More than twenty years ago there was a Head Shop at 164 Capel Street but it was set on fire. To quote from court documents: “The facts of the case were that the appellant and another man deliberately set fire to a head shop premises called Nirvana situate at 164 Capel Street, Dublin 1, in the early hours of the 12th of February 2010. The shop specialised in the sale of psychotropic substances which, though now illegal, were legal at the time. in the sale of phototropic substances which were legal at the time. The fire also spread to the two premises on either side of Nirvana, namely to a premises called The Souvenir Seeds Store at 164A Capel Street, which also sold then legal psychotropic substances, and to Utopia at 163 Capel Street which was a sex shop.”
This photograph was taken towards the end of 2022 however nothing really happened until a week or two when a demolition crew arrived to demolish the Dublin Working Mens Club at 33-36 Little Strand Street. I must admit that I was totally unaware of the the building and am not sure if it is being cleared to allow the construction of the new hotel.
[UPDATE] I checked the planning permission documents and the footprint of the hotel includes 162-164 Capel Street and 33-36 Strand Street Little []
In September 2021 An Bord Pleanála disagreed with Dublin City Council’s contention that there were too many hotels in the city centre and awarded permission, following an appeal, to Ringline Investments for a nine-storey, 142-bedroom hotel for Capel Street, in Dublin. The appeals board decision overturned a ruling by the City Council to refuse planning to Ringline for the hotel after expressing concerns about the “existing over-concentration” of hotels in the area.
Some objections were due to the fact that about 2,150 hotel rooms have been permitted in recent years within 350 metres of the site on Capel Street.
Apartment hotel group City ID recently announced the acquisition of a site on Capel Street in Dublin. The latest addition to its brand is the next step in its wider growth strategy across Europe and beyond. Originally the site received full planning permission for 142 bedrooms with food and beverage and meeting facilities and once developed will extend to approximately 5,471 sq m / 58,890 sq ft over 9-storey over basement.
My understanding is that the complex now under construction will operate 104 apartments with a diverse room mix. All apartments will feature fully equipped kitchens and living spaces, suited for short and long stays. The ground floor public area will include an open lobby, a deli, and a bar.
The acquisition of Capel Street adds to its three locations in central Amsterdam and to its latest site in central London’s Victoria district. Together with pension provider APG and Aware Super, City ID is implementing its strategy of international growth. The goal is to invest more than € 1 billion over the next five years to grow its international platform of apartment hotels across major European cities.
In August 2018 the Big Tree on Dorset Street, one of Dublin’s best known pubs, ceased trading as the site was to be re-developed as a 163 bedroom hotel. According to some reports the original planning permission was for a student accommodation complex.
The pub derived its current name in the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion when after a 60 second trial by Alderman of Dublin City and judge to the prerogative court sentenced John Claudius Beresford, one of Dublin’s most notorious character’s, and 5 other men to be hanged at the spot outside the tavern where they were arrested. The tree that they were hanged from became known as the Big Tree and over the years the tavern became known as the Big Tree Tavern.
The Tavern has been on the site since 1543 originating as an Inn. Back in the medieval days it was famously known as the “Rose Tavern”.
As the street is very narrow it is difficult to photograph this new building. The laneway at the side of the building is Anglesea Row and to the best of my knowledge a former mill was located was located here and it has been completely rebuilt to provide modern office space.
Two or three years ago the Irish Times reported that there about 100 new hotels or similar accommodation developments under construction or in the planning process and that there were already more than 250 hotels in Dublin.
Staycity was established in Dublin in 2004 and to the best of my knowledge the largest and most recent is located on the site of a Keelings owned fresh fruit and veg distribution depot on Little Mary Street. Back when planning permission was applied for However, the potential for human remains on the site had placed a question mark over the development. A City Council archaeologist report found that given that the site is located near to a medieval abbey and that human remains were found nearby, “I consider that it to have high potential for in situ structural remains of medieval date and for burials”.
An apartment hotel or aparthotel (also residential hotel, or extended-stay hotel) is a serviced apartment complex that uses a hotel-style booking system. It is similar to renting an apartment, but with no fixed contracts and occupants can “check out” whenever they wish, subject to the applicable minimum length of stay imposed by the company.
An apartment hotel complex usually offers a complete fully fitted apartment. These complexes are usually custom built, and similar to a hotel complex containing a varied amount of apartments. The length of stay in these apartment hotels is varied with anywhere from a few days to months or even years. The people who stay in apartment hotels use them as long-term accommodation; therefore, the hotels are often fitted with most things the average home would require.
I could not believe it when I discovered that I have not visited Saggart or the Citywest Hotel since April 2016 so I am now planning to visit the area as soon as the weather improves.
Citywest is a suburban development on the southwestern periphery of Dublin, originally developed as a “business campus.” It contains a large hotel, with a convention centre, a small shopping centre and a small but expanding residential element. Citywest is situated in the southwest of the traditional County Dublin, in the jurisdiction of South Dublin County Council; the nearest major suburban centre is Tallaght, while the semi-suburban village of Saggart is adjacent.
Saggart is a village in South Dublin, Ireland, south west of Dublin city. It lies between the N7 (Naas Road), Rathcoole, Citywest and Tallaght. It is one of the fastest-growing settlements in Ireland, showing a population increase of 46.1% between 2011 and 2016.
GABRIEL HOUSE GUESTHOUSE IT REALLY IS THE HOUSE ON THE HILL
Gabriel House was blocked booked by the Government for much of the Covid-19 pandemic and fortunately, as a result, all the staff retained their jobs which is excellent news because I like dealing with them every time I visit.
With its elevated position, Gabriel House is a beautiful, period guesthouse that looks out over Cork’s cathedral spires and the harbour. Guests can pick out freshly laid eggs for breakfast each morning from the house’s own resident hens. There are also two dogs that are waiting to meet you in the back garden.
A traditional Irish breakfast is served daily and made from local ingredients, while freshly home-baked breads, biscuits scones are made daily. The breakfast is included in the price and should not be missed.
In 2006 I stayed at the Metropole in Cork and because of noise on the street [roadworks] I could not sleep and when I complained in the morning they did not have an alternative room so it was suggested that I could switch to Gabriel House.
According to the staff I last stayed here in August 2021 and three years earlier. My last pre-pandemic visit to Cork was 2019 and I stayed in low cost accommodation close to the railway station because I had injured my foot and did not want to deal with the hill up to Summerhill North
In 2018 I may have stayed at the Metropole on McCurtain Street because Garbiel House had introduced a non-refund booking policy which did not suit my travel schedule. Prior to 2018 I had booked a room at Gabriel House every year, except one, from 2007 to 2017.
This year I got a very good price for four nights and as there is now an excellent bus service the hill is not really a problem.
I have already booked a week in May 2023 but may visit again in September of this year, all going well.
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