Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE WALKWAY ALONG the side of the old Central Bank building in Dublin’s Temple Bar is to be closed for at least a year and a half, prompting concern from some residents of the area and a complaint over lack of notice from a city councillor.
There’s support for the move from elsewhere in the capital’s nightlife and cultural district, however. The CEO of the Temple Bar Company, which represents businesses and cultural centres, said the eventual prize – the redevelopment of the landmark building – would be “worth the wait”.
The walkway from Crown Alley to Dame Street, regularly used by shoppers, commuters and tourists, was closed last Saturday as construction work at the complex steps up a gear.
Plans for a €75 million redevelopment at the iconic building, including a new 360-degree 300-seater rooftop restaurant and bar, were given the green light last month.
The building’s joint owners, Hines and the Peterson Group, are overseeing the ambitious plan which will also see the office space in the building be revamped to house 1,300 workers.
“The walkway between the former Central Bank Tower and the adjacent Annex building will be closed for the duration of the project to facilitate the development works on the plaza,” a spokesperson for the developers of the new Central Plaza said.
“For health and safety reasons this thoroughfare could not remain in operation as it is now in the middle of a live construction site.
“It will reopen to the public upon completion of the project.”
The statement pointed out that alternative pedestrian access was available nearby and that this access was now clearly signposted at the location.
Frank McDonald, chair of the Temple Bar Residents Association and a former Environment Editor at the Irish Times, said he had been taken by surprise by the closure and that it would not have been impossible to keep the route open.
“The pedestrian route between Dame St and Crown Alley goes back centuries,” he said in an email.
“Even when the Commercial Buildings stood on Dame St, there was a route through its courtyard, and that’s why it was provided for when the Central Bank was developed in the late 1970s.
While I agree that it’s problematic to maintain, in the context of current building works, it would not be impossible to do so. Convenience for the contractors plus ‘health & safety’ considerations have won out.
Independent councillor Mannix Flynn insisted a right-of-way existed at the location, and that the developers had not given proper advance notice of the closure.
He said he had asked Dublin City Council to explain how the decision was made and that he was concerned it would set a precedent for developments in other areas.
“I don’t intend to let this go,” Flynn said.
Martin Harte, the chief executive of the Temple Bar Company, said he didn’t think the closure would have too much of an effect.
“It’s a bit like everything in the city from the Luas to Grafton St – for the city to change there has to be bits of pain and unfortunately there’s going to be. I actually think it will be fine.”
Most of the tourist footfall in Temple Bar comes “from the bottom up,” he said – adding that the walkway was mainly used by commuters on their way to and from work.
The fact that construction had finally started at the complex was to be welcomed, he said.
“The old Central Bank has been empty for a year and a half and is starting to get a bit grotty – what they’re putting in will be world class.”
It’s understood the developers obtained a hoarding licence from Dublin City Council, in line with the stipulations of planning permission.
The works are expected to take 18 months.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
So the bollards were removed in Nov 2023 by some amadan.
Reported in January by a concerned resident, and the council couldn’t complete the complicated task of replacing the bollards, mitigating the risk at the dangerous junction 4 months after reporting , 6 months after it occurred.
Poor woman. Such needless loss of life on Irish roads. We all need to take collective responsibility and cop on.
Seriously what use are plastic bollards to protect vulnerable cyclists, poor young woman
@Terry Molloy: Drivers see the bollards and should take heed and slow down for cyclists or pedestrians but in this case some headcase removed them resulting needlessly in a young womans death
@barry williams: The article suggests the bollards were ‘dug up’, which requires a lot of effort, and equipment, far more than simple removal.
And time.
There seems to be more to this than meets the eye.
@Jimmy Wallace: If those bollards were in place then the vehicle would have had to strike them – possibly causing damage to the vehicle – to also collide with the cyclist.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: If they are like the ones I’m thinking of, they are flexible when hit and spring back upright afterwards causing no damage to any vehicle. They unfortunately can be screwed out of the ground easily and this used to happen in my local area where young lads would be messing with them at night. They are better than nothing, but no substitute for proper segregated off road cycle lanes which actually protect cyclists and encourage cycling in any countries which have them.
@Terry Molloy: Sad reality is that some drivers are more concerned to avoid scraping their paintwork off a fixed object than to avoid a cyclist. Studies show them slowing down more for bollards than pedestrians/ cyclists
@Longlin: Thanks Longlin.
@Terry Molloy: read what Barry said Terry – they work just understand that..far far better to have them at junctions like that than not…
Large trucks have to drive over these plastic bollards on some roads when turning.
No accountability yet again for our “public servants” who will, yet again, skip off without answering any hard questions.
These cycle lanes are a nightmare where Safety has not been prioritised
Please let the person who removed them get the Karma deserved
have your say