Poolbeg twin towers- should they stay or should they go

lizardfudge

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Beauty in the eye of the beholder

And sentimentality is clearly blinding.

lord lucan

The juxtaposition that is Dublin in 2010. I love this view,old(poolbeg chimneys),modern(Beckett bridge) and older(tall ship on the left).

lord lucan

A couple of shots taken yesterday,one of which shows the paintwork that was remarked on earlier.

Spiritoftheseventies

lord lucan wrote: »

A couple of shots taken yesterday,one of which shows the paintwork that was remarked on earlier.

only picked this up just now. the fight goes on

THOUSANDS of people have joined a campaign to save the Poolbeg chimneys from demolition.

Some 4,379 people are now members of the Facebook petition aimed at ensuring the 680ft structures are not torn down.

While the ESB, which owns the chimneys, has insisted no decision has been made about their fate, there are fears the iconic candy-striped towers will be knocked down.

The twin structures are no longer in use after the company shut down its oil burning plant last month.

Power continues to be generated at Poolbeg through its gas-fired station.

The closure was part of a deal to create more competition in the electricity generation market. In 2007, the ESB agreed with the Energy Regulator to reduce its production by 1,300 megawatts.

Flocked

The chimneys have been one of the most recognisable landmarks in the capital for decades.

A spokeswoman for the energy company said: "The ESB will be talking to Dublin City Council about (the future of the site) but no decision has been made at the moment."

"(The plant) had come to the end of its technical and economic life. In addition to this, there was an agreement with the Energy Regulator."

Dubliners have flocked to join the Facebook site, giving their full backing to the retention of the chimneys on Pigeon House Road.

One contributor said she had lived in Ringsend all her life and she would hate to see them go. "We call them the poles of home," she added.

Gary Lynch, who started the petition, said the chimneys "are as familiar as a pint of Guinness or Molly Malone" to Dubliners.

"To tourists, they are two friendly giants in striped jumpers who welcome them to Dublin, regardless of whether they sail or fly into the city," he added.

Labour's Dermot Lacey, who had unsuccessfully sought the inclusion of the chimneys in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS), said the towers "have become a real icon or backdrop to Dublin Bay".

"They have featured in many a painting, photograph, promotional video and film and should be protected," he said.

"Let's have a public competition for ideas -- perhaps the Herald could run this. We have been very bad at protecting the industrial heritage in Dublin and perhaps these could be the focal point for such a museum."

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/4000-sign-up-in-bid-to-save-poolbeg-icons-2141015.html

bigar

I loved them as you can see them from very far if you come in by ferry. They are even more striking at night with their flashing lights you can see for miles.

You just know when you see them it is not much longer and you're home.

MKJNR

They made one big huge mistake demolishing the Theatre royal some years back and if they come to demolish the two towers it will be a fundamental one and we will learn to regret it in years to come, instead of demolishing them, like the Smith field chimney viewing tower, renovate them into the poolbeg chimney viewing towers so let everybody see the new towers and the ones on top will see a birds eye view not only Dublin bay, the coast onto the north side as far as howth and the south side as the eye can see but seeing Dublin as we never see it before, something that we, re lacking in a high rise viewing structure like the eye in London and the eiffel tower in Paris.

Mr Simpson

Please don't resurrect old threads, Closed