Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Progress Brings Its Changes - Not All Of Them Pretty

It was during a return visit last week to my old hometown of Ringsend, Dublin that I truly became aware of the ever changing village landscape. As I was not tied to time on this occasion I spent a leisurely few hours (camera phone in tow having forgotton to recharge the Canon!) sauntering down the avenues and alleyways that were once very much part of my childhood.

The most devastating change has to be to the view along the Pigeon House Road where once to your left hand side lay an uninterrupted view of the sea. Now above those blue waters stands a docklands, its giant cranes and massive stacks of freight containers dwarfing the coastguard station opposite which still houses several families. Also along that road I noticed the once magnificent house whose family I used to babysit for now lying derelict, black hoarding on its windows. Around the corner from that, my avenue where I lived for fifteen years has also fallen victim to the credit crunch with one of its properties now also lying abandoned, it too boarded up. Absolutely soul destroying to see that.

On a brighter note, Ringsend Park is still pretty much the same as I knew it except for the addition of an all-weather football pitch and other sports areas which I'm sure are very welcome facilities indeed. Mind you, the railings running parallel with the park could do with a coat of paint!

Below are some then and now photos all taken by me. Time, as the song goes, changes everything!







Left: Coastguard Station 2001. Right: Roof of Station barely visible 2010.











Left: Detached house, 2005. Right: Same house, derelict 2010.

FEEL FREE TO COMMENT

2 comments:

  1. I suppose we must accept change, but not all changes are for the better, some just destroy nostalgic memories.

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  2. I totally agree Donald. I wish laws were passed that all new buildings must blend in with their surroundings otherwise they won't get planning permission. That'll be the day! Thanks Donald, take care! Ann

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