I am delighted to be here in the Dublin Docklands this evening to open the new Seán O’Casey pedestrian bridge. I am particularly honoured to be in the company of Seán’s daughter – Shivaun – for this important event.
It is most appropriate that this bridge, linking the southside of the city directly with the International Financial Services Centre, is to be called after a man so closely associated with this area. Seán O’Casey, the playwright, lived in the North Wall area for some 23 years at the turn of the last century. In his plays – most notably The Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars – he gave a voice to Dublin’s poor.
The Dublin of that time, and in particular many of the streets around the Docklands area, contained some of the city’s worst slums. In fact, almost one-third of the city’s population lived in tenements – entire generations living together in a single room in what were once great Georgian mansions. But through his poetic speeches, O’Casey gave his characters the space they longed for in what were otherwise very cramped and difficult times.
This bridge is all about opening up new areas of space. It ensures the vital link between the southside of the city – between Merrion Square and St Stephen’s Green – and the vibrant Docklands area including Custom House Docks, Spencer Dock and the North Lotts. It will ensure that this fast developing and vibrant area is easily accessible to whole new parts of the city.
I would like to pay tribute to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority for driving this project. It is quite a sight to come down to the Docklands today to witness the scale of development that is taking place. Clusters of cranes soar across the skyline. Everywhere you look, new office block and housing facades are emerging above scaffolding. There is an air of expectancy and excitement about the Docklands – a real sense of an area being reborn to cater for the living and working needs of the 21st century. And, I believe the international focus associated with the Docklands – the idea of reaching out to those beyond our shores – is also reflected in this bridge. With the building of the bridge taking place in Poland and input from many other parts of the world, the best in construction expertise has been used in its making.
In particular, I want to pay tribute to John Mowlem Construction Limited for overseeing the entire construction of the bridge. My congratulations also go to Brian O’Halloran & Associates and O’Connor Sutton Cronin for their innovative design. Together, you have created a pedestrian artery across the Liffey that is sure to reflect the confidence and vibrancy of Dublin city.
The Docklands project is now just beyond its halfway point and due to culminate in 2012. It is a project that has captured the imaginations of Dubliners and its many visitors like never before. By 2012, the population of the area will have increased from some 25,000 people to 42,500. It will also lead to the construction of over 11,000 new homes and the creation of 40,000 new jobs.
The numbers mean little in isolation until one actually visits the area to see the scale of development taking place. You cannot but be impressed by the extraordinary level of activity taking place on every dock and street corner. From the hugely successful IFSC, to the dramatic U2 tower being built across the river and the wonderfully designed Grand Canal theatre, the Docklands is virtually a city within a city.
In addition to reshaping the physical reality of the Docklands, some of the less visible, yet particularly valuable aspects of the Docklands Authority’s work, is found in the range of community programmes it has developed. Working directly with local schoolchildren, youth groups and families, you are opening up doors of opportunity for people in the area.
In this way, you are making a real contribution to the social regeneration of the area. Furthermore, the wider population of Dublin is being drawn to the area with events such as the Docklands Maritime Festival, the St Patrick’s Day Skyfest and the berthing of the Tall Ships.
Before I conclude today, I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority’s CEO, Peter Coyne, who is stepping down from his role after seven years at the helm. I want to thank you Peter for steering this landmark project over that time. There are few people who can take such personal credit for changing a city skyline as dramatically as you have. You can certainly take great pride in that work. Given the success of the Dockland’s project to date, I have no doubt that the Authority’s new CEO, Paul Maloney, will rise to the challenge of the coming years’ development.
Finally, it remains for me to express my delight that, due to the opening of this bridge, increasing amounts of Dublin’s Southsiders will get to explore my own beloved Northside over the coming years!
I wish you every success with the ongoing Docklands’ projects.
Thank you.
ENDS
13th July 2005