Should/Shouldn't ESB Demolish Poolbeg Chimneys?

Jim236

According to the Sunday Business Post, the ESB are gonna consider demolishing the Poolbeg Chimney Stacks when they're decommissioned next year. If anyones gonna prevent the ESB from knocking the chimneys it's Dublin City Council and they've refused to grant a preservation order, citing "they were not of sufficient architectural, social or historical value", so they obviously couldn't give a rats arse what the ESB do.

Full Article: http://www.sbpost.ie/news/the-two-towers-demolition-threat-to-dublin-icons-43787.html

Its been brought up and debated before, but would you support the chimneys being demolished? Or do you think they should be preserved as a protected landmark?


EDIT: any chance a mod could change poll to show results?

AlmightyCushion

A couple of chimneys isn't a bloody landmark.

ScumLord

No

Jim236 wrote: »

According to the Sunday Business Post, the ESB are gonna consider demolishing the Poolbeg Chimney Stacks when they're decommissioned next year. If anyones gonna prevent the ESB from knocking the chimneys it's Dublin City Council and they've refused to grant a preservation order, citing "they were not of sufficient architectural, social or historical value", so they obviously couldn't give a rats arse what the ESB do.

Full Article: http://www.sbpost.ie/news/the-two-towers-demolition-threat-to-dublin-icons-43787.html

Its been brought up and debated before, but would you support the chimneys being demolished? Or do you think they should be preserved as a protected landmark?

Imagine if they weren't there, do you think anyone would support the building of chimneys at Poolbeg?

Max Power1

but why would it be important to keep these? I dont see their historical significance tbh

AnonoBoy

They're our Twin Towers dudes. C'mon. Don't let 9/11 happen for the second time.

That'd be 911 x 2 which would be 1,822. That's not gonna trip off the tongue as easy as nine eleven.

One thousand, eight hundred and twenty two. Or eighteen twenty two, or One Eight hundred, Twenty Two. or One Eight Two Two.

However you say it it still sounds forced. It'll never work.

Save the Poolbeg Two!

Whosbetter?

Pity Fred Dibnah isn't around anymore......

bleg

No

That's 1 less thing they can show in the Fair City start now.

steppen

If they are not being used, get rid tbh. An eyesore IMHO

Jim236

Fair enough its no Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, but its an iconic structure for Dubliners. Its the first thing you see when you fly into Dublin Airport, and the last thing you see when you leave Dublin Port, its been featured in music videos for U2 and The Script. I actually can't imagine walking down the quays or around Dublin Bay without seeing the chimneys, its just part of the Dublin landscape and should be saved IMO.

galwayrush

I'm sure Zoe developments could do something with them.:rolleyes:

AnonoBoy

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

A couple of chimneys isn't a bloody landmark.

Quite right. They're two landmarks.

And before you say anything: Apology accepted.

Cookie_Monster

Is that not a fairly recent and advanced plant as far as power plants go?

I remember hearing it can run on eother gas or oil and has one of the fastest change overs in Europe. WTF are they demolishing it already?

Jim236

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Is that not a fairly recent and advanced plant as far as power plants go?

I remember hearing it can run on eother gas or oil and has one of the fastest change overs in Europe. WTF are they demolishing it already?

Its all part of ESB switching to renewables, and DCC trying to create a mini-Manhatten out of Dublin Port, and moving the Port to Balbriggan instead.

bronte

I really like them.:(

Mr Benevolent

No

Its all part of ESB switching to renewables

That'll be hilarious. Better start buying petrol generators, AHers.

Kalashnikov_Kid

No

Jim236 wrote: »

Fair enough its no Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, but its an iconic structure for Dubliners. Its the first thing you see when you fly into Dublin Airport, and the last thing you see when you leave Dublin Port, its been featured in music videos for U2 and The Script. I actually can't imagine walking down the quays or around Dublin Bay without seeing the chimneys, its just part of the Dublin landscape and should be saved IMO.

Exactly. And that's why I believe that they have enough of a cultural significance to be protected.

But knowing how planning works, maybe the corpo have whiffed a development opportunity in deciding to refuse protection status - that would boost their coffers and pensions nicely :rolleyes:

AlmightyCushion

Jim236 wrote: »

Its all part of ESB switching to renewables, and DCC trying to create a mini-Manhatten out of Dublin Port, and moving the Port to Balbriggan instead.

Pfft. Oil and gas are renewables. It just takes a few billion years.

javaboy

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Pfft. Oil and gas are renewables. It just takes a few billion years.

The dirty little secret Al Gore doesn't want you to know.

Cookie_Monster

Jim236 wrote: »

Its all part of ESB switching to renewables,

Oh right, so they're putting windmills where the chimney are then:p

Overheal

No

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Quite right. They're two landmarks.

And before you say anything: Apology accepted.

http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2006/poolbeg.jpg


.............

You Irish have no ****ing clue what landmarks are, do you?

I mean, the **** is this?

This is a landmark.


This is a landmark.


This is even a landmark.


This is a landmark.


THIS is a pair of ****ing chimneys. You have two just like them in Shannon. And about a billion of the ****ing things scattered around the world. I could go driving tonight and snap pictures of at least a dozen.

Next thing someone is going to come on here and argue that The Magpie in Clarecastle is holy ground.

procure11

No

Jim236 wrote: »

Fair enough its no Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, but its an iconic structure for Dubliners. Its the first thing you see when you fly into Dublin Airport, and the last thing you see when you leave Dublin Port, its been featured in music videos for U2 and The Script. I actually can't imagine walking down the quays or around Dublin Bay without seeing the chimneys, its just part of the Dublin landscape and should be saved IMO.

But it isnt exactly memorable ...I think it is not very nice as a reminder of visiting Ireland like the examples you gave like the Eiffel towers or Empire SB.
But I would honestly like a nice replacement.

javaboy

Overheal wrote: »

http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2006/poolbeg.jpg


.............

You Irish have no ****ing clue what landmarks are, do you?

I mean, the **** is this?

This is a landmark.


This is a landmark.


This is even a landmark.


This is a landmark.


THIS is a pair of ****ing chimneys. You have two just like them in Shannon. And about a billion of the ****ing things scattered around the world. I could go driving tonight and snap pictures of at least a dozen.

Eh a landmark is just that. Something to mark a particular point on land. Big pointy needle like structures like the Spire and the chimneys do that just fine.

Where will I meet you? At the spire. That big pointy thing? Yes that one.

Brrrring. Brrrring. Hello? Yeah it's me I'm lost. Ok can you see the big mountain from where you are? Everest yeah I can see that. Ok head towards that big gigantic mountain that's miles around. I'll meet you there.

And the statue of liberty's practically in the sea.

Useless landmarks. Pointy tall things are the way to go.

AnonoBoy

Overheal wrote: »

http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2006/poolbeg.jpg


.............

You Irish have no ****ing clue what landmarks are, do you?

I mean, the **** is this?

This is a landmark.


This is a landmark.


This is even a landmark.


This is a landmark.


THIS is a pair of ****ing chimneys. You have two just like them in Shannon. And about a billion of the ****ing things scattered around the world. I could go driving tonight and snap pictures of at least a dozen.

Next thing someone is going to come on here and argue that The Magpie in Clarecastle is holy ground.

Angry American is Angry!

I have no idea where half of those yokes you linked to are. Are they on the northside? Cause I rarely venture further north than Parnell Street so they could be bleedin' foreign for all I know.

generalmiaow

I would like that they were kept. They are a major feature of my internal geographic schema and enhance my sense of place. i would miss them if I looked out and there was just emptiness where they used to be. I don't give a damn about the architecture or definition of a landmark, that's just grim utilitarian stuff to me. They are part of what consitutes my literal perspective on the city.

I reckon the effect of that would be lessened if we had more tall buildings visible from the bay, but that's not likely to happen for a while.

It's not up to the public, anyway, certainly not of Dún Laoighaire-Rathdown, where they are actually visible.

Overheal

No

javaboy wrote: »

Eh a landmark is just that. Something to mark a particular point on land. Big pointy needle like structures like the Spire and the chimneys do that just fine.

Where will I meet you? At the spire. That big pointy thing? Yes that one.

Brrrring. Brrrring. Hello? Yeah it's me I'm lost. Ok can you see the big mountain from where you are? Everest yeah I can see that. Ok head towards that big gigantic mountain that's miles around. I'll meet you there.

And the statue of liberty's practically in the sea.

Useless landmarks. Pointy tall things are the way to go.

So are you saying you'll get lost without 2 fecking chimneys?

"they were not of sufficient architectural, social or historical value"

Indeed. Not exactly Hitler's mountain retreat or anything

Godwin!

Spastafarian

Overheal wrote: »

THIS is a pair of ****ing chimneys. You have two just like them in Shannon. And about a billion of the ****ing things scattered around the world. I could go driving tonight and snap pictures of at least a dozen.

Bet they wouldn't have cool red and white stripes though.

j1smithy

[QUOTE=Overheal;61662075

This is a landmark.

[/QUOTE]

I would just like to point out that building isn't the Kremlin. Its actually St. Basils Cathedral.

Pride Fighter

No

Jim236 wrote: »

Fair enough its no Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, but its an iconic structure for Dubliners. Its the first thing you see when you fly into Dublin Airport, and the last thing you see when you leave Dublin Port, its been featured in music videos for U2 and The Script. I actually can't imagine walking down the quays or around Dublin Bay without seeing the chimneys, its just part of the Dublin landscape and should be saved IMO.

U2 are corrupt tax dodgers. As the towers were used in one of their videos the towers are complicit in tax evasion and fraud. They should be executed (knocked down) as a result.

sceptre

Overheal wrote: »

This is a landmark.


This is a landmark.


This is even a landmark.


This is a landmark.

This is a landmark too. Hard to miss it on the train going past. Mind you there are four chimneys. And one flying pig. Bankside power station (these days they call it the tate modern) has only one. But then, they're British.

Besides, we've got some nice actual landmarks.

Like this one. I'm sure any of us can find plenty of old Irish things that look pretty and can be seen from a distance.

I don't see them as being landmarks but I'm not from Dublin. I notice the lack of the Murphys chimney every time I go into Cork though and I'm not even from the place. it was always the entry point to the city from Blackpool and I miss it. It's been gone, what, 20 years? That means it's been gone far longer than I remember it being there but it still leaves a gap. I'd rather keep the Poolbeg chimneys than that shiny needle of metal crap in O'Connell Street.

Overheal

No

j1smithy wrote: »

I would just like to point out that building isn't the Kremlin. Its actually St. Basils Cathedral.

I never said it was

But anyway, looks like I've been schmoogled.

Xavi6

Definitely keep the chimneys. They're fairly iconic and I quite like them.

Amalgam

I once sat at Sandymount just in time to catch the largest, lowest, slowest, most sinister, buttery brown, full moon pass behind them.

I don't know what's worse, a drab power station with some interesting vegetation and bird life on its wasteland, or more.. ****hole, shoebox flats.

I'll miss them.

RATM

No

They are easily Irelands (and therefore Dublins) most ugly eyesore. I can never fathom how people in Sandymount pay a few million quid for a house just to have a view of that crap. The same cash will get you a view of the Golden Gate bridge in San Fran or Sydney Habour bridge which are far easier on the eye IMO.
Im betting very few people here have stood beside them but I had the misfortune to do so once and I can testify that they are even uglier up close.

There are quite a few utilitarian buildings around the world that are worth saving, Battersea Power Station in London comes to mind. But the ESB chimmneys ain't one of them.
Knock 'em I say and then bury them in Glasnevin cemetary if thats what Dubliners want.

rossie1977

the eiffel tower was hated by the people of paris for decades

just because there are lots of something doesn't mean something isn't a icon, lisbon has a copy of the golden gate here is the same bridge in silver outside edinburgh the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in kobe japan dwarfs the golden gate 4000ft longer and the towers are 250ft taller

gurramok

There should be a referendum on this for the Dubs!

Most of us Dubs remember growiing up with the chimneys from whatever part as you can see them for miles around.

And yeh, its the first thing you see on the plane arriving into Dublin, it reminds you that you are back home so save 'em!!

Dardania

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Is that not a fairly recent and advanced plant as far as power plants go?

I remember hearing it can run on eother gas or oil and has one of the fastest change overs in Europe. WTF are they demolishing it already?

They're planning the Dublin District Heating scheme, and Poolbeg is one of the sites. Have a look at: http://www.dublinwaste.ie/District_Heating_Feasibility_Study.html

I think there's some waste to energy planned out there, but as far as I know they were also going to have a backup gas turbine genset to keep heat/power coming...

Maybe the chimneys are surplus to requirement - they look more like the kind of thing you need after generating waste heat - nowadays we recycle that waste heat from the first pass of a turbine in a smaller turbine - more efficient.

The engineer in me says get rid as there's no point wasting space in a site for non-essential structures that need to be maintained, but the Dub in me says keep them - they're a part of the landscape now

stovelid

Of course not.

I love the way, when in Dublin (whether in the city or in the hills), you suddenly catch sight of them.

We could remove them from Poolbeg and do a country-wide tour. Leave them in towns like Galway, Limerick and Cork for a few months a year.

finishedart

Jim236 wrote: »

Fair enough its no Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, but its an iconic structure for Dubliners. Its the first thing you see when you fly into Dublin Airport, and the last thing you see when you leave Dublin Port, its been featured in music videos for U2 and The Script. I actually can't imagine walking down the quays or around Dublin Bay without seeing the chimneys, its just part of the Dublin landscape and should be saved IMO.

I agree. They are a part of the Dublin skyline and should be retained for historic sakes. Save the Towers.

Long Onion

For peat's sake, leave them up, they're smokin'.

Biggins

No

Whosbetter? wrote: »

Pity Fred Dibnah isn't around anymore......

LOL Showing your age there. A few younger ones will be going "Fred who?"
(For the record, I'd be considered an old fogie too LOL)

Jim236 wrote: »

Fair enough its no Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, but its an iconic structure for Dubliners. Its the first thing you see when you fly into Dublin Airport, and the last thing you see when you leave Dublin Port, its been featured in music videos for U2 and The Script. I actually can't imagine walking down the quays or around Dublin Bay without seeing the chimneys, its just part of the Dublin landscape and should be saved IMO.

Aye, the first thing you see when flying in is something like two fingers sticking up at you and and two more fingers sticking up at you when you leave.
Yep, thats Dublin landmark? LOL

Kintarō Hattori

Overheal wrote: »

http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2006/poolbeg.jpg


.............

You Irish have no ****ing clue what landmarks are, do you?

I mean, the **** is this?

This is a landmark.


This is a landmark.


This is even a landmark.


This is a landmark.


THIS is a pair of ****ing chimneys. You have two just like them in Shannon. And about a billion of the ****ing things scattered around the world. I could go driving tonight and snap pictures of at least a dozen.

Next thing someone is going to come on here and argue that The Magpie in Clarecastle is holy ground.

How many of those you listed are American in origin? Oooh that's right the SoL was given to you by the french. Listen pal come back here when you have something of your own to waffle about! :pac:

Run_to_da_hills

galwayrush wrote: »

I'm sure Zoe developments could do something with them.:rolleyes:

They would look well at Hugh O Regan's former retreat in Kiltiernan.

Blazer

No

Blow them up...only chimneys for god's sake.

I think the ESB should err on the side of caution and maybe use a few tons of explosive.
Just to make sure that Dublin.....sry, I mean the chimneys are fully demolished

dacogawa

I'm near them & love them. they should stay

We dont want this to happen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN_ph0eME58

Quint

I'd love to go up one and see the view. Wonder if they could stick a lift in one and charge people to go up it? Would be a great tourist attraction

Long Onion

Quint wrote: »

I'd love to go up one and see the view. Wonder if they could stick a lift in one and charge people to go up it? Would be a great tourist attraction

Excellent idea, they can build the tunnel of goats next to it.

Cookie_Monster

Long Onion wrote: »

they can build the tunnel of goats next to it.

Cool

Could also turn the sewage plant into a swimming pool, what an attraction the area would become

ejmaztec

Paint them pink and put a giant Durex on each of them to represent the knobs running the country.

thebiglad

It's a tough one, up close they are nasty but when seen on arrival into Dublin by air or sea they are definitely a landmark.

I would keep them but then I don't live anywhere near them and perhaps this is where the divide is?

Red Alert

I think they're iconic and they should stay, but I tend to be fascinated by industrial heritage anyway. Look at all the beautiful old water mills preserved and old buildings that have found uses like for markets. There'll be no real-world heritage left from the latter 20th century.

And they're more 'in touch' with dublin than that oversized tweezer in O'Connell street.

smemon

No

knock them down and build a giant red and white striped wind turbine in their place....