A round up of Dublin related news stories for this week. (Might try to make this a weekly feature)
1. ‘Oriental enclave’ recommended for Dublin
Dereliction and urban blight which have dogged one of Dublin’s historic inner city areas could be reversed if an oriental quarter were developed on Parnell Street according to a report by the Dublin Civic Trust.
The report recommends restoration of the traditional 18th and 19th century facades, the removal of garish shopfronts and signage, new paving, lighting and trees on Parnell Street East and the creation of an off-street “oriental enclave” or village of restaurants and shops. – The Irish Times (13/10/11)
Marlboro Corner (Before)
Marlboro Corner (After)
2. Workman unearths 400-year-old skeleton (in Smithfield)
Nobody knows how he lived or died but yesterday — 400 years on — the remains of his skeleton were discovered. Against the backdrop of Dublin’s historic St Michan’s Church, the bones were found by a workman from the Smithfield Improvement Project As the excavation work intensified early yesterday morning the remains were discovered protruding under a metre and half of rubble.
Franc Myles, archaeologist with Dublin City Council, said: “This is a significant find. I believe the bones date from the 1600s because we also found nearby a type of pottery from Devon in England, which dates from that time. – The Irish Independent (15/10/11)
(Note: Second skeleton has been found)
Myles (and CHTM! commenter) in action. (c) Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
3. Students will march for Freeze in Fees
A mass demonstration organized by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is set to take place in Dublin next month, the College Tribune has learned.
The organization is launching a national “Freeze the Fees, Save the Grant” campaign in reaction to speculation that the registration fee may increase to €5,000 in December’s budget. The campaign will include a protest march in Dublin on Wednesday November 16th.
“November 16th should be a completely peaceful protest. USI and indeed students’ unions across the country will do whatever it take to ensure that education is protected in the budget” USI President Gary Redmond said. – The College Tribune (15/10/11)
Student demo, November 2010.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Good idea, making it a permanent feature would be a great idea.
I walk down Parnell Street every day and was really interested to hear of these plans. The ‘after’ picture looks wonderful and though the change isn’t dramatic it transforms what’s a grubby, run-down road into an appealing and eclectic streetscape.