Would you visit the "Dublin Eye"?

darkman2

From The Sunday Times

April 25, 2009
Giant 'London Eye'-type wheel for Dublin
It may be up by Christmas as Docklands Development Authority issue tender to build at George's Dock or Custom House Quay

Aine Coffey

The Dublin Eye, the Irish answer to London’s giant observation wheel, could offer panoramic views over the capital by Christmas after the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) issued a tender for contractors to build it.

The body hopes the 80m wheel will stand in George’s Dock or Custom House Quay for up to three years. Loretta Lambkin, its head of marketing, said the ferris wheel could accommodate up to 500,000 visitors a year.“We want to build an attraction that will bring tourists to the docklands,” she said.

The structure will be 20m taller than Liberty Hall but considerably smaller than the 120m Spire.

The DDDA hopes that the wheel will replicate the success of the 135m London Eye. Initially intended as a temporary structure, it proved so popular that it has been kept in place. It has gone on to become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK, attracting over 3m visitors a year.

Lambkin said the DDDA is hoping to have the wheel in place by Christmas. If the Abbey Theatre relocates to George’s Dock, the DDDA may move the wheel to South Wharf, she said.

The authority has launched a number of initiatives to transform the docklands into a dynamic city quarter but it has struggled to bring in tourists. The O2, which has a capacity of up to 14,500, attracts mostly Irish visitors.

The Docklands Maritime Festival attracted 130,000 visitors last year. The authority owns the Jeanie Johnston replica ship and the Liffey Voyage sightseeing boat, which carries 30,000 passengers a year.

The National Conference Centre is nearing completion and the DDDA hopes to attract houseboats to stimulate nightlife.

Why do we have to copy them across the water all the time? Would you visit this circus feature in Dublin for views of the city? Is there anything to see

Gumbo

i have to say yes i would visit it at least once.

Donny5

darkman2 wrote: »

Why do we have to copy them across the water all the time? Would you visit this circus feature in Dublin for views of the city? Is there anything to see

You're right. I propose a giant, rotating trapezoid instead.

emeraldstar

Once just to see what it's like.

Rented Mule

Only if they build it tall enough to see the 'emeralds of the Northside'.

galwayrush

When will we get to see it, if the Government has anything to do with the building of it.:rolleyes:

Saibh

darkman2 wrote: »

Why do we have to copy them across the water all the time? Would you visit this circus feature in Dublin for views of the city? Is there anything to see

Probably copying the London Eye because it is a popular tourist attraction and that is what the DDDA hope to achieve.

spoonface

I went up to the top of Liberty Hall last year as part of the Open Architecture weekend and I can tell you it's not that good of a view. I mean with London you've got some spectacular high-rises like the gerkin that stand out and you can see the curve of the river and the nearby Houses of Parliament among others, but when I had the big view in Dublin, there just wasn't that much to see to be honest. So having been up in Dublin and been up the London Eye, I would pay for it in London, but not in Dublin.

Firetrap

I don't have a problem with it per se. The big wheels in London and Belfast look great, especially when they're lit up at night and they earn a few bob as well. As with all of these things, I suspect people will only go on them the once. Personally, I'd try it once (but I try most things once anyway )

rossie1977

there is an eye in manchester too and i never see anyone use it

galwayrush

rossie1977 wrote: »

there is an eye in manchester too and i never see anyone use it

It's probably just a holographic projection.;)

Nodin

rossie1977 wrote: »

there is an eye in manchester too and i never see anyone use it

Some probably robbed the lashes off it....

minidazzler

When will people learn that Sauron is Evil!!!

Holsten

I would indeed visit it.

johnnyskeleton

There's already the Jameson tower in Smithfield - how many different angles do you need to see Dublin from? Or are they going to compete with each other and bring the price down from €5 to say €4.80?

Notorious

Anyone else think building this during a recession is a terrible idea? Its not exactly going to attract a bigger flock of tourists.

Acacia

Where are they getting the money for this? Why are they directly copying London? Can't they squeeze a few more pennies out of Dublin's ''rich historical heritage'' instead building a huge fupping eyesore?

So many questions.

johnnyskeleton

Are they also building that metal wire giant man statute in the river? Cos if so there will be even less to look at from the Docklands.

conchubhar1

how about we build a big **** off gee in the city centre to match the big **** dick where the cock himself used to stand until he was blown up?

keefg

After a recent trip to that glass bar on top of Guinness and seeing what a crap view of Dublin that provides.....then nope, I wouldn't bother paying to visit the Dubin Eye (or whatever they decide to call it.

From above, a pretty city Dublin ain't.

The only nice view when you are above the city is when you look south over the Wicklow mountains.

wudangclan

Would you visit the "Dublin Eye"?

aye

tony1kenobi

Notorious wrote: »

Anyone else think building this during a recession is a terrible idea? Its not exactly going to attract a bigger flock of tourists.

It'll create jobs though won't it?

4zn76tysfajdxp

No, They should build the "Dublin Monocle" instead. A massive, eyesight- correcting circular pane of glass, 400 feet in diameter, that helps visitors see close-up objects a little bit clearer such as the television or an especially made 20,000 foot high newspaper.

xOxSinéadxOx

there's nothing really to see tbh

ejmaztec

Better off with a tread-wheel. We could take turns powering up the country and scrap the ESB.

Firetrap

keefg wrote: »

After a recent trip to that glass bar on top of Guinness and seeing what a crap view of Dublin that provides.....then nope, I wouldn't bother paying to visit the Dubin Eye (or whatever they decide to call it.

From above, a pretty city Dublin ain't.

The only nice view when you are above the city is when you look south over the Wicklow mountains.

I liked the view from the top of Guinness' but perhaps it was because the sun was shining and everywhere looked shiny.

regob

i wouldnt visit it if there going to call it the dublin eye, such a rip off

entropi

I'd go to see it once and once only. Once the "Dublin Eye" aint a euphemism for some skangers tool:pac:

Lia_lia

No, but I wouldn't visit the London Eye either.

zootroid

No. Two reasons:

Waste of money
Copying London

NEEVYYYY

yea have to say i would!:)

joey54

Sure why not build it. It can't look worse than anything else they've thrown up in the city, for example the lovely spire!!!!

I know which one I'd prefer!

punkeasy

If the prices dropped by 50% I would bring my kids.
I Did the large wheel at bray this summer seen the more and at a fraction the cost.

This wheel is another splendid example of rip off Ireland in action.