think he’s right.
Historical-Hat8326 on
Town is Dead.
Or at least that’s what I’ve been hearing since 1990 when I started sneaking in for under-age pints in Fibbers.
12 Comments
He makes some good points but they’re lost in a sea of catastrophising and hyperbole here.
Id only be in Dublin two or three times a year now and every time it feels more and more dead behind the eyes.
It’s the opposite really.
The population between the canals is increasing all the time and still lots of big developments on the way.
The Irish glass bottle site isn’t exactly between the canals but will add another 10,000 people.
I find Dublin city centre very buzzy, energetic and youthful.
Go to some European cities and they can be dead, particularly on a week night.
Dublin is a kip. They seriously need to raze half the city centre to the ground and start again.
Some good points and hyperbole.
I never trust the “I don’t go in anymore because of crime”. I suspect most of those responses are from people who were at that stage anyway- older and less interested but now have something tangible to point to.
The younger people point is anecdotal from him. The decline in bars in a one year period where Covid tax subsidies were called in is not the same as a general pattern. I get the criticisms of late night venues closing, but that appears to me to be a function of changing habits in young people too. You can’t go out during the day in Dublin and claim it isn’t vibrant. The culture has changed with less focus on clubs.
Dublin absolutely needs to improve on its policing, management of the streets and also transport (we are unfortunately at the point here where a lot is coming but won’t be evident for another decade).
We need to be building on the micro projects. DCC inhibit private development as a sport. In terms of public projects, we are not seeing delivery. White water rafting, the Abbey Theatre, new Dublin City Library in the Parnell Quarter, the Children’s Science Museum, Trinity’s Docks projects, Waterways Ireland project at the Docks…it feels like despite loads of money no new amenities have been built in the last decade.
We can criticise the authorities for sure and planning, but we also need to look at ourselves as Dubliners. The visceral reaction to the White Water Rafting facility was pathetic. Also look at the opposition to the Children’s Science Museum on the Concert Hall site. RTÉ ran a Prime Time special on it last month where various vested interests opposed it for spurious and selfish reasons. Now Mary Lou McDonald has got on board with the opposition, it is absolutely pathetic.
Do my best to avoid the place tbh
After 30 years of predicting imminent economic collapse is David McWilliams talking shite again?
The population of Dublin between the canals was around 90,000 in 1990. Now it’s more than 170,000 and approaching 200,000 with lots of big developments on the way.
That’s a huge difference.
I’ve a question about his remarks on ‘nightlife’ in Dublin that young people are crying out for venues, nights etc. Is that actually true? I don’t know a huge amount of young people but none of them seem that bothered about nightclubs or pubs or even live music. It’s more online and about hanging out with friends in smaller social settings.
Yeah I hardly ever go in, for the most part it’s a shite hole. Also if you go for a night out it’s impossible to get home so it’s easier to avoid.
McWilliams can be full of shit at times, but right now I think he’s right.
Town is Dead.
Or at least that’s what I’ve been hearing since 1990 when I started sneaking in for under-age pints in Fibbers.