Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Sparch - losing the battle

Options
13»

Comments

  • Options
    #62
    Bredabe
    Registered Users Posts: 4,109 ✭✭✭Bredabe


    Bredabe wrote: »
    My colleagues rented in the block closest to the water, they were shocked at the noise level allowed after 9pm. Where they are from(as many of the residence were at the time) outdoor socialising is common but everyone heads home by 9.

    No, the ones I met were from all over europe, where ppl respect others and have a balanced attitude to alcohol, esp in an area where ppl live.

    "Have you ever wagged your tail so hard you fell over"?-Brod Higgins.



  • Options
    #63
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,714 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Bredabe wrote: »
    No, the ones I met were from all over europe, where ppl respect others and have a balanced attitude to alcohol, esp in an area where ppl live.

    Not sure which Europeans you are taking about but my experience of many European counties is people have barely had dinner by 9pm never mind started their nights drinking/nights out so going home by 9pm just doesn't happen.


  • Options
    #64
    Bredabe
    Registered Users Posts: 4,109 ✭✭✭Bredabe


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    Not sure which Europeans you are taking about but my experience of many European counties is people have barely had dinner by 9pm never mind started their nights drinking/nights out so going home by 9pm just doesn't happen.

    The ones who have been drinking since early go home around then, the ppl having just one, move away from residential into designated drinking areas, most countries there have laws preventing drinking in residential areas around then(in my experience, the residential areas in Prague are all quite by 9, tho the city is heaving)
    That is the experience echoed by the residence I was speaking too.

    "Have you ever wagged your tail so hard you fell over"?-Brod Higgins.



  • Options
    #65
    Bredabe
    Registered Users Posts: 4,109 ✭✭✭Bredabe


    Bredabe wrote: »
    The ones who have been drinking since early go home around then, the ppl having just one, move away from residential into designated drinking areas, most countries there have laws preventing drinking in residential areas around then(in my experience, the residential areas in Prague are all quite by 9, tho the city is heaving)
    That is the experience echoed by the residence I was speaking too.
    Forgot to mention, there is a big difference in the timings due to the countries economies, for instances, spain/portugal stay out later and have different laws cause of the tradition of siesta and to keep tourists happy, places like austria/germany who are expected to be capable of working the next day as normal(no siesta) are home by 9/10
    .

    "Have you ever wagged your tail so hard you fell over"?-Brod Higgins.



  • Options
    #66
    Wompa1
    Registered Users Posts: 8,172 ✭✭✭Wompa1


    topcat77 wrote: »
    I'd like to see the off licences take a bit of responsibility for the rubbish just as the fast food outlets have to.

    B*llocks. You can hardly expect off licenses to clean up a mess people make at the Spanish Arch. Should O'Briens on Headford Rd have to chip in? Or just the two closest?

    What they should do is have a Garda presence and nail people for littering if they see them leaving without taking their crap with them.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #67
    Stevolende
    Registered Users Posts: 483 ✭✭Stevolende


    Are the massive bins still down there?
    Not really spent much time down there in the last couple of years.
    Was going to say a couple of days ago that St Nicholas market seems to be largely bin free apart from what stallholders bring. Which seems a bit shortsighted.
    Closest bin to there i can think of is on Shop st a bit away from the top of teh market.
    Then was thinking that there were major bins along the Spanish arch pedestrian area last time I was spending time there.
    But they may have been removed since then.
    Giant square blocks dotted along that space near the benches.


  • Options
    #68
    Woodville56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭Woodville56


    Spent a few hours in Galway this evening and while there's a pleasant happy summery vibe around the city I couldn't help but notice the proliferation of drinking - on street , in public green spaces etc , and quite a few raucous lads (and lassies) well on the way to intoxication, not to mention the rough sleepers settling in for the night around Shop St. As one who always had a soft spot for Galway I'm a bit sad to see it become a bit tawdry of late ? Why are the by laws not being enforced around on street drinking / vagrancy etc ? Pity to see the place become another Dublin city centre ?


  • Options
    #69
    Eeden
    Registered Users Posts: 17,912 ✭✭✭✭Eeden


    When you say "rough sleepers", what do you think they should do? Go back to their lovely homes instead of sleeping outdoors for the fun of it?


  • Options
    #70
    Woodville56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭Woodville56


    Eeden wrote: »
    When you say "rough sleepers", what do you think they should do? Go back to their lovely homes instead of sleeping outdoors for the fun of it?
    I made no insinuation as to the motivation or otherwise of those sleeping in the doorways of the city, just stated a fact and that it's unsightly. I think even the homeless agencies refer to these people as rough sleepers so I wasn't intending to be derogatory in my description. It reflects badly on the city ? Would you not agree ? I'm not entering a debate here with you on the homeless issue - just remarking on what seems to be a growing problem in the city .


  • Options
    #71
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Galway has always been like that though - with people who are well on their way to intoxication. People have always had a relatively open attitude to public drinking and, by and large, there aren't that many eejits. There were numerous hens and stags in the city over the past few weekends, but they're a beast unto themselves and shouldn't be mixed in with the general public.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #72
    bobbyss
    Registered Users Posts: 5,228 ✭✭✭bobbyss


    Woodville56 wrote: »
    Spent a few hours in Galway this evening and while there's a pleasant happy summery vibe around the city I couldn't help but notice the proliferation of drinking - on street , in public green spaces etc , and quite a few raucous lads (and lassies) well on the way to intoxication, not to mention the rough sleepers settling in for the night around Shop St. As one who always had a soft spot for Galway I'm a bit sad to see it become a bit tawdry of late ? Why are the by laws not being enforced around on street drinking / vagrancy etc ? Pity to see the place become another Dublin city centre ?

    I agree with your sentiments.
    I am no kill joy but the strictest regulations about drinking in public should be implemented.
    Drinking as you described is simply a recipe for bad stuff and is not conducive to bringing a young family to town.


  • Options
    #73
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,714 ✭ [Deleted User]


    People should be allowed to drink in public if they wish, it's nothing but nanny state nonsense and needless outrage comparing about people enjoying themselves in the sun with a few drinks.

    So what if kids see people drinking, wouldn't bother me in the slightest bringing a family to town.


  • Options
    #74
    gordongekko
    Registered Users Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭gordongekko


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    People should be allowed to drink in public if they wish, it's nothing but nanny state nonsense and needless outrage comparing about people enjoying themselves in the sun with a few drinks.

    So what if kids see people drinking, wouldn't bother me in the slightest bringing a family to town.

    I hear you brother... sure who cares if they even go to school either....


  • Options
    #75
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,714 ✭ [Deleted User]


    gordongekko wrote: »
    I hear you brother... sure who cares if they even go to school either....

    Why are you giving drinking some sort of taboo status. It's an everyday thing that nearly everyone does. Next you will say you would never bring children to a pub.


  • Options
    #76
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,950 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    It's an everyday thing ....

    Nope: suggest you research health guidelines on using alcohol.

    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    ...nearly everyone does.

    You may be surprised at how many choose not to use intoxicating substances of any sort.


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    Next you will say you would never bring children to a pub.

    A restaurant for a meal, yes. But there's no reason for kids to be in licensed premises other than that.


  • Options
    #77
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,714 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Nope: suggest you research health guidelines on using alcohol.


    You may be surprised at how many choose not to use intoxicating substances of any sort.


    A restaurant for a meal, yes. But there's no reason for kids to be in licensed premises other than that.

    Everyday thing means a normal thing that most people do, there is no need whatsoever to hide it away.

    Not many people choose not to drink, I know very very few who do so.

    There are plenty of reason for kids to be in pubs, from events and parties to the parents just wanting to go for a drink, to watching sport, to having pub food etc etc. I was in pubs regularly as a child as were all the cousins etc, back then there wasn't any rules either about being there late at night.


  • Options
    #78
    ben.schlomo
    Registered Users Posts: 12,144 ✭✭✭✭ben.schlomo


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    Everyday thing means a normal thing that most people do, there is no need whatsoever to hide it away.

    Not many people choose not to drink, I know very very few who do so.

    There are plenty of reason for kids to be in pubs, from events and parties to the parents just wanting to go for a drink, to watching sport, to having pub food etc etc. I was in pubs regularly as a child as were all the cousins etc, back then there wasn't any rules either about being there late at night.

    Sure you were in having a shcatter of pints at 7 years of age, then the feed of a fry the morning after and back on it the next day before going into primary school with no homework done on the Monday, did you no harm though!!!!


  • Options
    #79
    Woodville56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭Woodville56


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    People should be allowed to drink in public if they wish, it's nothing but nanny state nonsense and needless outrage comparing about people enjoying themselves in the sun with a few drinks.

    So what if kids see people drinking, wouldn't bother me in the slightest bringing a family to town.

    So yuh think it's acceptable to see men sprawled out on the streets swigging the Buckfast, or lads half pissed shouting obscenities and crude comments at passers by ? I witnessed both such scenarios during a short time in the city last night long before closing time, by which time it's probably worse ? There were quite a few tourists about , I wonder what impression these scenes left with them ? By all means enjoy the social buzz of the city and having a few drinks etc but within reason and without impacting on the enjoyment of the city for others. Galway is a great place to party and have a night out, but as commented elsewhere there are plenty of great bars and indoor venues without taking the drinking on to the streets.


  • Options
    #80
    gordongekko
    Registered Users Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭gordongekko


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    Why are you giving drinking some sort of taboo status. It's an everyday thing that nearly everyone does. Next you will say you would never bring children to a pub.

    I agree sure lets bring back corporal punishment as well... sure wasnt it an everyday thing as well


  • Options
    #81
    Chancer3001
    Registered Users Posts: 5,480 ✭✭✭Chancer3001


    Drinking inside is perfect no hassle....but shudder the thought that a child should actually lay eyes on a drunkard.

    Thank God we don't let our kids into pubs and keep alcohol hush hush.

    It's why we have minimal underage drinking and a healthy drinking culture here.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #82
    pjohnson
    Registered Users Posts: 23,638 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson


    Wow. I think I may be one of the few "youngsters" on the forum. Common sense is lacking. Hell even calling it "battle" is a bit superlative.


  • Options
    #83
    Arghus
    Registered Users Posts: 14,510 ✭✭✭✭Arghus


    I was down the Spainish Arch myself a few times last summer. It was good natured fun, people having a few drinks late in the evening. I didn't really see that much anti social stuff, everything seemed pretty relaxed. Days in which the weather is good enough for going drinking down The Sparch aren't that frequent.


  • Options
    #84
    bobbyss
    Registered Users Posts: 5,228 ✭✭✭bobbyss


    Grady Plain Honeybee wrote: »
    Everyday thing means a normal thing that most people do, there is no need whatsoever to hide it away.

    Not many people choose not to drink, I know very very few who do so.

    There are plenty of reason for kids to be in pubs, from events and parties to the parents just wanting to go for a drink, to watching sport, to having pub food etc etc. I was in pubs regularly as a child as were all the cousins etc, back then there wasn't any rules either about being there late at night.

    I have not been in a pub for about twenty years if not more. I have never brought my own kids into one either. I don't like the drinking culture or the general environment of people drinking and being tipsy and drunk. I am glad I did not let my own kids be part of that.

    Other people make different choices and good luck to them.


  • Options
    #85
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    I've zero problem with people enjoying a few drinks in the sunshine and the Arch is a fantastic place for it but I do have to say I do see where the calls for zero tolerance are coming from. It's grand for the majority of the time, but the state it's left in, in a not insignificant portion of the time is pretty disgraceful, and the amount of rubbish that ends up in the water as well.

    I was in Eyre Square as well last weekend when the weather was fantastic - same thing, empty cans and plastic glasses thrown all over the place, and a lot of the daffodils squashed and trampled. It's sort of a hard one to call....because the guards either enforce the bye laws or they don't. No-one wants the batons out because someone's innocently sipping on a can of cider at 3pm on a sunny Saturday but when it gets out of hand, which it does a bit, it's pretty bad.

    It's one of those things were the minority are ruining it for the majority, but it is what it is.


  • Options
    #86
    Chancer3001
    Registered Users Posts: 5,480 ✭✭✭Chancer3001


    We have to be realistic about things.

    Police the area and let people drink. Have bottle bank and recycling bins there.

    Even have a cleaner there on weekend days

    They do it in many many European cities.


  • Options
    #87
    purple hands
    Registered Users Posts: 1,070 ✭✭✭purple hands


    Why can't we have nice things?!


  • Options
    #88
    ArtyC
    Registered Users Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭ArtyC


    purple hands wrote: »
    Why can't we have nice things?!

    Because a small number of morons ruin it for everyone else


  • Options
    #89
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    Chancer3001 wrote: »
    We have to be realistic about things.

    Police the area and let people drink. Have bottle bank and recycling bins there.

    Even have a cleaner there on weekend days

    They do it in many many European cities.

    Do they, though? Realistic question.

    We're not talking about a handful of people down the arch on your average afternoon, no-one is particularly concerned with that and of course that happens in cities around the world.

    We're talking about the frequent situations where there are very large rowdy crowds and the place ends up like a rubbish tip.

    Public holidays, sunny weather, race week, etc.

    To be fair, you most definitely do not see that in other European cities.

    And as for recycling bins, being realistic that wouldn't matter a jot. There are already bins there and it doesn't stop people leaving rubbish everywhere and firing bottles/cans/crap into the water, no reason to think that providing recycling bins would magically trigger their social conscience.

    edit - just for clarity, I'm certainly not anti drinking and I've had many the can down at Spanish Arch, but it has gotten out of control in my opinion and I can perfectly see why people are calling for a zero tolerance approach, it's not what I personally want given that most people just want to enjoy a drink in peace in good company but again, it is what it is.


  • Options
    #90
    Chancer3001
    Registered Users Posts: 5,480 ✭✭✭Chancer3001


    Large rowdy groups - thats where the policing comes in. gardai on the beat on sunny days etc will cut down on this. The majority dont participate in that.

    recycling bins - we'll agree to differ there, i often see the bins overflowing so even those who do try to clean up cant. and again....if we could police it, couldnt the guards ask people not to litter. also, less likely to fire bottles into the river with guards around

    large groups of drinkers in other european cities....ive been in at least 15 of them all around europe. large scale parks / riverfronts / squares and they cater for this. Have police and bathrooms, most even had music to entertain people. performers, buskers also contribute to a festival atmosphere.


    Whats the alternative? Strongarm approach where guards confiscate any drink they find? We have tried that and all that happens is people move across to the middle arch for a few weekends before returning. or hide their drink when the guards come around and take it out as soon as they leave.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #91
    Laviski
    Registered Users Posts: 1,591 ✭✭✭Laviski


    problem with all scenarios

    not enough bins / not being emptied - yes there there are big bins in the arch but their should be a small bin every 100 meters so that you can dispose of rubbish correctly. I am not excusing for people for littering but mentality of some people is "oh i have rubbish but i can't see a bin near me., just leave it here i guess...."
    Another problem is the few bins that are there can be overloaded very quickly and are not emptied especially on Sunday/BH Monday.

    not enough guards patrolling around on foot.... more visible presence should be there but either we don't have enough guards to do that or they can't be arsed. if people feel there is more presence around they might be more inclined to do the right thing if my first point is resolved.


Advertisement