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THE FUTURE OF the iconic Poolbeg chimneys in Dublin will be discussed next week when Dublin City Council meet to talk about their possible demolition
This comes after ESB chief executive Pat O’Doherty suggested that carrying out the necessary structural and repair works to the 680 ft high twin stacks may not be the best use of resources. The two chimneys have been in place since the 1970s.
Labour councillor Dermot Lacey has submitted an emergency motion to preserve the chimneys at the South East Area Committee of DCC to view on Monday. The motion is:
That in view of recent reports that the ESB is considering the demolition of the Iconic Poolbeg chimneys that this Committee agrees to reinitiate the proposal to include these chimneys on the list of protected structures.
Speaking about the chimneys, Sinn Féin councillor for Pembroke South Dock Chris Andrews said: “They are iconic structures really and it is something we will have to raise. We will be looking to bring this up at the earliest time, which will be the council meeting on Monday.”
They’re the first thing you see when you’re arriving into Dublin and the last thing you see when you’re leaving. They’ve also been part of pop culture. U2 had them in one of their music videos. They are stitched into the culture.
The towers ceased operations in 2010 and currently play no part in ESB’s operations. Speaking to TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for ESB said: “We are at a review stage, so no decisions have been taken. There are a wide range of considerations we would have to take into account, ranging from the long term feasibility from a renovation and maintenance point of view, but also taking into consideration the wider public sentiment about the towers.”
The critical thing from our point of view is that people realise it is a review, and we will be consulting widely before any decision is made. There are absolutely no definites at the moment.
Speaking in The Irish Times, O’Doherty said: “Some view their 40-year presence on the Dublin skyline as iconic; other as a blight on the landscape”.
It has been suggested that the chimneys could potentially be developed as a landmark for Dublin. Designer Michael Ó Mara has outlined a proposal to change the chimneys into an iconic spectacle by developing them and installing a museum into their base.
On the potential for transforming the towers, O’Mara said: “I think it is an alternative solution. It is a massive opportunity to develop a prime piece of real estate. If you look to the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Opera House in Sydney or the Eiffel Tower, this could be Dublin’s chance to have something like that.”
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Anyone read the Guardian today, reporting on how penalty points were squashed for the editor of the Irish Independent, they are questioning the integrity of Irish journalists and news outlets for not asking questions.
I expected the journal to at least have something on it.
Thats what has the country Ducked,The journalist are just staying stum to help secure their future employment.Meanwhile the people suffer without a voice.
And the one journalist who wanted to continue asking questions about penalty points got fired by guess who- the same editor who had penalty points quashed, this country is so full of corruption it really is sickening.
There is an inner circle of politicians, the media and certain higher professionals that run this country as they like and the rest of us are mere minions who must do as we are told.
Are we really looking for integrity when we speak about journalists? The least they could’ve done was give the job to someone gook lookling
keep up the good work pat of letting us know that this is not a democracy also another beaut heading to RTE to fill us with pure crap that they throw at us.
I heard Pat Kenny has moved to Newstalk.
No, you’re kidding me, when? Why have I never seen that reported on the journal? Seems very odd that they never saturate their pages with stories about RTE or radio stations owned by multi billionaires.
I’m sure there was an fair and open candidate search for this taxpayer sponsored job
In other news:
My cats breath smells like cat food.
Why is this news?
Hi Angela,
It is filed in the ‘Media’ Section of Business Etc.
Thanks
Sinéad
No pleasing some Sinead :-)
I can see that, admittedly my eyesight isn’t great but I’m not blind. Does ‘The Journal’ source these ‘Media’ stories or do the individuals involved send their own press release in?
Angela
Like a number of reports on Journal and Sport.ie, the original question still remains. Why is this news? Or do you just regurgitate press released from RTE?
Hi Mick, Angela,
This wasn’t press-released by RTÉ but as we have a ‘Media’ section in our Business Etc vertical, it would then make sense to report on major recruitment decisions at Ireland’s public service broadcaster.
Also, there’s loads of other news here if you want to read something else: http://www.thejournal.ie/
Cheers
Sinéad
News Editor
Me thinks she will make RTE alot easier to watch while listening to the BS the TDs are spouting. Yup alot more pleasing on the eye…
A real journalist would not join RTE particularly the political department. might as well work for the Fine Gael press office you will be repeating the same sound bites either way. She looks nice though maybe she will rebel and ask a government minister a real question for a change.
Tough crowd tonight Sinéad.
Why is this tough cheeky bums!
Or some such malarkey.
What defines news? Why’d you click on the article? Go get laid, you’ll find you’re less inclined to nitpic then.
When I grow up I want to be a pol coll
If the Journal’s reporting pisses people off so much, why not go somewhere else for news?
@davidmurphyRTE, too good a political correspondent to loose to Washington. Needed at home.
Erm, David Murphy isn’t a Political Correspondent, he’s Business Editor. If you mean David McCullagh or David Davin-Power, you clearly haven’t read the article!
Touchy, touchy Donal! This weather is getting to me too.
Too many Davids.
Jobs for the boys/girls in RTE, can they ever advertise for some new blood ???
Wouldn’t mind corresponding with her if you know what I mean wink wink
Who?
“Reached out” did he? I thought that was only something the Democrats did to the Republicans
I think they should send Robert Shortt back there, after all he was good at it last time and is the person they chose to send in the interim. Haven’t seen David Murphy report on anything other than Business so hard to judge if he’d be any good.
Politics just got even better!
Good on the eyes as well very important.
Well done David you weren’t overlooked despite wearing shorts whilst reporting outside the dail during our hot summer
Ah sure im sure she will do well as a government media propegandist
RTEs pic makes it look like the Bar lost another one…
have your say