THERE ARE MIXED feelings among Dublin City Councillors about a 30-metre tall statue which has been proposed by a private firm as a new tourist attraction for Dublin’s George’s Dock.

The Giant, which could cost around €29m, would be the world’s tallest moving human-shaped statue – but not everyone is sold on the idea.

Dublin City Council has been discussing plans to regenerate the derelict site at George’s Dock for several years. An outdoor pool, a whitewater rafting facility and a playing pitch are some of the ideas previously suggested for the site, but no consensus has yet been reached.

Dublin City Council made a contribution towards the costs of a feasibility assessment of the project, which was carried out by an independent assessor on behalf of The Giant Company.

Today the results of the study were released, finding that The Giant has the potential to deliver “significant social, cultural and economic benefits for Dublin”.

The Giant would use technology that allows it to transform into any Irish or international figure to celebrate their legacy. An adult entry ticket would cost €25, and visitors can be digitally scanned and mapped onto its form.

The CEO of The Giant Company, is Dublin businessman Paddy Dunning, who is also behind the National Wax Museum and The Button Factory. 

An adult entry ticket would cost €25, and visitors can also be digitally scanned and mapped onto its form. The Giant Company The Giant Company

But Dublin City Councillor for the Green Party Janet Horner believes the project is not what the local community wants or needs.

“It’s a niche campaign driven with corporate interest in mind, rather than the benefits of the community,” she told The Journal.

“I just think it’s silly.”

Meanwhile, Independent Councillor Mannix Flynn said that while he thinks the idea in itself has merit, it isn’t what is needed for Dublin’s north inner city.

Speaking to The Journal, he said he “can’t support a commercial entity at this site”, and believes a free facility for children and parents would be more suitable.

CEO of The Giant Company Paddy Dunning believes that The Giant would bring benefits to the local community as well as generating income for the economy through tourism. The Giant Company The Giant Company

He described the Council’s attempt to regenerate George’s Dock as “all very rushed and ad-hoc”.

“It’s fucking nonsense,” he added.

However, not every councillor is in agreement. Labour’s Dermot Lacey said he welcomes the idea.

“I’ve been quite supportive of it. It’s interesting, it’s novel,” he told The Journal.

He believes that The Giant could work alongside a project like the lido in George’s Dock.

When asked about the criticism of The Giant, he asked “What are [the critics] ideas?”

“Why do we always knock things? Give ideas a chance.”

CEO of The Giant Company Paddy Dunning believes that The Giant would bring benefits to the local community as well as generating income for the economy through tourism.

“Dublin city needs something mega,” he told The Journal.

He said a portion of the profits made from The Giant will go back into the local community and fund programmes and scholarships for locals. He also said that for every person that gets scanned by The Giant, a tree will be planted.

Dunning said that the company believes projects like an outdoor pool could be created in the same site as The Giant, while he envisions it being a space for fairs, markets, family events, new green public spaces and educational and performance spaces.

“This isn’t just a statue,” he said, adding that it offers the chance to tell the untold stories of people who made positive contributions to society.

He said that it creates another tourist destination in Dublin that isn’t related to alcohol.

He described George’s Dock as currently being “an eyesore” with no use, but said The Giant could “change the city’s skyline and become a landmark in Dublin”.

The feasibility study said the message of The Giant is ‘awaken the giant in you’, to remind every visitor of their potential.

The study estimates that The Giant would generate between €6,052,610 to €31,799,200 in revenue each year from a combination of sources, including admission fees and advertising.

Dunning said that 20 cities around the world are now interested in putting a giant in their city, including Shanghai, Boston and Abu Dhabi, while one is due to be erected in Las Vegas soon.

Enterprise Ireland and The Department of Enterprise have been contacted for comment.

Tell us: Would you like to see The Giant become the Dockland’s new tourist attraction?