TheCity

Tag: the city

  • OPINION: Is Dublin Bus a reliable service?

    OPINION: Is Dublin Bus a reliable service?

    According to the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) quarterly figures, less than 5% of Dublin Bus services have been more than five minutes late for scheduled departure times between January 2012 and May 2013.

    On its website the NTA, which publishes performance reports on all public sector transport under its remit, officially states that “Dublin Bus are required to report quarterly on their performance” to the authority. When asked by TheCity.ie how exactly these figures are collated and whether or not the process is self-regulatory, as is indicated in the aforementioned statement, the NTA refused to comment.

    So, we want to know what service users from across the capital think.

    Do you believe the figures? Take part in our online interactive poll below and watch the reactions of the Dublin’s commuters as we ask them whether Dublin Bus can be relied upon to get them from A to B.

  • Wallis Ltd Closing on Grafton St with 45% Cut in Redundancy

    It was a sad day on Grafton Street today as former employees of Wallis Retail (Ireland) Ltd picketed outside its doors in objection to the closure of the chain store.

    Tomorrow, 19th October, Wallis, which is a part of the Arcadia multiples Ireland Group, is closing its Grafton Street store and making its staff redundant as part of a deal to sub-let its store to another high street retailer.

    image (2)
    Long-term employees of the Arcadia Group store will now be left jobless from today.

    According to accounts filed by Wallis, the company recorded a €2.12 million pre-tax loss last year.

    The Mandate Trade Union have asked Wallis to adhere to a prior agreement of five weeks redundancy per year worked.

    “It’s absolutely disgraceful, what is happening here. Some of us have been here for ten years,” explains Melanie Rooney, a former loyal employee of Wallis on Grafton Street.

    “Some of the people here have kids and families to support and we were told last week the shop is closing tomorrow.”

    “All we want is for our disputes to be heard to be treated fairly with the respect we deserve.”

    Melanie Rooney and her collegue picketing outside Wallis in the rain on Grafton St yesterday.
    Melanie Rooney and her collegue picketing outside Wallis in the rain on Grafton St yesterday.

    The company have also refused an invitation from the State’s industrial body, the Labour Relations Commission, to attend a conciliation conference in an effort to resolve all of the issues in dispute.

    This closure is happening is happening despite the group paying a dividend of €92 million to their owners in 2012.

    It is to assign its sub-lease to another UK retail chain, Cath Kidston, which specialises in floral print handbags and homeware.

  • Dublin doors open for architecture enthusiasts

    Dublin doors open for architecture enthusiasts

    This slideshow requires JavaScript.

    Historical buildings opened up all over the capital from October 4-6 as Open House Dublin celebrated its 8th annual celebration of unique Irish architecture.

    With special ‘access-all-areas’ dispensations being given to visitors of some of the city’s most iconic architectural landmarks over the course of the weekend, patrons were given the opportunity to glimpse into historical venues such as Farmleigh House, Casino Marino, Uras an Uachtaráin plus 97 other buildings for free.

    Organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation, guided tours were provided to give a fascinating insight into places of interest ranging from educational and political institutions to cutting-edge community and residential new-builds in what has been deemed by the IAF as the country’s largest celebration of architecture.

    My tour took me to one of the most instantly-recognisable landmarks on the island in the form of the GPO on O’Connell Street before heading south over the river and getting a behind-the-scenes view into the Earlsfort Terrace complex, which now plays host to the National Concert Hall, and the adjoining Iveagh Gardens.

  • Review of Trinity college biodiversity podcasts

    Review of Trinity college biodiversity podcasts

    by Martha Gberevbie

    How does a whistle-stop journey around Dublin sound, say from Bull Island to Irishtown Nature Park? Trinity College have recently launched 11 podcasts to help you along the way.

    Locations covered by audio guide. Map courtesy of Trinity College Dublin.
    Locations covered by audio guide. Map courtesy of Trinity College Dublin.

    The free audio guide called DBAT(Dublin Biodiversity Audio Tour) includes undiscovered gems like Serenity community gardens and firm favourite Dublin Zoo. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth.  The initiative is sure to prove popular with tourists and nature lovers alike.

    Overall, the podcasts are perfectly compiled. They are short, sweet and most importantly exciting. There is also an educational element to the podcasts, as they include the history of each area. Go on, have a listen. I promise you’ll be impressed!

    The podcasts can be found at: Irish biodiversity guides