O'Connell Street

n900guy · 07-06-2011 09:35PM

CrackisWhack wrote: »

It never seemed to be too rough a spot in the 80's? or maybe that was me just being oblivious as a child, Its junkie central at the moment along with the quays and Talbot st. I think in the late 90's the whole north inner city got far rougher.

That's exactly what it was in the 1980s. Dublin, for most of it's more recent history, has been a heroin-infested dump stuck with Victorian-era administrative attitudes. The past 10-15 years are an exception, and it is returning to it's more traditional ways.

Pauleta · 07-06-2011 09:36PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

How would that work, exactly?

Stuff like people that look like heroin addicts, roma gypsies, homeless people, walking around topless, excessively loud people and large gangs of young people. The type of people that when you walk up a street, you would be on guard. Maybe even if a tourist police was set up it could do some sort of job or at least make tourists feel safer. We all know if you go to a City and have one incident it would tarnish a holiday and you probably wouldnt go back again. Added to that you would tell all your family and friends and they wont want to go to that place either.

Dravokivich · 07-06-2011 09:39PM

Scumbags fight on a street full of scumbags.

That's it?

sock puppet · 07-06-2011 09:42PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Stuff like people that look like heroin addicts, roma gypsies, homeless people, walking around topless, excessively loud people and large gangs of young people. The type of people that when you walk up a street, you would be on guard.

Maybe if you're the world's biggest pansy.

m@cc@ · 07-06-2011 09:42PM

Killer Wench wrote: »

I honestly wonder if many tourists envision O'Connell Street as being one of the safest, well-walked areas of town. I imagine a few of them have gottena rude awakening over the last few days.

O Connell St, safe? No wonder yous took so long to find Osama.

Surely it's a basic thing to research the place you're going before you go there?

Killer Wench · 07-06-2011 09:43PM

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

Never found O'Connell St unsafe tbh. There's always going to be the odd scumbag here or there when your in a big city.

I notice your from Seattle. Do you think downtown Seattle is safer than Dublin city centre? Because from my (limited) experience I certainly don't!

No, I don't think downtown Seattle is safer than Dublin city centre, but the USA also has a huge gun and gang problem that really isn't associated with the people friendly Ireland. I remember a few years ago, there were a string of drive by shootings near 3rd and Pike and 3rd and Pine which are only a block or two away from the famous Pike Street Market. Saying that, if you make your way towards the Space Needle, that area has been really cleaned up in the last few years and it was safe to walk the streets. Pioneer Square... eh, not so much.

Larianne · 07-06-2011 09:44PM

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

Never found O'Connell St unsafe tbh. There's always going to be the odd scumbag here or there when your in a big city.

Thought that myself but I've been in the city centre at 7.30pm twice recently and there was frickin loads of junkies hanging around the junction of North Earl Street and O'Connell Street. Looked like someone had just dumped them all there from somewhere.

Between the junkies/drunks, Roma Gypsies and Chuggers, O'Connell Street is a pain in the ass to walk down these days.

flahavaj · 07-06-2011 09:52PM

I'm always on my guard on O' Connell Street. In fairness there is always a strong Garda presence even if they are just leaning against the GPO doing nothing but I'm always wary of the scumbags that seem to throng around the Spire and the Easons side of the street in particular.

El Weirdo · 07-06-2011 09:56PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Stuff like people that look like heroin addicts, roma gypsies, homeless people, walking around topless, excessively loud people and large gangs of young people. The type of people that when you walk up a street, you would be on guard. Maybe even if a tourist police was set up it could do some sort of job or at least make tourists feel safer. We all know if you go to a City and have one incident it would tarnish a holiday and you probably wouldnt go back again. Added to that you would tell all your family and friends and they wont want to go to that place either.

So what do heroin addicts, Roma Gypsies and homeless people look like then?

Killer Wench · 07-06-2011 10:01PM

flahavaj wrote: »

I'm always on my guard on O' Connell Street. In fairness there is always a strong Garda presence even if they are just leaning against the GPO doing nothing but I'm always wary of the scumbags that seem to throng around the Spire and the Easons side of the street in particular.

That's the area that I notice most. I know the spire is used by many tourists and locals as a meeting place, too.

Turtyturd · 07-06-2011 10:02PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

So what do heroin addicts, Roma Gypsies and homeless people look like then?

People with gold teeth and no teeth.

mikemac · 07-06-2011 10:03PM

My own little shopbox

The drug treatment centres are in the city centre. Amiens St, Merchant Quay, Marlborough St and others

Why can't there be one top class centre down by the port?
There are few shops down there and it's an industrial area so few residents in certain areas.

Before you say the poor disadvantaged citizens can't get there, the Luas runs most of way and there is a bus service. If needs be, the HSE can pay for a taxi, it's not far.
The Luas extension has realy made it accessible.

I'm not saying out of sight, out of mind

But walking around Marlborough St and Talbot St is like walking with zombies at times. Right in the city centre by the tourists. And it's the rate paying businesses that keep the council going.

So away to the port area with all this and one top class clinic to give good service. Centralize it all instead of clinics dotted around the place

07-06-2011 10:05PM

I definitely think the northside city centre in general could do with more of a garda presence. It's pretty normal to see gardai walking around Grafton St. on a sunny day, but less common on the parnell end of O Connell St. at night. Bit ridiculous IMO. The stretch of path where the bus stops are should definitely be made to feel safer for people having to wait for buses.

However, as much as tourism is extremely important to us, it seems strange that the immediate worry would be about how tourists will see us rather than people who have to wait for buses there every night after work... They'd be my first priority. Although that said, I've walked through that part of the street many times as a teenage girl at night(and I'm only 20 now so it wasn't long ago) and never had any trouble, so maybe it is the look of it that we should be tackling.

I think the suggestion of removing anyone who doesn't look clean+home-owning+settled-home-owning+conservatively-dressed+quiet and also removing anyone who is young and with their mates is ten times as ridiculous as the current situation. If anyone not fitting that bill makes you "on guard", I'd say the problem is more yours than theirs. The place just needs more attention from the gardai.

Also, I still can't get over "po-po"...

wild_cat · 07-06-2011 10:06PM

There was an article in the indo about this kind of topic a while ago. I'm too lazy to google for it.

Pauleta · 07-06-2011 10:06PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

So what do heroin addicts, Roma Gypsies and homeless people look like then?

Dont play stupid, you can spot them a mile away.

jesus_thats_gre · 07-06-2011 10:07PM

Complete and utter dump. So many bad experiences on that street. Saw two girls attack another girl the other day - first time being on the street for 6 months.

wow sierra · 07-06-2011 10:12PM

Killer Wench wrote: »

No, I don't think downtown Seattle is safer than Dublin city centre, but the USA also has a huge gun and gang problem that really isn't associated with the people friendly Ireland.[/QUOTE]

Yeah we are friendly, yeah Dublin city centre is relatively safe as cities go despite the fact that our junkies are fairly visible aroung town and not hidden away, but I have to let you know that we do have a gun and gang problem here too unfortunately - sure Paul Williams has been making a great living glorifying them for the last 15 years:rolleyes:( - sorry I know different thread).

Teyla Emmagan · 07-06-2011 10:14PM

O'Connell St is such a hole. I've worked in a couple of places down there and always hated leaving work late or in the winter. I saw a gang of lads pick up a girl of about 11 and throw her into shop shutters a couple of years ago, just for the laugh. She was scared witless and totally unknown to them. And there's always gangs and junkies, drunks and thieves walking up and down the street. It's the one thing I hate about going to the Gate - you come out at 10pm and it's like navigating Armageddon to get to the bus stop.

mikemac · 07-06-2011 10:18PM

Where is the Gate in Dublin?
Genuinely asking here

El Weirdo · 07-06-2011 10:18PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Dont play stupid, you can spot them a mile away.

So you are suggesting that we should ban people from certain areas because of the way that they look?

Brilliant. What about the ones that don't conform to your stereotype? I'm sure plenty of scumbags wear suits.

wow sierra · 07-06-2011 10:20PM

mikemac wrote: »

Where is the Gate in Dublin?
Genuinely asking here

Just at the north end of O'Connell st - Parnell Square. Beside the Rotunda maternity hospital.

Emerald Isle Gifts · 07-06-2011 10:21PM

Your concerns are valid. However I have to say I have been walking thru O'Connell St for years at unsocial hours and while I occasionally (not often) come across unsavoury incidents like this, they are generally confined to the people who get involved, it is still relatively safe for passer-by's.

I have to also say, never been to Seattle, but having lived in both NYC and Washington DC I do not think the centre of Dublin is any less safe than these 2 cities, I felt these 2 cities were far more dangerous where knives and guns (outside of the drugs/gang culture people do not carry guns here) are far more prevalent than here.

I'd still feel safer walking down O'Connell St at 2am with these kind of incidents than I would in many parts of NYC and DC

Lone Stone · 07-06-2011 10:25PM

Its funny i was just saying to my mother who hasnt been into town since she went into a wheelchair, which was about 10 years now maybe how different town is these days, The only accents you hear are of friendly foreigners and the only irish accents i hear from right scum bag's its a bit wierd i wonder if thats what the tourists and people think when they go to dublin hmm

I propose a death ray be built on top of the spire, which we will re name the death spire, that upon picking up on scummer shwearrr accents within the city center fires the ray of death upon the vile cretins cleansing the city with the GLORIOUS RAYS OF DEATHHHHHHH MWHAHAHAHAHHA HAHAHAH HAHAHAHAA ow caps oops

Dyr · 07-06-2011 10:29PM

flahavaj wrote: »

I'm always on my guard on O' Connell Street. In fairness there is always a strong Garda presence even if they are just leaning against the GPO doing nothing

"Doing nothing" is a bit strong, they're usually texting-phoning the mammy/the missus/the super.

Anyway its the same sorta deal as ravens in the tower of london. If the gardai ever abandoned their leaning stations at the GPO then it would fall down or something.

Badgermonkey · 07-06-2011 10:40PM

It kinda baffles me how a relatively small number of people are effectively allowed set the tone for much of the north inner city.

Gardai seem to passively saunter O'Connell street, rather than police it with anything resembling authority.

Ghouls, blaggards and zombies should be constantly moved on to the point where they view a visit to the boardwalk, O'Connell, Parnell, Talbot, Marlborough, Henry, Gardiner and Abbey streets as a colossal pain in the arse.

No1J · 07-06-2011 10:51PM

It's been bad since the 80s, those of us who think it wasn't were young,brave and blind. The Luas has made it so much worse, the Tallaght/south side junkies come in and get off at Abbey street stops, then head to the board walk Eden Qy, Eason's, or the Abbey Theatre lanes.
The slots and bookies on O'Connell st and Abbey st always attracted scumbags.

Dangerous Man · 07-06-2011 10:53PM

alexa5x5 wrote: »

Yet another thinly veiled ‘Dublin vs. rest of Ireland’ thread :rolleyes:

I don't think so in this case. I'm from Dublin and I think the criticism is fair. It doesn't make me happy to say that either. And, I've said it before, the reason why we have young gentlemen like our shirtless friend walking the streets smashing things and kicking people in the face is because (a) cops don't care (b) law doesn't care.

That face-kicking young man is off the drugs, don't you know -- not only that he's trying to get his life together and has enrolled in a FAS course, your honour. He's sorry for breaking the plaintiff's jaw and breaking two of his teeth, but he's two weeks into a course on cabinet-making and...

Pauleta · 07-06-2011 10:58PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

So you are suggesting that we should ban people from certain areas because of the way that they look?

Yes, yes i am. We can be all left wing and sing "We are the world" but it aint gonna work. Just like in a place of business, if you see a dodgy looking person, feck them out. Being liberal aint gonna get undesirables off the advertisement hoardings that is our city and town centers.

Killer Wench · 07-06-2011 11:07PM

mikemac wrote: »

Not at all

Take a bus to Galway, lovely city.
But Eyre Sq is full of winos. If Dublin has junkies then Galway has winos, Fairgreen hostel is just a few hundred metres off Eyre Sq. And I took punches off a homeless guy here at 2pm, middle of the day and not a drunken brawl.

Go to Athlone and there are all sorts of scum hanging around

This thread was never a Dublin bashing thread, goes on in every town and city around Ireland. Just Dublin has a more visible drug issue that other places do not have

To be fair to the person you are quoting, I originally had entitled this thread, "Ireland's Best Kept Secret" or something like that because I do think the reality of O'Connell St is a hidden secret, but that's my opinion. So to avoid conflict, I changed the title to reflect the subject to be discussed.

El Weirdo · 07-06-2011 11:09PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Yes, yes i am. We can be all left wing and sing "We are the world" but it aint gonna work. Just like in a place of business, if you see a dodgy looking person, feck them out. Being liberal aint gonna get undesirables off the advertisement hoardings that is our city and town centers.

Nothing about being "all left-wing" as you put it. It just doesn't work that way and you know it. You can't go banning people from somewhere because they "look undesirable". What a load of bollocks.

I'm guessing that you're the type of person that thinks it's ok for a black man driving an expensive car to be stopped by the police just because he's black.

O'Connell Street

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