Ringsend was the first planned village suburb of Dublin and had the No.1 electric tram servicing the area. St. Patrick’s Villas was the first estate in Dublin to transfer from gas to electric power.

Could Ringsend merit a first in the upcoming Dublin City Neighbourhoods Competition? Marks in this competition are awarded under the criteria of: built environment; absence of litter and dereliction; landscaping; culture and tradition; co-operation and communication; overall impression.

Over the past decade Ringsend and its environs have been the focus of all sorts of high-powered attention. Developers have swooped down Pearse Street, along the backsides of Ringsend Road and into the heart of the village. Poolbeg, with its Great South Wall slowly yields itself up to Sewage Plants, Incinerators and those who plan mini cities.

Residents, and blow-ins like myself, react with varying emotions. Yet nothing and no-one can escape the reality that there is no stopping this march of 21st century progress.

A local business man I spoke with says that Ringsend has a proud history with some of its buildings dating from the 1700s. During the last century the area was neglected, which resulted in the deterioration of buildings and public amenities.

The Celtic Tiger has brought changes not only to the look of Ringsend but also to the aspirations of residents both new and old. The business man himself envisages the Ringsend of the future as an attractive business and shopping centre, with the image of the village being boosted by the restoration of the buildings along Ringsend Road to their original brickwork and the reinstating of traditional-style sash windows and shop fronts.

With strong lobbying of politicians and public offices, the area could be benchmarked for improvements such as high quality pedestrian streets, improved footpaths, new street furniture and an upgrade of public lighting that would enhance the church, river and older street areas.

He did comment, however, that attention needs to be exercised so we do not end up with changes as inappropriate or dangerous to the safety of the community as the pavement work recently put in place around the library and Thorncastle Street.

Liam Handy, well known retired Ringsend butcher, is devastated by the recent remodelling of the village. This took place under the Ringsend Improvement Scheme, now being referred to locally as the Ringsend Disimprovement Scheme.

In his 40 years working behind the library Liam came to see that area as the ‘village green’ of Ringsend. He recalls how the older generations, known as ‘the Ringsend Dáil’ gathered on the outdoor library benches, how the convenient parking offered easy access to library facilities and how excitement grew amongst the various groups when they convened to await the hired buses that would whisk them away to their individual outings.

Liam has seen the new arrangements discourage, or abolish completely, many of these community-gathering opportunities. He believes that election time is the best time to get politicians and councillors to listen, and encourages people not to feel helpless but to get out there and state their case loud and clear.

Above; Bridge Street, Ringsend in the 1940s.