Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

bk · 01-04-2026 02:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355757#Comment_124355757

This is Hammerson! The largest retail property owner in the UK and Ireland, they own Dundrum Shopping Center, Swords Pavilion, Ilac Center and the upcoming Dublin Central site on O'Connell St. They have no lack of money!!

The whole thing is weird, they were only looking for temporary permission for this facility for 5 years, so it wouldn't even be permanently there anyway.

To be honest it stinks as perhaps some sort of an attempt to get more money out of Metrolink. Perhaps claim the land was more valuable if it had planning permission for this facility then just a random field.

I don't believe for a moment that a company like Hammerson had any real interest in actually building this sporting facility!

KrisW1001 · 01-04-2026 03:23PM

This was a ruse to avoid their land being taken over during construction, and the planning application was a last-gasp.

The five-year use is the giveaway: they wanted to do a large-scale retail investment at the Pavilion site in about five years, so that they’d be ahead of the curve for other development in Swords due to Metro. But, because their site is now part of the works themselves, they can only start once the whole project is complete, and there’s now a risk of another developer coming in on a different site at a better time and diverting retail demand from their development.

They can still build those padel courts elsewhere - this isn’t the only land they have, but you’ll forgive me for not betting on it.

ted1 · 02-04-2026 11:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124347916#Comment_124347916

plenty of clubs lose pitches for that long.

DLRCoCO have been upgrading pitches. and making them sand based, they have = been out of action for 2 years.

Granada FC, Park Celtic, Cuala, FoxCab, Seapoint RFC and others have all lost pitches for that long and just got on with it

ted1 · 02-04-2026 11:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350145#Comment_124350145

15 minuted from Fingallians doesn't mean an extra an extra 30 minutes. as they wont drive to Fingallians, they;ll leave from their own house which could be half way between the 2, so they wont experience any difference

Kermit.de.frog · 02-04-2026 12:04PM

The programme director Sean Sweeney has resigned

L1011 · 02-04-2026 12:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358119#Comment_124358119

Metrolink’s €550k boss Seán Sweeney quits in fresh blow to transport project | Irish Independent

Claims entirely personal reasons.

josip · 02-04-2026 12:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358119#Comment_124358119

Was that expected/unexpected?

Daith · 02-04-2026 12:13PM

I'm not saying personal reasons isn't correct, obv I don't know, but you'd have to say that anyway because then it would "Metrolink can't be managed"

Kermit.de.frog · 02-04-2026 12:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358126#Comment_124358126

He's not going to say otherwise but there is little sugar coating here. This is not a good signal especially for the market.

He's continuing to the summer so it seems like it's personal reasons alright.

Tenzor07 · 02-04-2026 12:18PM

Won't make any difference, there's already a job advert out for his replacement..

hotmail.com · 02-04-2026 12:29PM

He's probably fed up with mentality here. Any issue and it causes months and months of delays and people here seem to think it's normal.

Kermit.de.frog · 02-04-2026 12:41PM

What kind of colours this is it was only a couple of months back he said he'd walk if he didn't feel the project had real support particularly political.

I hope that is not the case.

Can only take the statement at face value. None of us know.

Sierra Oscar · 02-04-2026 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358235#Comment_124358235

Indeed. I do feel somewhat anxious about the current economic climate given what is happening internationally. The ESRI is already warning that the construction industry faces strong headwinds from soaring energy costs. I hope the Government sticks to its commitment to continue investment in infrastructure should a big downturn occur, because I fear it's a road they might have to soon cross.

touts · 02-04-2026 01:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358119#Comment_124358119

Over €1m spent on him and **** all to show for it.

Dublin Calling · 02-04-2026 01:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358174#Comment_124358174

But where are you going to get a replacement? I have a cousin who has run big rail infrastructure projects around the world. I don't think there is any hope you will get them back to Ireland, to run this.

spillit67 · 02-04-2026 01:41PM

He said last year that he had a partner at home who wasn’t moving over and it’s very hard. He also said he wouldn’t be here for it being constructed. Easy for people to panic and doommonger but I think it’s fairly obvious it is a personal thing.

Tenzor07 · 02-04-2026 01:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358354#Comment_124358354

There's a global job advert out for his replacement, I’m sure there's many with experience of running a program like this and I’m still sure that our children's children will get to enjoy the fantastic new Metrolink ;)

orangerhyme · 02-04-2026 02:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358368#Comment_124358368

I've a feeling he only planned to stay for 3 or 4 years anyway.

ArcadiaJunction · 02-04-2026 02:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358330#Comment_124358330

Incredible isn't it. I'd say the project is done now. The (Christian) Zionists have basically destroyed the West's economy and our fair isle of closed power stations, windy twirly wirlies and endless data centers will suffer exceptionally badly. So he was probably told off record 'it's dead Jim' and gone home. Advertising for the replacement means nothing. A ruse.

On the positive side, we got Foynes relaid old bean!

Kermit.de.frog · 02-04-2026 02:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358330#Comment_124358330

Is that his fault? The project needed to get planning permission which is out of his hands.

What he has done seemingly successfully is drawn up market interest for a project in a country that was a total incredulous laughing stock in this section of the construction industry after the government pulled the plug 15 years a go on Metro North. Nobody would touch this.

Now there is competitive international tender. On that basis he appears to have succeeded.

Podge_irl · 02-04-2026 03:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358491#Comment_124358491

I'd say the project is done now

LoL. Of course you would, otherwise you'd look incredibly silly. I regret to inform you that you are still going to look incredibly silly.

The idea that the CEO of the project leaving would mean it gets stopped is beyond ridiculous.

CatInABox · 02-04-2026 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358621#Comment_124358621

What he had done even more successfully is get across to politicians that this project needs then to step up.

Honestly didn't think I'd see Darragh O'Brien champion it like he has, and it definitely comes across as a consequence of Sean Sweeney

jwm121 · 02-04-2026 03:19PM

Everyone on social media calling the project a waste of money and that it'll end up like the NCH, calling the government all sorts as per usual. Comedic at this point haha.

orangerhyme · 02-04-2026 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358665#Comment_124358665

It's still on track to get built.

Only a massive recession will stop it.

Cookiemunster · 02-04-2026 03:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358719#Comment_124358719

I don't think it will. The government seem to have (finally) realized that the best way through a recession is to build infrastructure.

marno21 · 02-04-2026 04:12PM

I’m surprised at some of the reactions here. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a 67 year old man may find it difficult to relocate to the other side of world and not encounter the unfortunate side effects of being such a long way from home with limited travel opportunities. As an aside, with the ongoing disruption in the Middle East, getting to the antipodes is even harder.

TII CEO on the News at One saying its full steam ahead. The Deputy will take over on an interim basis, when Sweeney leaves at the end of June. The job search for the replacement is also underway. Procurement has already begun and the remainder of the procurement will be underway by the time he leaves.

TII CEO praised Sweeney for two achievements:

Convincing the market that this is a credible project for them to dedicate their time to
Assembling a highly experienced project team around him with 250 years of combined experience.

While it’s a shame he’s leaving, it seems the 2 years he was there for were rather productive.

salmocab · 02-04-2026 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358708#Comment_124358708

well according to some people on FB Mick O Leary is right there’s already enough busses from the airport to the city. So with that sorted they can go ahead and cancel it.

orangerhyme · 02-04-2026 04:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358819#Comment_124358819

I've a feeling he was only supposed to be here for a few years anyway. Not for the entire project.

I bet the agreement was that he'd be here until the procurement and rendering process was completed though.

So I'd say they're disappointed with that aspect.

I think the planning approval took longer than he expected.

Thunder87 · 02-04-2026 04:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124358819#Comment_124358819

I think the cynicism is fair enough really, he was brought in as the high profile public figurehead for the project on a huge salary, yet has jumped ship in less than 2 years and before a shovel is in the ground. If it's genuinely loneliness or whatever then it's a bit odd someone with 67 years of life experience couldn't foresee that being an issue.

He was a good public face for the project and had a refreshing straight talking style so it's a bit of a loss on that front at least, though hopefully it'll be inconsequential to the project as a whole

marno21 · 02-04-2026 08:33PM

Statement from TII

https://www.tii.ie/en/news/press-releases/important-update-regarding-the-metrolink-programme-director/

Sean Sweeney, outgoing programme director:
Leading the MetroLink programme has been one of the greatest professional privileges of my career. However, after several years away from home, the sacrifice of being separated from my partner, children, and grandchildren, who are over 10,000 miles away, has become unsustainable. It is with deep regret that I leave MetroLink, however, I know it is the right thing to do for everyone.
A programme like MetroLink will have many parents and I always believed my role was to get the programme up and running. I am proud to leave the programme with a highly committed and experienced executive team, full Government support as well an operational Railway Order and MetroLink fully funded into construction. MetroLink is no longer a 'proposed' plan; it is a live delivery project.
The market appetite is huge, the political support is firm, and the team I leave behind is the best I have ever worked with. I want to thank Minister O’Brien, the TII Board, and the people of Dublin for their trust. I look forward to seeing the first tunnel boring machines start their work, knowing the foundation is rock solid.

Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

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