City centre discussed on Newstalk this morning

BESman

kilburn wrote: »

Galway didnt organise the ocean race they just asked them to stop off there.

Each stopover is an event in itself for every city that has one. Do you realise the amount of organisation that went into this? The whole docks area was redeveloped and a Race Village was set up there along with a stage and stalls. It was marketed all over the city and it had its own organisation committee.

There was a lot more to it than calling them and asking them to stop off on their way. There were over a 100,000 people there over the course of the stopover. Whens the last time Limerick had a 100,000 people for anything? O'Connell Street for the Heineken Cup Finals?

kilburn

redeveloped ? putting up a stage and some stalls ?

Limerick has plenty of pulling power just not utilised correctly but that will change

BESman

kilburn wrote: »

redeveloped ? putting up a stage and some stalls ?

Limerick has plenty of pulling power just not utilised correctly but that will change

The docks were fairly ugly, they had to knock some sheds and derelict areas and move a scrap yard. All buildings were painted and cleaned. New Victorian style street lights, street signs and flower pots were put up all over the city. The whole area looked completely different to what it was before.

This image shows what a great event it was.

Berty

A Danish company whom ran a very successful Oktoberfest Beer Festival in Dublin wanted to have one in Galway, Limerick and Cork this year.

Cork were already having one.
Galway couldn't provide a location suitable.
Limerick just said no.

Instead of the 1 week Oktoberfest in Dublin it will now be 2 weeks long instead. They had 1900 people each night last year(max capacity) and expect the same this year.

It's a shame when locals council just turn their back. They have to do nothing other than provide a location.

source

Beer Baron wrote: »

A Danish company whom ran a very successful Oktoberfest Beer Festival in Dublin wanted to have one in Galway, Limerick and Cork this year.

Cork were already having one.
Galway couldn't provide a location suitable.
Limerick just said no.

Instead of the 1 week Oktoberfest in Dublin it will now be 2 weeks long instead. They had 1900 people each night last year(max capacity) and expect the same this year.

It's a shame when locals council just turn their back. They have to do nothing other than provide a location.

That's crap, the council are never willing to back something until they're sure it'll work here, stupidity is all it is.

Amazotheamazing

Beer Baron wrote: »

A Danish company whom ran a very successful Oktoberfest Beer Festival in Dublin wanted to have one in Galway, Limerick and Cork this year.

Cork were already having one.
Galway couldn't provide a location suitable.
Limerick just said no.

Instead of the 1 week Oktoberfest in Dublin it will now be 2 weeks long instead. They had 1900 people each night last year(max capacity) and expect the same this year.

It's a shame when locals council just turn their back. They have to do nothing other than provide a location.

Why don't they approach someone else? The Market Trustees, Jackman Park etc.

Edit, another thing they could do is approach the Leader and make an issue of it. I know the Leader tries to avoid actual news as much as possible but if they feel they had something to offer Limerick they could at least make their case. The Council are always looking for more tourists and events so at least they could outline why they refused it.

Amazotheamazing

BESman wrote: »

These responses miss the point. Asking "why don't you do something about it?" adds absolutely nothing to the debate. I, and I presume many other posters, are not experts in event management and I don't believe it is the responsibility of ordinary residents to organise events to help the city. Those in positions of authority among Limerick's sporting, arts & cultural and public bodies (i.e. councils) are the ones in the best position to implement new ideas and events for the city. Why would I do it?

Someone like Zuroph organising a zombie festival is great, but these are small, amateur events for a bit of craic. I'm thinking along the lines of mass appeal, mass marketed, city wide events which would attract visitors from all over the country. Hate to keep referring to Galway, but things like the Galway Races, the Arts Festival and the Volvo Ocean Race are the scale of events that Limerick badly needs. The Ocean Race in particular was something that was kind of obscure and new, yet it was organised and marketed so well and attracted huge crowds as a result (albeit, weather helped A LOT). The Races and Arts Festival have been running for years and are well established events, so its hard to imagine something similar in Limerick but the Ocean Race proves that a city can organise something new with no distinct following and make it hugely popular and successful.

The Great Limerick Run is something I had forgotten about. I took part in May and I think its something that works very well, generates a lot of interest and adds a buzz to the city for the weekend. Hope it continues.

Tbf, i disagree. The Arts festival in Galway had modest beginnings too, it's taken 30 or so years to get it to where it is. No one starts out an expert, no one gets everything right on day one. Better to try and fail than to never try and be an incessant whiner, imo.

Limerick needs big events but the best way to get them is to start small events and let them grow.

Poxyshamrock

Talking about Galway actually, the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race were so impressed with Galway in 2009 (the city, the welcome, the atmosphere) that the race will finish here in 2012!

source

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

Talking about Galway actually, the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race were so impressed with Galway in 2009 (the city, the welcome, the atmosphere) that the race will finish here in 2012!

That's great news for Galway.

niceview

Going back to the original debate, I think we underestimate the city. There are a lot of positives. Despite what some have said, I don't think the city is big. I often park the car on Careys Road and walk in. About seven minutes to Thomas street. It is compact and you can get from one point to another quite easily on foot. By and large, Limerick people are passionate about their city. This is part of the reason Munster are so big. They are our team and our players. It would be senseless not to capitlise on our strongest asset.

The city's architecture is, in my opinion, quite beautiful. We have the largest and most intact Georgian area outside of Dublin, some stunning stone and brick structures (king John's Castle, many of the churchs, the market etc etc) and we have the river. Underutilised to a criminal level, but we can change that.

I think the lack of evening entertainment is a real shame. Late night cafes and a cinema would be an enormous addition. I know there are plans afoot for a three screen art cinema near Costellos, so here is hoping it happens.

One thing that really irks me is the absolute waste that is Arthur's Quay park. Every time I visit a large city in another country and see their parks I also think what a waste it is. In Asia you see playgrounds and exercise area for adults. They have loudspeakers with music, play areas for ball games, well manicured green portions and large outdoor class (mainly light dance). I know it is small but with the right planning it could be an absolute gem. The important thing is that it remains a park.

There are obviously issues and problems but I think the positives far outweight the negatives. We just need to think outside the box, keep working at it and remain positive. We will get there in the end!

Grizzly 45

I agree completely that the city is being run wrong, i also agree that the rates are too high. I do hate to break it to you, but "my" traffic plan was not my idea, I was merely outlining that the council are already doing what another poster suggested be done.

When I say "your" traffic plan I meant it in the fact that you posted it.Called a generalisation.

My suggestion for the Old Dunnes, is just that, a suggestion. I didn't say I was 100% right or an authority on what should be done in the region, I simply made a suggestion that would be easy to implement. If you have a better idea without knocking and rebuilding then please share

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Realistically the building is going to have to be knocked,as it was designed as a retail outlet.Its in the most unluckiest locations for anything commercial or private.The only good thing that could go and should have been there is a apartment complex.


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I think you're thinking of the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin (also a 50m pool) and opened after ULs pool despite what they in Dublin would have you believe.

Proably.

I am merely quoting what the organisers I spoke to have told me. I already said I would love to see this happen.

So would I,but I am wondering is this a cop out that they have been told by the powers that be??

I haven't cut and pasted anything from any city hall brochure, well done to you for trying to do something, but I would say that not having a shooting range in the city, doesn't mean we're devoid of sporting venues as you seem to be making out in previous posts.

I am pointing out that fOR us to consider UL as a Olympic or well stocked sports campus,those should be included or considerd.

I humbly apologise if I was wrong in presuming you've done nothing, it's just something that is seen quite a bit on this forum, keyboard warriors who have done nothing but bitch about everything (which I'm sorry but that's how you're coming across here).

Apology accepted,dont try and pre judge every "keyboard warrior".

The shooting community of Limerick is well catered for, you have to have land or be a member of a shooting club to even get a gun licence. So it's not like you have no place to practice your chosen sport

Which goes to show you are not one of them then!As thats total and utter rubbish!!!
There I seriously beg to differ. [1] You do not need land.You can have permission to shoot over somone elses land,or be a member of a gun club,or obviously own your own land to shoot.HOWEVER that applies to HUNTING mostly. Target shooting with rifles or handguns.There is NO club within the Limerick city environs.There are three within Munster all well over 30 miles from Limerick. Midlands rifle range,Co Offly,An Riocht in Kerry,Ballyhoura the closest,but still a 30 mile round trip both ways.
Also these are outdoor fullbore ranges.Air rifle is actually shot indoors,and in any other European country where air powerd guns do not require liscensing are shot in any indoor space with 10 meters and a safe backstop.Some of the best EU Olympic shooters in Europe all started out as kids learning the correct stance,breathing,etc with air rifles.
Here however, they are considerd firearms and have to be liscensed and you can only get a training liscense once you are 14,which you can only use under supervision.Not to mind a rigourous garda vetting,installing alarms etc etc to own a firearm here.So between the distance to travel,the non availability of facilities etc.Limerick most certainly IS NOT well coverd in the shooting sports.

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Keep lobbying for it though, someday with enough pressure you'll get it just like the skateboarders got a space of their own, that only took about 10 years of lobbying before it became a reality.

Its been lobbied for over 25 years!! And is no way as easy as a skateboard park.It has to go thru the local cheif super,dept of Justice and council have to sign off on it.Try getting that lot to sing off the same hymn sheet.Then of course our local fammlies having the odd shoot out doesnt help either.Shure after all us law abiding gun owners are considerd to be either nutters/criminals or bambi killers or all three by the PTB and general public.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Last I checked, First weekend October is the kick off date, he's been involved in a competition to get his business off the ground in the last 2 weeks so the festival hasn't gotten his full attention.

Good to hear.As it went all quiet,I thought it had died a death.

I hate to break it to you, but moaning about it on a webforum isn't realism, it's negativity. If you don't like rugby then don't get involved, I only got into rugby in the last 4/5 years as something to do with my dad and fell in love with it, and I've lived pretty much my entire life in Limerick. So I've managed to go 24 years without coming into contact with rugby. It's not as hard as you make it out.

You sat tomato,I say tomatoe.
The REALITY is this city is not going to try and change,but just rely on the big seller here.Personally I dont care if everyone and their dog wants to play or be associated with it.Best of luck to them and you if you enjoy it.
I and many others in Limerick dont!Strange as it might seem!!So all we are asking for is somthing that does not revolve around Rugby,or GAA or Sports in general here.I dont know where you have been living,but when the season starts,it is all over the town,all people seem to be able to talk about is the matches,morning noon and night.

Going off your posts I take it you live on the Northside of the city, Somewhere down long pavement direction. I can say with quite some certainty that Gardai block off every housing estate around Thomond Park on match day so only residents get in.

The longpavement is not blocked off,and explain then the residents complaints of restricted access or fear of the difficulty ofaccess of emergency services.Also,as a tax payer I think our Gardai could be better employed than doing crowd control and traffic management for these events.I wonder would anyone object if thomond stadium would mind footing half the Garda bill for the over time and services??

Realism is saying yes we have a few problems in this city, what can be done about it, continually giving out about it without making suggestions until you're forced is negativity. I think all of my suggestions have been very realistic.

Rubbish!!! I made suggestions since the first post,if you would care to re read them.Self praise is no praise.

Insect Overlord

Mod Note: I moved 12 or 13 posts over to a separate thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056357401# and left it locked, but viewable, so that the records of the conversation aren't lost. There might have been merit to that discussion somewhere else, but not in this thread.

Grizzly 45 is still on a ban from this forum, so use Private Messages to reply to him directly.

As always, keep it civil when addressing other posters.

Thread re-opened.

vkid

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

Talking about Galway actually, the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race were so impressed with Galway in 2009 (the city, the welcome, the atmosphere) that the race will finish here in 2012!

While that is great news for Galway I was there for 2 days during the race in 2010 and I have to say it was the biggest load of codswollop ever. Galway was certainly busy (although we had no problem getting hotel rooms) but as an event I found it very underwhelming. My mate is big into sailing and found it the same. The weather was great that week as well.

Galway made a fortune out of it I'm sure but as an event I wouldnt go back in 2012.

seachto7

is it a good or a bad sign that a thread on Limerick city centre has to end up getting locked.......

Amazotheamazing

vkid wrote: »

While that is great news for Galway I was there for 2 days during the race in 2010 and I have to say it was the biggest load of codswollop ever. Galway was certainly busy (although we had no problem getting hotel rooms) but as an event I found it very underwhelming. My mate is big into sailing and found it the same. The weather was great that week as well.

Galway made a fortune out of it I'm sure but as an event I wouldnt go back in 2012.

Yeah, it's pretty dull alright but I'm not big into sailing, i suppose if you'd a boat you could take out and get a closer look at the Ocean Race boats it'd be more interesting.

BESman

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Yeah, it's pretty dull alright but I'm not big into sailing, i suppose if you'd a boat you could take out and get a closer look at the Ocean Race boats it'd be more interesting.

Not into boats myself and the first day I went down there I thought it was dull as well. But as it went on, the atmosphere in that area and around town was probably the best I've experienced in Galway. Much different kind of crowd to that of Race Week, there were a lot of genuine tourists there.

I honestly believe the weather made it though. There wouldn't have been half the crowd if it wasn't scorching that particular week.

The post earlier about a beer festival would have been great. Pity it won't go ahead. I've been to a few similar events before and they're really good.