Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Clonmel Thread

12324262829300

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 2,524 ✭✭✭Vizzy


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    The planning for a multi story was also rejected for the Mary st car park. And the fact the Arms is left in the state its in is a fupping disgrace.

    Too slim a brown envelope for the councillors I imagine.

    In Kilkenny you can practically park on the main st in a multi story. And the shopping centre was built almost in the town centre also.

    That's a case of the planners caring about the town rather than helping out the land barons with useless land on the fringes of towns convert them into shopping outlets people have to drive to.

    Source( I'll even accept the hint that there was something dodgy going on) ?

    With regard to the Car Park in Mary street,to make it viable it would have to be about 8 stories high.
    This is because there are so many wayleaves from the carpark to private businesses(e.g AIB,Phelan Shoes) hence reducing the footprint of the carpark.
    If it were such an attractive proposition I would have thought that developers would have been queuing up to get started.
    The most difficult one would be Dunnes though with Artic trucks delivering to them.
    Of course you could close Dunnes down or get the artics to park on O'Connell Street.
    Which of those 2 options would you prefer?
    With regard to people needing to walk to the shops,unless you actually live in the Town Centre you need to walk or drive to the shops.There is plenty of parking at Suirside carpark(5 minute walk) over the bridge on the site of the old creamery(2 minute walk) or Gordon Place (2 minute walk)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,524 ✭✭✭Vizzy


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    resisted ? so how come there is now 3 at least ?
    Ok - Dunnes on the Waterford road has always been there, and Tesco out manoeuvred them ( as they have done in many locations to be fair ), but there was never a need for the Showgrounds and nor was or is there a need for the Poppy fields other than to use waste land to build something on.

    Like a badly needed hotel perhaps ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,862 ✭✭✭RobAMerc


    Vizzy wrote: »
    Like a badly needed hotel perhaps ?

    Badly needed ? lol - If a hotel was so badly needed, what was wrong with redoing the Clonmel Arms ? no tax breaks maybe ? there is no way Clonmel's other hotels have anywhere near 100% occupancy more than 10 nights a year.
    No back handers for those in the know to allow unsuitable land be developed into retail is more likely the reason.

    They'll soon be looking for government money to pay more extortionate prices for land to bypass the bypass as it gets clogged with traffic driving round the shopping malls built on the outskirts.

    With regard to deliveries - there are loads of shops in the centre of towns around the country get around what you say is a major issue, it doesn't take a genius to figure them out either.


  • Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭hamco


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    resisted ? so how come there is now 3 at least ?
    Ok - Dunnes on the Waterford road has always been there, and Tesco out manoeuvred them ( as they have done in many locations to be fair ), but there was never a need for the Showgrounds and nor was or is there a need for the Poppy fields other than to use waste land to build something on.

    Imo the Showgrounds was very much needed, its a very well planned out building with ample parking and easy access, its only minutes from the town centre and has given job security to many people.

    Its well known a couple of the businesses in the showgrounds were looking for a suitable site in town for years, maybe if the old tesco site had of been developed when the celtic tiger was here, they might of set up shop in there.

    The poppyfields is also needed, if you look at the businesses set up there, using woodies as an example, where else could they of set up except on or near a bypass, its a huge store with artics delivering all the time and its well laid out delivery area never effects traffic flow in the area.

    Imo we do need the shopping centres we have, but I agree the town centre the town centre needs to be improved to attract more retailers. Market place is half empty, Oconnell mall is empty.

    We have 2 carparks besides the old tesco one, and maybe outsiders dont even know they exsist, In some towns in the UK, as you approach the town centre, there are digital display signs showing how many carparks there are and how many spaces are left in each. Its a great system that works well, would be nice to see something like it in our beloved Clonmel:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭ Terrence Gorgeous Brunette


    hamco wrote: »
    In some towns in the UK, as you approach the town centre, there are digital display signs showing how many carparks there are and how many spaces are left in each.

    No need to go to the UK to see this :confused:


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭hamco


    No need to go to the UK to see this :confused:

    Lets hope we can see it in Clonmel soon:D


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭darragh o meara


    Just got word that the bar in the GAA centre was closed down yesterday by the commitee. Staff were only informed yesterday at 2 O clock and had no warning whatsoever.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,071 ✭✭✭questionmark?


    Just got word that the bar in the GAA centre was closed down yesterday by the commitee. Staff were only informed yesterday at 2 O clock and had no warning whatsoever.

    :confused: That is really unexpected


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭darragh o meara


    :confused: That is really unexpected

    Sure is. Even the staff were surprised to find out. Saw a statement from one if the barmen who had been there years and he said the first he knew of it was when he was told yesterday. Sad to see it go, it was more than just a drinking spot, it was a great function hall as well as a social spot for dancing , cards and even darts.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Sure is. Even the staff were surprised to find out. Saw a statement from one if the barmen who had been there years and he said the first he knew of it was when he was told yesterday. Sad to see it go, it was more than just a drinking spot, it was a great function hall as well as a social spot for dancing , cards and even darts.


    It really was more than just a drinking spot Darragh. Very sad to see another part of Clonmel History coming to a close.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 492 ✭✭daniels.ducks


    No need to go to the UK to see this :confused:

    It's also in most Irish cities.


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    Originally Posted by RobAMerc viewpost.gif
    resisted ? so how come there is now 3 at least ?
    Ok - Dunnes on the Waterford road has always been there, and Tesco out manoeuvred them ( as they have done in many locations to be fair ), but there was never a need for the Showgrounds and nor was or is there a need for the Poppy fields other than to use waste land to build something on.
    nonsense showgrounds is a great place. and a lot of people walk there


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,862 ✭✭✭RobAMerc


    Departed wrote: »
    nonsense showgrounds is a great place. and a lot of people walk there

    I said there was never a need for it. I never said it was crap nor did I say it wasn't within walking distance. But with its free parking and its outskirts location along with the others mentioned it draws folk from the town centre which is dying on its feet.


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    I said there was never a need for it. I never said it was crap nor did I say it wasn't within walking distance. But with its free parking and its outskirts location along with the others mentioned it draws folk from the town centre which is dying on its feet.
    i believe there is a need for it gives more choice to people and creates jobs.the town centre is dying cos the traffic fees and rip off prices. when in clonmel i do not shop in town centre and think showgrounds is brilliant place. long may it thrive
    i also disagreethere was never a need for poppyfield - that brough woodies and did electrical and give wider choice. the only people who "do not need it" are the town centre businesses who could charge what they like and keep people in a small circle where they controlled prices with no real competition to towncentre. Before showground many went to Cork for Marks Spencer etc


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,862 ✭✭✭RobAMerc


    Departed wrote: »
    i believe there is a need for it gives more choice to people and creates jobs.the town centre is dying cos the traffic fees and rip off prices. when in clonmel i do not shop in town centre and think showgrounds is brilliant place. long may it thrive
    i also disagreethere was never a need for poppyfield - that brough woodies and did electrical and give wider choice. the only people who "do not need it" are the town centre businesses who could charge what they like and keep people in a small circle where they controlled prices with no real competition to towncentre. Before showground many went to Cork for Marks Spencer etc

    A decent size shopping centre could have been built on a site closer to the town centre. Where it is feeds into the car culture and when that's coupled with the stupid parking policies in the centre it literally drives people out of the centre.


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    A decent size shopping centre could have been built on a site closer to the town centre. Where it is feeds into the car culture and when that's coupled with the stupid parking policies in the centre it literally drives people out of the centre.

    earlier you wrote
    nor did I say it wasn't within walking distance
    now you say
    Where it is feeds into the car culture
    I thinkm its fine where it is and people walk there all the time. Where could it be built nearer to town centre and still have free parking?


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭touts


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    A decent size shopping centre could have been built on a site closer to the town centre. Where it is feeds into the car culture and when that's coupled with the stupid parking policies in the centre it literally drives people out of the centre.

    Where exactly? All the land closer to the town centre was in use at the time. No one knew Sean Quinn was going to close the old Barlo Plant or that The Army Barracks would close. Places like the Clonmel Arms or the old Tesco/Quinnsworth are far too small. Even if they did manage to redevelop the town centre to accomodate the Showground shops where exactly would people park and how would the already creaking one way traffic system cope.

    Most towns have their new shopping centres much further away. If you park around the swimming pool you are maybe 5 minutes from the far end of O'Connell Street in one direction and maybe 10 minutes from the Showgrounds in the other. That's not bad. In Limerick for example the shopping centres that are killing the city centre are a 45-60 minute walk away from their O'Connell Street.

    Also many of the shops in the Showgrounds (Argos, M&S, Iceland etc) that would have struggled to find space big enough at a reasonable rent in the centre of town at the time that the Showgrounds was built. Remember the hassle there has been in Limerick finding a suitable location to meet the needs of M&S. This isn't a choice between O'Connell Street and the Showgrounds. These shops simply wouldn't be in Clonmel if it were not for the Showgrounds.

    The showgrounds is a great addition to the town and is not to blame for the woes of retailers on the traditional main shopping streets. Rent, Rates, shambolic parking, confusing traffic flows, and the general economic collapse are higher on the list. While we can't do much about the economy there is plenty that the town can do to improve the business environment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    touts wrote: »
    Where exactly? All the land closer to the town centre was in use at the time. No one knew Sean Quinn was going to close the old Barlo Plant or that The Army Barracks would close. Places like the Clonmel Arms or the old Tesco/Quinnsworth are far too small. Even if they did manage to redevelop the town centre to accomodate the Showground shops where exactly would people park and how would the already creaking one way traffic system cope.

    Most towns have their new shopping centres much further away. If you park around the swimming pool you are maybe 5 minutes from the far end of O'Connell Street in one direction and maybe 10 minutes from the Showgrounds in the other. That's not bad. In Limerick for example the shopping centres that are killing the city centre are a 45-60 minute walk away from their O'Connell Street.

    Also many of the shops in the Showgrounds (Argos, M&S, Iceland etc) that would have struggled to find space big enough at a reasonable rent in the centre of town at the time that the Showgrounds was built. Remember the hassle there has been in Limerick finding a suitable location to meet the needs of M&S. This isn't a choice between O'Connell Street and the Showgrounds. These shops simply wouldn't be in Clonmel if it were not for the Showgrounds.

    The showgrounds is a great addition to the town and is not to blame for the woes of retailers on the traditional main shopping streets. Rent, Rates, shambolic parking, confusing traffic flows, and the general economic collapse are higher on the list. While we can't do much about the economy there is plenty that the town can do to improve the business environment.
    some people like to pretend it is


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,046 ✭✭✭archtech


    There is one significant site closer to the town centre which was considered in the past for retail/commercial development, including the provision of a 5 star hotel and a multi storey car park however it never made it through planning. The site was located on Suir Island.

    The Showgrounds site was properly the best available at the time, for a shopping centre of its size. I'm not sure how commercially successful it is, however I would guess there would be far more vacant units in it today if it had opened 2-3 years earlier when tenants would have been tied into higher rents. I would certainly consider the showground within walking distance of the town centre,, however it does suffer poor linkage between it and o connell/gladstone street. Parnell Street isn't a great shopping street.

    Ask any business person in Clonmel and they will tell you its rates and not rent that's the biggest issue in Clonmel. For example the rates associated with any of the units in Market Place are actually higher than the rents of the units even were in the Celtic Tiger times ( that was after when rates were applicable on them, Market Place had units had 10 years rate free when they were built under the urban renewal scheme) .


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    archtech wrote: »
    Market Place had units had 10 years rate free when they were built under the urban renewal scheme) .
    Didn't hear any complaints about that or all the money they made in the boom years


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 5,862 ✭✭✭RobAMerc


    Departed wrote: »
    earlier you wrote now you say
    I thinkm its fine where it is and people walk there all the time. Where could it be built nearer to town centre and still have free parking?

    Are you trying to suggest that my 2 statements are somehow contrary to each other ?
    I am ok with people disagreeing with me. People seem quite happy to let these big multinationals come in and build on our town outskirts sucking the life out of the town centres and ensuring more of our money is spent with them rather than in the local shop owners stores in town centres, and that is sad.

    This happened in the US first and more recently the UK before us, they really regret it and I think its depressing we couldn't learn from that here too.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,862 ✭✭✭RobAMerc


    Departed wrote: »
    Didn't hear any complaints about that or all the money they made in the boom years

    so they are supposed to open at a loss indefinitely because they had it "so good" before ?

    this attitude tells me it's time to bow out here.


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    RobAMerc wrote: »
    Are you trying to suggest that my 2 statements are somehow contrary to each other ?
    .
    seems that way. you blame the car culture but say it is withing walking distance


  • Registered Users Posts: 15 Monisey


    Anyone hear anything about the GAA club closing down? The bar has closed as far as I know.


  • Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭Departed


    Monisey wrote: »
    Anyone hear anything about the GAA club closing down? The bar has closed as far as I know.
    it closed last week. apparently no one was told till the time came including thenbarcmanager. a darts club had a big comp arranged but got help from some football club to have it on their premises


  • Registered Users Posts: 371 ✭✭Cerbera


    Monisey wrote: »
    Anyone hear anything about the GAA club closing down? The bar has closed as far as I know.

    Is that the one on the Western Rd?


  • Registered Users Posts: 15 Monisey


    Yep, across from the hospital.


  • Registered Users Posts: 837 ✭✭✭Gotya


    Hey, anyone know of any good deals around for a barbeque.
    Planning one for the match sunday.
    I mean food not an actual barbeque. burgers, sausages and so on..


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,238 ✭✭✭✭callaway92


    Gotya wrote: »
    Hey, anyone know of any good deals around for a barbeque.
    Planning one for the match sunday.
    I mean food not an actual barbeque. burgers, sausages and so on..

    As far as quality is concerned, Jim Whelan's in Oakville can't be beaten. Sadly they would be one of the more expensive ones though.

    We still get most from there or else Kennedy's in Cahir.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭darragh o meara


    Anybody know what's happening the Clonmel Arms? Lot of work going on there the last few weeks. The building was painted and cleaned up a fortnight ago and I see today people working in around the Paddock area of the hotel. Looks promising. I loved that place.

    Contd:

    I took a walk past and had a good nose in the window and the paddock seems to be gutted and I saw 2-3 workers in there.

    Looks promising. Does anyone know who currently owns the place? Or even if the proposed development is going ahead?


Advertisement