Bandstand

While I'm on topics raised in this week's Wicklow Times, I have to say that spending €250,000 doing up the bandstand does seem a colossal waste of money. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great if the seafront in Bray was spruced up a bit, but I believe they're putting the cart before the horse.

Before the seafront is beautified, someone has to convince the owners of the public houses along the seafront to get rid of all that outdoor drinking. I know I'm just about the only person in this country who believes this, but I think drinking belongs inside or at least out of sight. If they want to develop beer gardens, have them out back not in the front. Outdoor seating at cafes and restaurants can be pleasant, but not for pubs.

The seafront in general (other than the actual sea) is simply ugly. I can't think of a single attractive commercial premise along the seafront. The pubs and their outdoor drinking areas are like urban blight - they have to be tackled before the rest of the area can improve.

I don't see how spending so much public money on the bandstand makes sense. I'd be happier if they were going to plant loads of trees to try and separate the commercial premises from the sea - that would be a far better investment if they want to improve the seafront.

Dell leaving Bray?

The Wicklow Times's front page story this week deals with this real possibility. Of course, I've seen these rumors before and they do make sense. Why would Dell maintain two separate operations when they could consolidate all of what they do in Cherrywood?

However, if there is any truth that Dell may soon be leaving Bray, what about the new roundabout? A few months ago, traffic at the end of Veevay Rd. was disrupted so that a new entrance/exit could be added to Dell's car park and a new roundabout was added to the Veevay Road. If Dell was really thinking of making a quick departure would they have wasted their money on this project? Or, would the council have paid for this improvement if Dell was leaving so soon?

I don't know who paid for these 'roadworks' (& I'd like to know), but regardless of who paid, if Dell is bugging out, it was a waste of money.

Sorrento Park

Thanks to a scheduling foul-up - basically I thought I was supposed to be meeting someone at 11:45, but it was actually supposed to be 12:15 - I had a chance to go for a walk in Dalkey this morning. I walk around Dalkey a lot, so nothing unusual about that.

Today, I walked down Coliemore Road past the Harbour and up again towards the corner. Then I made a spur of the moment decision to go into Sorrento Park, where I probably haven't been in more than five years. I had forgotten how amazing this place is.

As you approach it, your impression is of an overgrown, not very well maintained walk through some bushes. But, once you get past the entrance you see the park is actually fairly neatly kept. First thing you see (from where I entered, anyway) is a mosaic of John Dowland. I had never heard of John Dowland before, but he was apparently a composer of renown in the 16th century (and there's a lot more than you ever wanted to know about John Dowland on this site, which has an odd design so don't be put off).

Anyway, Dowland was, possibly, born in Dalkey. "Dowland was a friend of Shakespeare and musician at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. It is said his descriptions of the Dalkey coast inspired the setting for Elsinore in 'Hamlet'." Who knew? (Obviously, lots of people, but not me.)

Anyway, continue on up and you come to the top where the views are spectacular. A sunny day is great, but even better is a day like today when the seas are a little rough and there are dark clouds on the horizon. The sun shining on Dalkey Island with rough seas racing past - just great.

I lingered at the top for about 15 minutes - looking at the island, at the tops of the houses of the rich and famous, and in the distance at the people (men presumably, lunatics certainly) who were getting in for a swim at the Vico bathing site.

Motorway speed

For the first time I can remember the Gardai were checking the speed of cars entering the work zone on the north bound side of the M11 on Saturday. I hadn't seen them there before.

I don't know if their presence was related to the new roadworks, which I haven't witnessed yet. I only saw the signs warning us of delays starting September 6.