Parnell st, it's so grim!

meoklmrk91

I have been getting the train a lot lately and I just can't get over how grim Parnell st. is. I know there are far grimmer places in the city but this is the first proper view of Limerick people get, it's dirty and dingy, a lot of the store fronts are cheap looking, and most important the amount of unsavoury types hanging around and never a Garda foot patrol in sight, you walk a couple of mins to roaches st. Or William st and its a completely different atmosphere, it's much nicer and feels ALOT safer.

I have helped a lot of tourists over the last couple of months, telling them where to go etc. And I can't help but feel that Limerick would look a lot more inviting if they cleaned up Parnell st, and it would feel a lot safer if there was even just a bit more of a Garda presence, the amount of Junkies, Alcos and scobes around on Parnell st. feels disproportionate in comparison to a lot of the other busy streets in town.

I often have a bit of time to kill before I hop on the train but a lot of the time I don't bother walking around because I know that I will have to walk up through Parnell st later in the evening and its a bit intimidating and I am not the least bit paranoid usually.

bigpink

Anyone been into that new Parnell Plaza yet?

meoklmrk91

bigpink wrote: »

Anyone been into that new Parnell Plaza yet?

I haven't, it looks good though, they have kind of a cafe thing out the front, the only nice looking building on Parnell st.

padma

Outside Connolly station in Dublin is a kip as well. Outside heuston is a kip as well at least one side by the old Guinness brewery. Outside kent station in cork is pretty crap too. At least limerick has the peoples park but I get what your saying but in comparison to other spots it ain't that bad really.

that street full of dodgy pc places and pawn shops

source

I think there must have been some international convention on the placement of train stations where they decided to locate them in rough areas.

Almost every major train station I've been in has been in. A rough looking area, not saying Parnell St is okay, far from it but if purple are used to train travel they'll be used to train station locations.

Fireball07

source wrote: »

I think there must have been some international convention on the placement of train stations where they decided to locate them in rough areas.

Almost every major train station I've been in has been in. A rough looking area, not saying Parnell St is okay, far from it but if purple are used to train travel they'll be used to train station locations.

Is the reverse not true?

Hawkeye1

Ah you cant bate a bit of grim, shur were famous for it

bazz26

Parnell Street has always been this way as far back as I can remember.

sleepyman

I think there's plans to clean it up in the Limerick 2030 blueprint.It does create an immediate negative impression to any would be tourist.
There was also plans to move the bus station to the opposite side of the train station & build a new bus depot.Never came to pass though.
At least they put up some new shelters & redone the loading bays

H3llR4iser

padma wrote: »

Outside Connolly station in Dublin is a kip as well. Outside heuston is a kip as well at least one side by the old Guinness brewery. Outside kent station in cork is pretty crap too. At least limerick has the peoples park but I get what your saying but in comparison to other spots it ain't that bad really.

Cork takes the prize, no competition really. Not only it's in the worst, oldest, crappiest looking and roughest part of the centre, as soon as you arrive you can't even see the city - get out of the station and all your greeted with is a wall and a three lanes road. The impulse to turn back and hop on the train again is VERY strong!

Insect Overlord

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Cork takes the prize, no competition really. Not only it's in the worst, oldest, crappiest looking and roughest part of the centre, as soon as you arrive you can't even see the city - get out of the station and all your greeted with is a wall and a three lanes road. The impulse to turn back and hop on the train again is VERY strong!

Spot on! I'm getting flash-backs to the first time I travelled to Cork on my own. I took a guess that I was meant to turn left.

Parnell St. is a weird one. It's so close to People's Park and the Georgian streets, Thomas Street branches off it and that looks grand these days, but apart from the Plaza, Fine Wines and the chippers, most of the buildings look awful. The boarded up avenue at the end of the Hyde Road needs urgent attention too.

Totally Tropical

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Cork takes the prize, no competition really. Not only it's in the worst, oldest, crappiest looking and roughest part of the centre, as soon as you arrive you can't even see the city - get out of the station and all your greeted with is a wall and a three lanes road. The impulse to turn back and hop on the train again is VERY strong!

The area is a bit run down but calling it the roughest part of the centre is hyberbole imo but there is a bus into town that leaves the station every 15 minutes for overly nervous and sensitive Limerick folk who are too scared to walk into the city centre.:D However this is a Limerick forum and this thread is about Parnell Street and i have to say that area on a late winters evening is a particularly grim introduction to the city for visitors.The lack of security around the station doesn't help things either tbh.

puntosporting

Totally Tropical wrote: »

The area is a bit run down but calling it the roughest part of the centre is hyberbole imo but there is a bus into town that leaves the station every 15 minutes for overly nervous and sensitive Limerick folk who are too scared to walk into the city centre.:D However this is a Limerick forum and this thread is about Parnell Street and i have to say that area on a late winters evening is a particularly grim introduction to the city for visitors.The lack of security around the station doesn't help things either tbh.

Security?
What the feck do you want an armed guard across to Luigi's?

meoklmrk91

Totally Tropical wrote: »

The area is a bit run down but calling it the roughest part of the centre is hyberbole imo but there is a bus into town that leaves the station every 15 minutes for overly nervous and sensitive Limerick folk who are too scared to walk into the city centre.:D However this is a Limerick forum and this thread is about Parnell Street and i have to say that area on a late winters evening is a particularly grim introduction to the city for visitors.The lack of security around the station doesn't help things either tbh.

To be fair I have seen the station security deal with some sticky situations over the last couple of months, they do a good job and its not one I would want to do, for some reason a lot of unstable people seem to gather there.

puntosporting wrote: »

Security?
What the feck do you want an armed guard across to Luigi's?

Really? I think we all know that's not what the poster wants, but Parnell st. does seem to have a lot of unsavoury types hanging around, I see junkies and Alcos every day, it's unnerving to say in the least, the station security do a great job at keeping them out of the station for the most part but I think a Garda presence wouldn't go astray every once and a while its a well known spot for them and I know every city has the same problem but there has to be something that can be done about it.

bigpink

I would have seen the station security was useless

Get the guys that do the luas in

Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy

bigpink wrote: »

Get the guys that do the luas in

I always found them a bit intimidating, maybe it's the black? often asked for directions from them and they've always been so lovely, very helpful and polite ... But still intimidated by them.

seachto7

Dont park your car at the station if you value it

jbkenn

Was waiting for a friend off the train recently, was a bit early so went walkabout, saw 2 cherubs peeing up against the window of the Railway Hotel at midday, not a bother on them

fleabag

I'd like to stand up for Parnell Street. I think it would be true to say that 'all human life is there'. I volunteer in the Limerick Animal Welfare shops that are on it. Some of said alcos and druggies come into the shops - sometimes they give you grief and other times they are grand. We get lots of travellers - it's the same with them. I've had some great conversations and some trying conversations with people out of their trees on various substances. It often depends how you treat them as to how they respond back.

There are also lots of wonderful people on Parnell Street, some of them possibly the same, unstable characters that posters have referred to. One guy said to me that people look at his clothes and treat him like a criminal because he has holes in his jacket. He bought a set of encyclopaedias and we gave him a trolley case to take them home in. He was delighted. Some people come in to pass the time of day; lots of elderly people buy clothes from us, especially old guys who you can see have no-one to look after them. Plenty of people stop in on their way to the station, they don't seem to be too bothered by the unsavoury air - probably they just get on with it. There isn't a lot of money out there, some people can't even afford charity shop prices. Having said that, we also get lots of people with plenty of money that dare to venture this way to bring donations or buy some of the brilliant stock we have

Personally speaking I don't think Parnell Street is any worse than a lot of other streets in Limerick. It doesn't help that the general area around the station is run down but as previous posters have said there is a certain roughness to be found around train stations in many cities - try Frankfurt, sex emporiums and Turkish barbers. I like cities with a bit of character rather than bland streets with the same shops that you see in every other place and Parnell Street has buckets of it - may be too much at times but you've got to take the rough with the smooth. I never feel unsafe there (although I'm not out at night) and love seeing real life rather than the cloned 'respectability' that seems to pass for society these days. The OP should call in to Ger's Deli and have a coffee and look out and try to see the good side of Parnell Street, it is there.

ian87

fleabag wrote: »

I'd like to stand up for Parnell Street. I think it would be true to say that 'all human life is there'. I volunteer in the Limerick Animal Welfare shops that are on it. Some of said alcos and druggies come into the shops - sometimes they give you grief and other times they are grand. We get lots of travellers - it's the same with them. I've had some great conversations and some trying conversations with people out of their trees on various substances. It often depends how you treat them as to how they respond back.

There are also lots of wonderful people on Parnell Street, some of them possibly the same, unstable characters that posters have referred to. One guy said to me that people look at his clothes and treat him like a criminal because he has holes in his jacket. He bought a set of encyclopaedias and we gave him a trolley case to take them home in. He was delighted. Some people come in to pass the time of day; lots of elderly people buy clothes from us, especially old guys who you can see have no-one to look after them. Plenty of people stop in on their way to the station, they don't seem to be too bothered by the unsavoury air - probably they just get on with it. There isn't a lot of money out there, some people can't even afford charity shop prices. Having said that, we also get lots of people with plenty of money that dare to venture this way to bring donations or buy some of the brilliant stock we have

Personally speaking I don't think Parnell Street is any worse than a lot of other streets in Limerick. It doesn't help that the general area around the station is run down but as previous posters have said there is a certain roughness to be found around train stations in many cities - try Frankfurt, sex emporiums and Turkish barbers. I like cities with a bit of character rather than bland streets with the same shops that you see in every other place and Parnell Street has buckets of it - may be too much at times but you've got to take the rough with the smooth. I never feel unsafe there (although I'm not out at night) and love seeing real life rather than the cloned 'respectability' that seems to pass for society these days. The OP should call in to Ger's Deli and have a coffee and look out and try to see the good side of Parnell Street, it is there.

I remember when I first moved to limerick I lived in the Edward street are. I'd do my shopping in tesco Arthur's quay and walk home via Parnell st. I don't think I've really walked down it since about 2008 but I do remember that it had the most buzz of any street at the time. Sure there was a rough element, but there was noise, hustle and bustle, and a kind of local feel to it. People stopping to talk to each other, businesses that seemed to know their customers on a first name basis rather than a get you in, take your money, fire you out experience. In fairness Parnell st has a more small town, local main st vibe to it than any other street in limerick.

padma

All true from the top two posters. Local shops, no pretentiousness, a bit of everything on that street from a few local pubs, barbers, chippers, motor factors, hardware stores ethnic food stores ethnic barber shops, casinos, Chinese and to top it off it has a train AND bus station too

Totally Tropical

ian87 wrote: »

I remember when I first moved to limerick I lived in the Edward street are. I'd do my shopping in tesco Arthur's quay and walk home via Parnell st. I don't think I've really walked down it since about 2008 but I do remember that it had the most buzz of any street at the time. Sure there was a rough element, but there was noise, hustle and bustle, and a kind of local feel to it. People stopping to talk to each other, businesses that seemed to know their customers on a first name basis rather than a get you in, take your money, fire you out experience. In fairness Parnell st has a more small town, local main st vibe to it than any other street in limerick.

Oh yeah i know what your on about there with the bit in bold.Look at North Main Street in Cork.That would be regarded as bit of a rough and ready street (you wouldn't find the snobs from Rochestown and Montenotte doing their shopping there!) but i would describe it just as you described Parnell Street there.It's a street where the real character of Cork comes through.It's where you can experience Cork at it's most authentic.To be honest Parnell Street is a place i just rush by while making my way from the station into the O'Connell/William Street area and vice versa.Next time im in Limerick i think i'll make more of an effort to get to know Parnell street.

ian87

I have to admit its not a street I'd really have cause to walk down nowadays but what I said still sticks out in my head. I think William st has the same kind of vibe, especially around upper William st. You have locksmiths, lawnmower repairs, old man pubs to name but a few. It's too easy to go the crescent these days but I try to go to town when I can. I always come away having seen something or heard something that always entertains.

Marcus Halberstram

Frankly I couldn't care less about what Parnell St. is like in comparison to other cities. You always get this attitude when discussing Limerick - ah shure such and sucha place is worse. So what! I live here and it isn't good enough to point to other places in attempt to cover up our own failings.

That side of the city is an unwelcoming eyesore and it badly needs a major facelift.

meoklmrk91

fleabag wrote: »

I'd like to stand up for Parnell Street. I think it would be true to say that 'all human life is there'. I volunteer in the Limerick Animal Welfare shops that are on it. Some of said alcos and druggies come into the shops - sometimes they give you grief and other times they are grand. We get lots of travellers - it's the same with them. I've had some great conversations and some trying conversations with people out of their trees on various substances. It often depends how you treat them as to how they respond back.

There are also lots of wonderful people on Parnell Street, some of them possibly the same, unstable characters that posters have referred to. One guy said to me that people look at his clothes and treat him like a criminal because he has holes in his jacket. He bought a set of encyclopaedias and we gave him a trolley case to take them home in. He was delighted. Some people come in to pass the time of day; lots of elderly people buy clothes from us, especially old guys who you can see have no-one to look after them. Plenty of people stop in on their way to the station, they don't seem to be too bothered by the unsavoury air - probably they just get on with it. There isn't a lot of money out there, some people can't even afford charity shop prices. Having said that, we also get lots of people with plenty of money that dare to venture this way to bring donations or buy some of the brilliant stock we have

Personally speaking I don't think Parnell Street is any worse than a lot of other streets in Limerick. It doesn't help that the general area around the station is run down but as previous posters have said there is a certain roughness to be found around train stations in many cities - try Frankfurt, sex emporiums and Turkish barbers. I like cities with a bit of character rather than bland streets with the same shops that you see in every other place and Parnell Street has buckets of it - may be too much at times but you've got to take the rough with the smooth. I never feel unsafe there (although I'm not out at night) and love seeing real life rather than the cloned 'respectability' that seems to pass for society these days. The OP should call in to Ger's Deli and have a coffee and look out and try to see the good side of Parnell Street, it is there.

I regularly pop into the Law shops on the way back up to the station to browse, there are a lot of great shops on Parnell st, some of the facades do need a clean up but not her major, there is also a great butcher up near the top, really friendly and great prices.

Parnell st. Isn't all bad, I never said that, I have taken the time to get to know the place. I just thick that if it was cleaned up some and made not so grim looking then it would be so much better. It can feel a bit seedy at times with the junkies and Alcos, of course that is subjective, but it makes me feel nervous, I was aproached before and it kind of freaked me out some. And I just think that a visible Garda presence on the st. would make it feel safer.

There are most certainly good aspects to the st, as others have said it has more of a town feel than a city feel, also the small park up at the top is such a nice little area going to waste, it crossed my mind that they should make it a mini dog park, I think it would be lovely. There are lots of things that can be done to make the area just look and feel a little nicer, Garda presence, maybe some hanging baskets and flower pots, some trees would be lovely but given that there is no where to put them on the footpath I think that would be out. It could be such a lovely area with a little work. Maybe even a small grant for the small business owners to upgrade their facades.

riverrocked

Parnell and Wickham Street are the two I loath in the city. Parnell Street or as I like to call it "Park Anywhere" Street is just grubby. While Wickham Street is terrifying. Both could do with a power wash.
Those boarded up buildings to the right od the station need to be knocked already, how long have they been left like that? for shame.

fleabag

riverrocked wrote: »

Parnell and Wickham Street are the two I loath in the city. Parnell Street or as I like to call it "Park Anywhere" Street is just grubby. While Wickham Street is terrifying. Both could do with a power wash.
Those boarded up buildings to the right od the station need to be knocked already, how long have they been left like that? for shame.

I love Wickham Street!! That boarded up house is lovely and the second hand shop (Second Time Around?) is just amazing! Where else in Ireland would you find a shop like that?! I don't go in often enough but the lady is there is sound and the money they raise goes to send Limerick kids on holiday. She said it puts manners on them. And Cahills, love that place. I'd love to see inside the 'casino' but I'm afraid I'd never be seen again. I even like that seedy little alley that goes to Upper Gerald Griffin Street.

Maybe the council should group Parnell, Wickham, Upper William and possibly Upper Gerald Griffin Streets together and call it The Seedy Quarter as a pleasing contrast to the Fashion Quarter.

maryk123

Well I ventured into the Parnell plaza the other night with my mother after much persuasion for bingo and I have to say I was amazed. Very well run. Extremely helpful staff and a great night. State of the art it was amazing. Didn't go into cascino. Passed through the cafe vero that was nice too. Makes a great change for panell street to have something decent across from train station. Oh yeah rio's not bad either.

Mc Love

a dog park would be an ideal proposal for the extra bit of parkland

Poxyshamrock

I remember hearing talks of Tesco Express going into the old Shell Station next to the station but nothing has happened yet.

Could have brightened up the street a bit.

john_cappa

And closed the two independent shops on the street.

Crea

The Shell station really brings the whole street down which is a great pity. I don't take any notice of drunks or druggies cause they don't bother me. I like this street but probably because I used to have family ties there and spent alot of my childhood vitisting.
The tobacconist on Wickham Street is a treasure.

Parchment

Its not *that* bad. I live in the area and walk on Parnell Street a lot as it cuts walking times for me to get to lots of places. As a female (not a very tough looking one) i have never felt intimidated on the street. It has never crossed my mind not to use it when walking places. I will walk it during the day and when its dark - always with my wits about me, as is the case on any street!

Its not the prettiest street but there are some nice shops on the street - decent charity shops, a good chemist and butchers also the hardware/paint shops. Honestly I dont see it as others seem to see it in this thread.

Sure i wouldnt direct tourists there to see the sights but its not exactly Skid Row.

Also from my extensive travels - the areas outside a cities main train/bus/subway/whatever station seems to always attract transient people/people with alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems/pick pockets etc. - Its not just Limerick.

Marcus Halberstram

It doesn't matter if it's not just Limerick - I'm sick of hearing that line trotted out whenever anyone mentions a problem in our city.

We need to eradicate that attitude if we are to ever turn this place around for the better.

padma

From this thread I guess the key points being made is about the visual aspect of the street and the undesirables hanging around. On the visual aspect, personally I believe Parnell Street itself has a lot of character and isn't as soulless as newer streets like Bedford row. The shops and businesses on the street are good solid local businesses without the string of English multinationals. This to me is great. Some of the buildings seem to be crumbling which from the outside adds to the character.

As for the undesirables, there's only a handful of them and unless you feel the need to discriminate they have a right to walk along that street the very same as anyone else. Saying that, any intimidation or aggressive behaviour needs to be dealt with and a visual presence of An Garda Siochain on the street can do no harm, but the Guards themselves cannot discriminate unless someone is breaking the law. Looking rough is not a reason to accost someone so I see their hands are tied in that regard.

All in all some money could be spent to improve the area without losing the character, but we got to remember as much as it is outside the train station it is still a good enough distance from the main thoroughfare and I can't see it going through a drastic change only a more slower organic change over the years.

source

From a policing point of view, Parnell Street is a bit of an odd one, as it is actually in Roxboro Road's district, not Henry Street as most would expect.

This means that beat patrols have a fair distance to cover to get there, and as it is a very small portion of their area, and on the very edge of their district it may be neglected by Roxboro Gardai.

I'm not blaming Roxboro Gardai for this as they have a very large area to cover with considerably less Gardai than Henry Street, and Parnell Street is just one street in their sizeable district.

I would think if this new divisional HQ is built on Mulgrave Street the district lines should be redrawn so the new station covers the entire city centre.

Marcus Halberstram

source wrote: »

From a policing point of view, Parnell Street is a bit of an odd one, as it is actually in Roxboro Road's district, not Henry Street as most would expect.

This means that beat patrols have a fair distance to cover to get there, and as it is a very small portion of their area, and on the very edge of their district it may be neglected by Roxboro Gardai.

I'm not blaming Roxboro Gardai for this as they have a very large area to cover with considerably less Gardai than Henry Street, and Parnell Street is just one street in their sizeable district.

I would think if this new divisional HQ is built on Mulgrave Street the district lines should be redrawn so the new station covers the entire city centre.

How do they come up with such illogical policing?

meoklmrk91

padma wrote: »

From this thread I guess the key points being made is about the visual aspect of the street and the undesirables hanging around. On the visual aspect, personally I believe Parnell Street itself has a lot of character and isn't as soulless as newer streets like Bedford row. The shops and businesses on the street are good solid local businesses without the string of English multinationals. This to me is great. Some of the buildings seem to be crumbling which from the outside adds to the character.

As for the undesirables, there's only a handful of them and unless you feel the need to discriminate they have a right to walk along that street the very same as anyone else. Saying that, any intimidation or aggressive behaviour needs to be dealt with and a visual presence of An Garda Siochain on the street can do no harm, but the Guards themselves cannot discriminate unless someone is breaking the law. Looking rough is not a reason to accost someone so I see their hands are tied in that regard.

All in all some money could be spent to improve the area without losing the character, but we got to remember as much as it is outside the train station it is still a good enough distance from the main thoroughfare and I can't see it going through a drastic change only a more slower organic change over the years.

Again I like Parnell st. too. It does have decent character but it could really just do with a clean up, I'm not talk about thousands being spent all at once but there are numerous different thing that could be done to make it a nicer looking street and more inviting. A few hanging baskets or flower pots, a lick of paint here and there, it doesn't have to be drastic, but it could be such a lovely street as its all small businesses, turn the parkland into a dog park, this would bring dog owners onto the street as there is no dog park in Limerick at present. I suppose what really annoys me about how grim it is is that I can see great potential in the area, I think it could be really lovely.

As for a Garda presence, I think it would just make the area feel that bit safer, a foot partol every once in a while just wouldn't do any harm, can't understand why Roxboro are supposed to police Parnell st. It seems strange to me, I would have thought that Henry st. would be in charge of the area. I guess it's just one of those weird oversight things.