Liffey gets new Statue

View Profile wrote: »

There's a lot of moany, negative, begrudgery in this thread. Why are you people so against such a statue?!

If you people had your say then the likes of the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, The London Eye, the Brussels Atomium, and the Angel of the North etc would never have been built.

I'm not saying the Spire and the Tinman are marvellous works of art (I dont dislike them however) but at least Bord Pleanala are trying.

I don't know, maybe because there's a world recession, while this may give jobs, only a few, and it's being OUTSOURCED to a man in ENGLAND, countless amounts of problems we have without wasting money on some crappy statue that nobody really cares about, it doesn't help our current situation nor does it do anything really good, does it?

The money could be invested into better areas... Pfft!!!

If we're going to put the time and effort and money into this kind of crap, I wish we would put together something with substance, meaning an impact, that everyone thinks, wow - that's amazing and it really is a landmark for Ireland...

Like a staute of liberty, eifil tower, big ben - something that people will see and recognise from all over...

Not some stupid looking spike and a load of crap from a landfill..

[Jackass] wrote: »

If we're going to put the time and effort and money into this kind of crap, I wish we would put together something with substance, meaning an impact, that everyone thinks, wow - that's amazing and it really is a landmark for Ireland...

Like a staute of liberty, eifil tower, big ben - something that people will see and recognise from all over...

Not some stupid looking spike and a load of crap from a landfill..

See, the thing that makes the statue of Liberty so incredible is its story. Same with most of these things.

This is just a commissioned piece by the government for the craic, it serves no purpose and doesn't really stand for anything. I know the artist will tell you what he thinks its a symbol for but the people have to agree and I don't think they will.

I know I don't. It looks stupid and doesn't make me think, "wow cool" but more like "huh WTF!"

Dont worry - it's not going ahead; as reported in yesterdays Indo (which I see the I Times rehashed today, after not getting the full story the first time round)




Capital's colossus stalled by recession

PLANS to erect a 46-metre sculpture of a human figure on the River Liffey have been shelved.

Despite An Bord Pleanala yesterday approving a proposal from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) to build the steel sculpture at City Quay, the €1.6m project has been delayed because of the recession.

The sculpture, by Turner prize-winning artist Antony Gormley -- who is best-known for his 'Angel of the North' work in the north of England -- was set to be in place by 2010 close to the Sean O'Casey bridge.

Yesterday, the DDDA said in a statement that the project was being "postponed temporarily", and would be kept "under review, adding that it was "very pleased" with the granting of planning permission.

"The sculpture is an important element of the Docklands Arts Strategy as outlined in its recently adopted 2008 master plan aimed at ensuring that arts and culture become part of the Docklands identity to enhance the area as a place in which to live, work, relax and be entertained," it said.

"However, given the current economic environment, the Docklands Authority will not be proceeding with this development. The project will be kept under review and the Docklands Authority will continue working with the artist and others to progress the design."

The project, which attracted the ire of local residents who claimed it would overshadow their homes, was granted a 10-year planning permission, which means it could still go ahead in the next decade.

Objectors claimed the massive work, which will be 10 metres shorter than Liberty Hall and the same height as the Statue of Liberty, would dominate views of Dublin Bay from the city centre and relegate existing buildings to 'bit players'.

In its decision, An Bord Pleanala granted permission but said a review of the project's impact on the River Liffey -- in particular salmon numbers -- would have to take place before 2019. If it was found to have a negative impact, it would have to be removed.

Such conditions are standard, particularly in relation to quarries and mobile phone masts.

The DDDA said: "Projects such as the London Eye, and indeed the Eiffel Tower, were originally granted temporary planning permission. We see the time limit as being an important part of the public debate and consultation."

- Paul Melia

i live pretty much beside where that was to be built. it a bit of a shame its not being built really. i think it would have been cool. definitley different. the DDDA have a model of the statue and all the surrounding buildings and it looks alright. i wouldnt object to it.