Come Here To Me!

Looks like it.

They’re doing it again. We all remember those YouTube videos that got removed last year, don’t we?

This is an interesting one. I passed by Cope Street recently and was struck by something titled ‘NAMAlab’ right next to, ironically enough, the Central Bank. Inside I found an incredible and innovative research exhibition looking at NAMA properties around the city and offering alternative proposals for many of the sites, dotted around our capital.

Hot on the heels of projects like Redrawing Dublin and the public forums around the city and her faults and potential, this is well worth an hour of your time. Drop in.

NAMAlab is a post-graduate architectural and urban research unit based at the Dublin School of Architecture, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) for the next six months.

NAMAlab has started mapping what we believe the NAMA portfolio to be in Dublin. This is the first time such information will be available to the public as a visual document.

NAMAlab currently offers 48 alternative proposals for NAMA sites based on the idea of recapturing the identity of Ireland in a post credit crunch society. These include a new National Contemporary Art Gallery in the abandoned shell of the Anglo Irish Bank, a NAMA jail adjacent to Dublin Castle, a trout farm on Grand Canal Basin, The New Abbey theatre on O’ Connell Street, a National Casino on Fleet Street and many more….

If the aim of NAMA is to maximise asset value, the aim of NAMAlab is to maximise the social
cultural and strategic value of the NAMAlands and set a precedent for change through
Architecture.

It’s pretty amazing that they did, but two Saint Patrick’s Athletic fans made it to Kazakhstan last week to watch the lads in action. At home, a large crowd squeezed into McDowell’s pub to watch a stream that can only be described as absolutely dire. Twenty seconds of football, followed by thirty seconds of a frozen screen. Giving up, we followed text updates instead.

When we drew level and brought the game to one-a-piece, the place erupted. An away goal really is a huge advantage in European competition. Sadly we ultimately went down 2-1, but there is a feeling of confidence in the camp as by all accounts with regards the weather it’s a different kettle of fish altogether out there.

The return leg takes place this Thursday. I’d encourage all those who may have come down a few years ago or make the odd game to consider returning, and indeed those with just a passing interest in the game of football should seize the opportunity this week creates with Europa League qualifiers on both sides of the River Liffey on Thursday night. If we progress, we’re off to the Ukraine. It’s not been an easy few weeks……

This Saturday and Sunday sees the return of Kings Of Concrete to Wood Quay. Music,street art, skating and more besides feature. In previous years it has always been enjoyable, so here’s hoping the weather holds up and the god of the weather doesn’t ‘do a Bloomsday’ on the youth.

The first one...

The Sunday Times today featured an excellent article from Neil Callanan and Ciara Kenny around a developing storm in Temple Bar, over a submission to Dublin City Council from McDonalds for a proposed three-storey outlet at Frankie’s Steakhouse and Bar in Temple Bar, noting that they believe a branch would “…add to the vitality of the area by attracting foot-fall”

Having a keen interest in the social history of the area, and the massive regeneration of Temple Bar in the 80’s, something that has always irked me is the presence of multinationals like the Hard Rock Cafe and Urban Outfitters in what began as a sort of cultural or (dare I say) almost bohemian quarter. The beauty of Temple Bar is the unusual mix of shops, restaurants and the like within it. It is hardly the ideal location for the Golden Arches, and like the tourist-trap public houses opposite Frankies, it would only contribute to the decline of the area.

Tommy Graham of History Ireland is quoted in the piece as stating “Temple Bar has been over-developed. There are far too many pubs and clubs. The original spirit of it was lost long ago.” It is difficult to disagree.

The story of Temple Bar is such a great one almost as much because of what Temple Bar didn’t become as for what it did. It should not be forgotten that the genius plan of CIE in the 1980s involved demolishing property in the area and to build a bus terminus in its place. Today, this area is home to the Irish Film Institute, the National Photographic Archive and more besides.

For all that is wrong with the area today (and we all know a lot is), surely adding a McDonalds to this corner of Dublin isn’t quite the solution?

Last nights launch party for Casa Rebelde in Temple Bar went swimmingly. I provided the tunes, Ci of this very parish was on hand to do all asked of him (mainly handing out beers, for which everyone is very grateful) and the music kept going for over two hours. I finally have a St. Pauli cap on my head (somehow came back from Hamburg without one) and if last night is anything to go by Casa Rebelde has found a great home for itself. On behalf of ourselves, congrats to all involved!

I’m proud to note the winner of the Keepy Uppy competition was the drummerboy of the Shed End Invincibles 😉

Pats and Bohs: Two sides of the Liffey, one airport.

Saint Patrick’s Athletic versus Karagandy should be live today from 2pm in McDowell’s, Inchicore. Across the Liffey, Bohemian FC versus Olimpija Ljubljana is being streamed into the club bar at Dalymount Park. European adventures are one of the highlights of following the League of Ireland so at different points of the day we’ll all be glued to screens here at Come Here To Me HQ.

……There is no Come Here To Me HQ, for anyone who thought there might be, even just for a second.

BELIEVE.