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Capel Street

ABBEY STREET AND NEARBY – UPPER, MIDDLE AND LOWER

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PHOTOGRAPHED USING THE HALIDE APP

There seems to be a LR bug or a problem with the Halide Camera App – I say this because all of my recent iPhone photographs have a pink tint that is difficult to correct.

The Three Sections of Abbey Street in Dublin

Abbey Street, a prominent thoroughfare on Dublin’s Northside, stretches approximately 1 km from the Customs House in the east to Capel Street in the west, where it continues as Mary’s Abbey. The street is divided into three distinct sections:

  1. Abbey Street Lower (East End)

Beginning at the Customs House and Beresford Place, Abbey Street Lower features a mix of historic and modern buildings. It’s home to the iconic Abbey Theatre, a cultural landmark central to Ireland’s theatrical heritage. The street’s lower end is also marked by a vibrant commercial scene, with shops, cafes, and restaurants catering to locals and visitors alike.

  1. Abbey Street Middle

The middle section of Abbey Street connects the lower and upper parts, characterised by a bustling atmosphere. The Luas Red Line stop at Jervis Street adds to the dynamism, making it a convenient access point for exploring the city. Several notable establishments, including the Irish Life Mall and Arnotts department store, lie within this section.

  1. Abbey Street Upper (West End)

Transitioning towards Capel Street, Abbey Street Upper retains its lively character with a blend of commercial and residential buildings. It leads to the Jervis Street Shopping Centre, a popular retail destination. This section also encompasses the historic St. Mary’s Abbey site, lending a touch of historical significance to the area.

CAPEL STREET – THE RECONFIGURATION WORK HAS BEGUN AT THE LIFFEY END OF THE STREET

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PHOTOGRAPHED 2 APRIL 2024

Below I have include a description of the proposal that is now being implement and the end of the street that is nearest Grattan Bridge.

https://bslarch.com/work/capel-street-interim-landscape

BSLA are working with teams from Dublin City Council’s Environment and Transport Department and their Parks Department to improve Capel Street in response to the current daytime traffic free environment. We want to improve the public realm, so the street becomes an even better place to shop, trade and live.

The new elements must not alone to look good but act to slow down cyclists and encourage more people onto the centre of the street.

The measures being considered make many more points of access from the pavement to the street. All of these need to be available to wheelchair users and alongside elements retained that will assist a guide dog or tapping cane. We are planning to meet with various groups across a range of disability representation in order that efforts already made (based on previous consultations elsewhere) can be improved upon further.

Alongside the fine historic buildings, the community of shops, cafes, businesses and residents are really what provides the magic, but we feel that another offering can be made that will improve the place for all of these. What we are offering derives from a series of consultations, which will continue through the life of the project. Our task is to translate these proposals into reality on the ground and do so in a rather short period of time. Furthermore, we want the new elements to be capable of re-use such as being transported elsewhere so that in any future permanent scheme, these elements will not be wasted.

We are at the stage where we are consulting on the first set of co-ordinated proposals and testing them amongst various stakeholders while at the same preparing costs to see how much can be done in the first phase. The scheme will be modular in nature so that it can continue to be rolled out beyond this initial phase. The northern section of the street from Ryders Row to Mary Street will likely see the start of the roll out during this summer.

THE CREW FROM EATOKYO SUPPLIED THE SUSHI

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THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON CELEBRATION ON CAPEL STREET

I returned at about 4PM and all the sushi had been sold even though stock was replaced three of four times.

It is claimed by some that there are typically marked spikes in the birth rates of countries that use the Chinese zodiac or places with substantial Chinese populations during the “Year of the Dragon”, because these births are considered to be lucky and have desirable characteristics that supposedly lead to better life outcomes. The relatively recent phenomenon of planning a child’s birth in a “Year of the Dragon” has led to hospital capacity issues. [I cannot verify this]

I was born in the Year of the Golden Tiger [1950].

Generally, the year of the Golden Tiger falls into two, 2010 and 1950. The next gold tiger year will be in 2070. Those born in this year of the tiger are usually considered commanding, magnetic, and strongly valued. They are also family-oriented. Gold tigers, in particular, are regarded as enthusiastic and powerful but generous and manage to keep work and family clearly separated. A gold tiger rarely brings work home and is often considerate of family.

Sushi is a Japanese dish of prepared vinegared rice, usually with some sugar and salt, plus a variety of ingredients, such as vegetables, and any meat, but most commonly seafood. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the one key ingredient is “sushi rice”, also referred to as shari, or sumeshi.

CAPEL STREET IS STILL A W.I.P.

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THE PERIOD BETWEEN HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS

Every year at the beginning of November I get the false feeling that I have plenty of time to prepare for Christmas and then it is suddenly Christmas day and I am totally caught by surprise. I mention Christmas because this is a great area for shopping as there are many different and unique establishments where you can spend your money on buying presents for family and friends but if you are not in the humour there are plenty of Pubs and Restaurants.

CAPEL STREET LOOKS SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED

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WORK IN PROGRESS

According to Dublin City Council: “Since making of Capel Street traffic free, we have witnessed a remarkable increase in foot traffic and cycling activity. Pedestrians have increased by 12%, while cyclists have seen a 24% rise. These figures indicate a successful transition towards a more sustainable and people-friendly urban environment.” Personally, I find the Electric Bikes to be a bit of a pain.

Some people have objected to Capel Street being traffic free. The main objections are:

Increased traffic congestion on surrounding streets: Some businesses and residents have complained that the closure of Capel Street to traffic has led to increased congestion on surrounding streets.
Reduced access for deliveries and emergency vehicles: Some businesses have also expressed concern about the reduced access for deliveries and emergency vehicles on Capel Street.
Negative impact on businesses: Some businesses have argued that the closure of Capel Street to traffic has had a negative impact on their business, as it has made it more difficult for customers to reach them.
However, it is important to note that the majority of people who have responded to public consultations on the Capel Street traffic-free proposal have been in favour of it. A recent consultation by Dublin City Council found that 89% of respondents wanted to see traffic-free measures on Capel Street.

The City Council has also taken steps to address some of the objections to the traffic-free proposal. For example, they have increased the number of loading bays on Capel Street to facilitate deliveries. They have also worked with the emergency services to ensure that they have access to Capel Street at all times.

Overall, the decision to make Capel Street traffic free has been a popular one, but there are some people who have objected to it. The City Council is working to address these objections and to ensure that the traffic-free proposal benefits all users of the street.

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