National Gallery to get €20 million facelift - while other projects are ignored.

Judgement Day

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2013/01/multi-million-euro-refurbishment-of-national-gallery-of-ireland-deenihan/

Yet again the elitist end of Ireland's Arts & Cultural heritage hoovers up what little money is available and this in a country that has:

1. NO National Transport Museum
2. NO National Maritime Museum
3. NO National Motor Museum
4. NO National Military Museum
5. NO 'proper' system of National Nature Reserves
6. Fill in your own neglected area of choice.........

I could go on but what's the point. Decades ago I pointed out to various Ministers, Heritage Council officials etc. that the big National Institutions were safe and if they had to wait a little longer for repairs etc. while funds were diverted to urgent projects that were in danger of being lost, then so be it. Might as well have to talked to a brick wall. Doesn't matter what party, what official body you talk to, they are all just time markers waiting for the clock, golden handshake or appointment to another cushy board with accompanying stipend.

Some weeks ago, I spoke to an old friend involved at the coalface of vehicle preservation in Ireland - very much a glass half full individual - and he told me that he expects a project he has worked tireless on since the late 1970s not to be operational in his lifetime. He is retired but in very good health but this is his prognosis! No proper funding or facilities to blame. No imagination from those in authority who could, at the stroke of a pen, change things. The same fools crap on about heritage, tourism and the ****ing "Gathering".

I also fail to see how the €20 million refurbishment of the National Gallery is going to create 300 new jobs - anybody know? I'm not only a glass half-empty man but my glass is long since smashed on the floor. Thank God for rugby and Guinness!

gobnaitolunacy

You're here long enough now, you should know we're only interested in diddly diddle music, GAA, dhrink and impressionist paintings.

ejmaztec

Judgement Day wrote: »

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2013/01/multi-million-euro-refurbishment-of-national-gallery-of-ireland-deenihan/

Yet again the elitist end of Ireland's Arts & Cultural heritage hoovers up what little money is available and this in a country that has:

1. NO National Transport Museum
2. NO National Maritime Museum
3. NO National Motor Museum
4. NO National Military Museum
5. NO 'proper' system of National Nature Reserves
6. Fill in your own neglected area of choice.........

I could go on but what's the point. Decades ago I pointed out to various Ministers, Heritage Council officials etc. that the big National Institutions were safe and if they had to wait a little longer for repairs etc. while funds were diverted to urgent projects that were in danger of being lost, then so be it. Might as well have to talked to a brick wall. Doesn't matter what party, what official body you talk to, they are all just time markers waiting for the clock, golden handshake or appointment to another cushy board with accompanying stipend.

Some weeks ago, I spoke to an old friend involved at the coalface of vehicle preservation in Ireland - very much a glass half full individual - and he told me that he expects a project he has worked tireless on since the late 1970s not to be operational in his lifetime. He is retired but in very good health but this is his prognosis! No proper funding or facilities to blame. No imagination from those in authority who could, at the stroke of a pen, change things. The same fools crap on about heritage, tourism and the ****ing "Gathering".

I also fail to see how the €20 million refurbishment of the National Gallery is going to create 300 new jobs - anybody know? I'm not only a glass half-empty man but my glass is long since smashed on the floor. Thank God for rugby and Guinness!

With Jimmy Deenihan announcing it, I'd be surprised if anything gets done, because he doesn't do diddly squat back in North Kerry apart from "announcing".

I expect the National Gallery job will be so specialised that most of the workers will be shipped in from overseas, and the only benefit that people here will get is paying for them..