Money Talks

Money Talks

We all know money talks and it seems the planners of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, cannot get enough from the developers of the Dundrum Town Centre.
In March 3rd, 2005what is known as Dundrum Town Centre and is said to be the biggest shopping centre in Europe opened its doors. It is situated on what was once the Pyelands south of the village heading out the Sandyford Road. It is as a result of this new town centre that Dundrum village is lost.

An invasion has and continues to take place. Property is being bought up all over the village by the developers, who not being satisfied at building the town centre and redeveloping the old shopping centre succeeded in buying up most of the road that goes between the two shopping centres. They were allowed to buy some of the land to the back of the church, that they intend to use to link the two shopping centres. At least the church stopped short of permitting the developers to take down the church stone by stone and move it to another location! Now I hear they have moved across the road and bought the apartment block opposite the shopping centre and the gym alongside the apartments.

The original village of Dundrum (Dún Droma in Irish or the Fort on the Ridge), clustered around Dundrum Castle (now in ruins), which was built in the 13th century as part of the defences around Dublin. The village remained small until the 19th century when it expanded greatly, particularly after the arrival of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway (DSER) in the 1850s.
Much of the cottages, houses and what are now shops and offices on the Main Street were build in the 1800’s. The Catholic church on the Main Street was begun in 1813 and not finished until 1837.

The town centre and cinema are a wonderful addition to the village, as they were built on property that was allowed to go derelict. It has brought employment and opportunity to the area, if only it was all to stop there.

Ultimately, the horror is that nowhere is safe. Once developers set their eyes on an area nothing will hold them back, and this village will be wiped out and in its place a shopping complex with no central community feeling that gives a person a sense of belonging.

If only the planners showed some signs of innovative planning, based on conservation, preservation, and foresight, the village of Dundrum could be a monument to their talents, creativity, and strength of character. A showcase for all to follow, instead I feel it will stand out as an example of how badly things can go wrong, and prove once again why most people have no faith in the planning departments of their local councils.