European Car Free City Day falls on a Saturday this year which means that commuter traffic cannot be targeted. Or at least that's Dublin Corporation's main excuse for limiting its car-free zone next Saturday to three tiny areas: Customs House Quay, Merrion Square West and South King St (which is, incidentally, due to be permanently closed to traffic soon).
Brian McManus of the Traffic Department of Dublin Corporation says that shoppers wouldn't be able to take their shopping home if the main city-centre thoroughfares were closed to cars. "Closing roads is not on our agenda for the foreseeable future. Everyone knows that our plans are to upgrade O'Connell Street, put in the Luas line and the Dublin Port tunnel. So on Saturday, we want to show people alternative modes of transport (at Customs House Quay) and encourage them to get to know their city by going on a walking tour. (Both Fair City Walking Tours and Historical Walking Tours have scheduled extra tours)."
That Dublin Corporation isn't willing to make a symbolic gesture of closing off the city centre to cars next Saturday may of course be linked to the fact that the inadequacies of public transport would become the highlight of the day instead.
Outside the capital, other participating cities are making more effort on the car free zone aspect of the day. Cork will close off Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street and North Main Street to cars (7 a.m. - 9 p.m.) next Saturday. Galway will ban cars from Eyre Square to the River Corrib ( 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.). In Waterford, the car-free zone (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.) comprises John Roberts Square, Broad Street and Michael Street.
Limerick, Sligo, Clonmel, Portlaoise and Greystones will also have some car-free zones. Bus ╔ireann is operating free city buses on the day in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Sligo. Street entertainers will brighten the moods of all those who do make it into town for the day.
Inspired teacher and organic gardening enthusiast, Paddy Madden, will explain how you can establish any of 14 different habitats, no matter how small your garden, in his talk on Living Garden Habitats at the ILAC Central Library, Henry Street, Dublin on Thursday at 6.15 p.m. Wildlife-friendly gardens can be created by growing a mini woodland, a native hedgerow or a miniature wildflower hay meadow. Even those with a backyard can put up birdtables or bat boxes. In his 28 years at Scoil Treasa off Dublin's South Circular Road, Madden had the city youngsters sowing (and eating) vegetables, harvesting corn and gathering hazelnuts.
The fine restoration job carried out on Dublin City Hall may catch your eye as you go up Parliament Street but you've got to go inside to be truly awe-inspired. Now, here's your chance. Dublin Corporation is hosting a series of free lunchtime lectures on the architecture and conservation of Dublin City Hall this month. Dr Edward McParland, architectural historian at TCD will talk about its architect, Thomas Cooley, on Tuesday at 1.15 p.m. Peter Pearson, architectural historian and former neighbour of City Hall will talk on The Heart of Dublin on September 25th at 1.15 p.m. Tel: 01-672
2204. Web: www.dublincorp.ie/cityhall
The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim, is hosting its second organic fair next Sunday. Visitors can meet organic producers in the north-west and get involved in local networks of producers. Tel: 072-54338 for more details. E-mail: organiccentre@eircom.net
