The Dublin Community Blog

One of my favourite stores, Habitat has gone into voluntary liquidation and closed its Dublin and Galway stores suddenly on Friday last. According to news reports, staff were told of the closure on Fri evening and 60 are now out of work.

The notice on their website states:

Due to a severe downturn in sales in both our Galway and Dublin stores, it has become impossible to trade through the subsequent financial difficulties, particularly in light of the current economic environment.

Are companies too quick to cite “economic downturn” as an excuse for everything or is this really a sign of things to come?

There has been some discussion on Liveline today regarding outstanding orders and money owed to customers. Consumers rights in this case seem a little vague.

Its a sad day for former staff and customers.

UPDATE: 14th May 2008, London

Received this from Habitat this morning:

Habitat UK Ltd stands behind its valued customers in Ireland

Habitat UK Ltd has confirmed that it will honour all outstanding customer orders placed with Conai Designs (Ireland) Ltd.

Conai Designs (Ireland) Ltd, who have operated Habitat’s stores in Galway and Dublin under a franchise agreement for the past 6 years, ceased trading on 9th May 2008. In spite of this unfortunate situation, Habitat UK Ltd is pleased to confirm that it will honour all outstanding customer orders placed with Conai Designs (Ireland) Ltd. In addition, there is a process in place to ensure that all gift cards and vouchers will be redeemable in Habitat UK stores.

Habitat UK Ltd will be contacting all valued customers in Ireland with outstanding orders to secure arrangements on a one to one basis as a matter of priority.Customers wishing to contact Habitat UK Ltd in the meantime can do so via our dedicated email address below. However, we would like to reiterate that all customers will be contacted as soon as feasibly possible.

Customer enquiries can be sent to:

CustomerEnquiries.Ireland@habitat.co.uk

Recently there has been many column inches (see NY Times) dedicated to the launch of an eco-friendly canvas bag by designer Anya Hindmarch. This canvas bag was made popular by a combination of celebrity endorsement (such as Keira Knightly), unavailability and the fact that Anya Hindmarch bags usually start at several hundred pounds. This bag retails around GB£5 but some lucky buyers have been selling theirs for up to GB£200 on ebay. So popular is this bag that long queues formed at its release in the UK, US and Hong Kong and several people were hospitalised after a stampede in Taiwan!

Yours truly is lucky enough to have secured one in a lottery from the website We Are What We Do. I’ll post a pic when I get it into my paws.

Tomorrow the bag goes on sale in Brown Thomas at 9am. Purchases are limited to one per person.

Start queueing now ladies

Screwdrivers at the ready, IKEA has finally gotten the go ahead from An Bord Pleanála. A 30,000 square foot shop can now be constructed in Ballymun subject to 30 conditions “aimed at preventing traffic congestion, protecting the visual amenity of the area and promoting sustainable development”. Visual amenity? So that’ll be a multi-story grey concrete warehouse then?

Update: One of the reported conditions was that the store did not open until after the M50 upgrade completed in 2009. The IKEA manager was on Matt Coopers show and believes this is not the case. He hopes to negogiate with others to get the store open in 16 months time, late summer 2008. In fairness to them if they had to wait for the M50 to be completed they could be waiting for a long time after 2009.

Did you get everything on your wish list for Christmas? If not or you are just a bargain hunter, now is the time to shop. Most stores have some sort of sale announcement in their windows. Even BT2 has a sale on! On Sunday, I took a stroll down Grafton Street to try to get a feel for the vibe in the post Christmas city. It was quieter than I have ever seen it but at least there were some people out. One thing that I noticed, however, was the lack of shopping bags.

I was strolling along O’Connell Street yesterday around 5pm and I noticed it was closed off to traffic, so being the curious type that I am I took a walk up to the GPO and happened upon the unveiling of this years Christmas tree. Yes, love it or hate it, it’s that time again already folks…

Unfortunately had a pressing engagement to get to (ok, it was a pint of Guinness), so I didn’t hang around for the official light up.

Here’s a list of some of the events taking place in the city over Christmas taken from the official DublinCity.ie press release :

Live Animal Crib – (11 – 23 December) For the 11th year running, The Mansion House on Dawson Street will host a traditional nativity scene set with live animals in a specially constructed lifesize stable. This event has become a beloved Christmas tradition amongst families and has collected over €110,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund. Organised by the Irish Farmers Association and Dublin City Council, this wonderful event is free but everyone should donate money to this worthy cause! A wonderful opportunity to bring a little bit of the country to city kids. ·

Smithfield on Ice, t.0818 946900 / http://www.smithfieldonice.ie/ – (10 November – 7 January)

Dublin’s original open-air Ice-Rink, returns to Smithfield for the fifth year running. A large skating rink, a Victorian carnival and Christmas market all contribute to a sense of the ‘White Christmas’ Bing Crosby sang about. Santa will be up the 170ft Smithfield chimney, there will be carols every Sunday, and everyone can get a chance to bump and slide on the ice! All together now: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas!� ·

Santa’s Workshop – (every weekend in December) This year for the first time Santa has moved his workshop from Lapland in the North Pole to Dublin’s City Hall!! ·

Christmas Market – (1 – 10 December)

Dubliners will have the opportunity to savour the atmosphere, tastes and smells of a traditional Christmas market in Wolfe Tone Park with Christmas fare available from over 20 stalls offering a wide selection from which to choose. Dublin Docklands Authority, Georges Dock, IFSC, D1: http://www.ddda.ie/ · 12 Days of Christmas –

Traditional Festive Market – (12 – 23 December)

Featuring over 40 traders selling Christmas decorations, seasonal food and craft gifts from decorated stalls the market also offers the scent of mulled wine, a German-themed bar, carol-singing, an eating area and fairground attractions. Not only will it bring a bit of Christmas spirit to the city but it will also be an opportunity to see how the Docklands is changing.

The National Museum of Ireland, t.01 6777444: http://www.museum.ie/ ·

Christmas Open Day, Museum of Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, D7 -(Saturday 2 December): children can make Christmas decorations and learn about old fashioned toys. ·

Get Ready for Christmas!, Museum of Archaeology & History, Kildare Street, D2 – (Saturday 16 December): children will be encouraged to make their own Christmas decorations and decorate a tree at this children’s art workshop (booking is essential). ·

 A Medieval Christmas, Museum of Archaeology & History, Kildare Street, D2 – (Sunday 17 December): presented by the Irish Arms Living History Group, enjoy the fun of the Medieval Fair – education amidst Christmas fun, what more could you want for your kids?

 Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA),Royal Hospital Kilmainham, D8: http://www.modernart.ie/ ·

A number of exciting exhibitions will be running for all the family to enjoy including Michael Craig-Martin (Until 14 January),Hearth: Concepts of Home from the IMMA Collection in collaboration with Focus Ireland (Until 1 April), Iran do Espírito Santo (Until 21 January) and All Hawaii Entrées (Until 18 February)

Dublin City Gallery – The Hugh Lane, Parnell Square North, D1: http://www.hughlane.ie/ ·

Children’s Art Workshops (see website for further details) Why not bring all the budding artists in the family along to explore their creative side:- Making Winter Tophats – (Saturday 2 December) 12 Days of Christmas – (Saturday 16 December) Little Christmas – (Saturday 6 January)

The Gaiety Theatre, South King Street, D2: http://www.gaietytheatre.net/ · Mother Goose Panto – (3 December – 4 February)

“He’s behind you! Oh no he isn’t! Oh yes he is!� The Gaiety Panto is the largest in the country and it’s always a great night out for the whole family. Expect lots of good guys, bad guys, good girls, bad girls, men dressed as women and the most important ingredient lots of happy, loud, shouting children.

The Olympia Theatre, 72 Dame Street, D2: t.01 670 3323/0818 719330 ·

 Cinders Panto – (26 December – 7 January) 98fm’s Little Becky and ITV’s Bel from Bel Boys are appearing live in pantomime this Christmas in the all time classic Cinders at the Olympia. With an all-Irish child cast of over 110, 4-16 year olds, two live ponies, Bebo the Dog and the biggest kid in the world, June Rogers, returning to panto for the first time in many years – this is bound to be an evening of fun and frolics for the entire family!

Liberty Hall, Eden Quay, D1:01 872 1122 / http://www.libertyhall.ie/ ·

Sleeping Beauty – The Lyons Tea Panto – (15 December – 21 January) Ireland AM’s Alan Hughes appears as Sammy Sausages with a host of other celebrities including Joe Conlon, George McMahon and Hazel O’Connor in this year’s classic panto production which is bound to entertain young and old alike!

The National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, D2: http://www.nch.ie/ ·

Christmas Crackers – (7 December, 8 pm) Hosted by showband legend Dickie Rock and Niamh Kavanagh the evening features a host of popular seasonal carols and Christmas hits including Silent Night, I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus, Christmas Song, O Holy Night and lots more. ·

 A Christmas Festival – (9 December, 8pm) Presented by Niamh Murray, this event will feature the Dublin County Choir, the Billie Barry Children and the Royal Irish Academy of Music Wind Ensemble. If you’re a fan of Christmas music then there is no better way to get into the spirit of the season!

A Silver Christmas ·

Dublin City Centre Christmas trees will be adorned with the glow of silver stars from Newbridge Silverware this year who have donated a series of 3,500 exclusively designed and crafted silver stars to Dublin City Council. They will be featured in Christmas trees in O’Connell Street, Lower Grafton St., City Hall and the home of the Lord Mayor – the Mansion House and will be auctioned off in aid of the Lord Mayor’s charity TRUST after Christmas.

Contemporary Music Centre,19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, D8: http://www.cmc.ie/ ·

 Mornington Singers – (7 December, 6.30 – 7.30pm) Will perform Christmas Carols old and new followed by seasonal refreshments at the Contemporary Music Centre and Handel Courtyard.

St Martin’s Church, 42 Parnell Square, D1, t.01 8745465 ·

The Moving Crib – (1 December – 15 January) Established in 1956 by Fr. Louis Coffey, the Moving Crib has now entertained generations of Dubliners. It does more than it says on the tin with a selection of biblical scenes acted out by mechanical puppets including Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, the Three Wise Men and of course the Nativity. A reminder of what Christmas is all about.

The Ark, Cultural Centre for Children,11a Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2: http://www.ark.ie/ ·

The Butterfly Effect: An Arklink Retrospective – (29 November – 7 January) An exhibition celebrating the captivating artwork of the participating children of ArkLink, a six-year programme in the community of Fatima Mansions. Together with resident artists Jole Bortoli, Kieran McNulty and Katie Lincoln, the children have created a imaginative body of original paintings, sculptures and films. A truly inspirational exhibition not to be missed.

Phoenix Park, D8: tel.01-820 5800 ·

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer – (17 December, 2pm) Take a guided walk with Don Doran, Deer Keeper at the Phoenix Park and meet Rudolph and all his friends before they get ready to take flight around the world on Christmas Eve! This event is organised by the OPW. The James Joyce Centre, 35 North Great George’s Street, D1: http://www.jamesjoyce.ie/ ·

Christmas Magic – (1 – 21 December) The James Joyce Centre will transform from this date into a Victorian wonderland straight out of a Charles Dickens novel. Two period Christmas Trees and sumptuous décor will blend with the smells of mince pies, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and apple cider, and the sounds of carols from the likes of the Belvedere choir. Every guest will receive a mince pie and a glass of warm spiced apple juice or mulled wine.

 Temple Bar Cultural Trust, East Essex Street, D2: http://www.templebar.ie/ ·

Christmas Movies on the Square – (every Thursday & Saturday in December) All movies take place on Meeting House Square, Temple Bar and are FREE. Movies DO NOT require tickets – just come along! Love Actually – Thursday 7th December, 6pm It’s a Wonderful Life – Saturday 9th December, 8pm Miracle on 34th Street – Thursday 14th December, 6pm The Santa Claus – Saturday 16th December, 8pm Santa Claus the Movie – Thursday 21st December, 6pm Scrooged – Saturday 23rd December, 8pm ·

Temple Bar Christmas Market – (14 – 17 December, 10am – 7pm)

A spectacular outdoor Christmas market in Old City Temple Bar, Essex Street West, for 4 days only this December! Over 50 stallholders will take to the streets offering you that alternative gift this Christmas. Santas in the City! · From Santas Grottos to snow mountains and a word with the man himself about what you want for Christmas – Christmas isn’t Christmas without a visit to see Santa in the City!
 

I love shopping. I find it therapeutic and realise its probably one of the reasons I am not yet a home owner. I’ve realised over the last few years that I keep going back to stores that make my shopping experience pleasant. Apart from obviously the merchandise, a number of things make me revisit. The shop should be easy to move around in, have clean, air conditioned changing rooms (nothing worse than smelly changing rooms yeuk) preferably queue free, staff should be friendly and returns should be hassle free. If its a Shopping Centre, toilets should be clean and easy to find and parking should be painless.

During the summer Karen wrote about enjoying Liffey Valley shopping centre. Here are some of my positive shopping experiences (in no particular order of preference):

* Dundrum Shopping Centre (deserved winners of International Shopping Centre of the Year)

* Topshop on St. Stephens Green

* Avoca Rathcoole

* Habitat on Suffolk St/College Green

* Any Marks and Spencer store – particularly the grocery store

* Wallis on Grafton St

* Fallon and Byrne foodhall on Exchequer St

* Dunnes Stores Homewares on Georges St

Please feel free to add your own.

Even though it is only October and I agree way to early to think about Christmas, I am thinking about it. A lot. I am coordinating a Christmas show at one of my units. However, I am having difficulty finding two items that I need. The first is a black light. The second: clear plastic ornaments. I want to have my clients decorate them and put them on the Christmas tree during the Christmas show. So, if you know where I can get either of these items, post it in the comments. I would prefer a shop in the Dublin area but will order online if I need to.

I hate this, HATE HATE HATE, did I mention HATE? Shops all around Dublin already have started putting their Christmas decorations / presents / cards etc out onto the shelves. In fact, it’s more than started, following on from a quick stroll around Dublin yesterday, it would already appear that the Christmas rush is in full swing, vying (and winning!) with halloween for shelf space!

I know this is one that gets many people going, and with so many people hating the fact that Christmas starts so early, it always makes me wonder why the shops go ahead with it…obviously there are some people out there who think it’s a great idea!

To that end, our latest poll asks the question, Some Dublin stores have already opened their Christmas shops. How do you feel about this?. Go answer, it’s over there, to the right of the page, and let’s see just how many people think Christmas shopping in early October is a good thing!!

If you’ve been along to any of the Dublin Theatre Festival Events over the past few days, you may well have noticed a half page advert for the new Oxfam Ireland Online Fair Trade Shop, which has this week opened it’s online doors to the world.

Selling a wide variety of Fairtrade crafts, Fairtrade coffee, Fairtrade jewellery, Childrens toys and Corporate gifts, all of which go a long way to ending poverty and suffering in developing countries by helping people to help themselves…the Fairtrade concept in essence!

Oxfam Ireland is an independent member of Oxfam International, a group of thirteen non-governmental agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world. The Oxfams work together to achieve greater impact by their collective efforts.

Obviously, spending money on advertising is not where Oxfam would like to be spending their money, however, that is the great catch 22 situation of trying to launch an Oxfam Ireland Online Fair Trade Shop. So, that’s where the blogging community, and our readers can come into play. The Dublin Community Blog are right behind the cause, and hopefully more people out there can start writing about this, and better again, start using the store as a means to generate much needed revenue for a very worthy cause.

Of course, if buying online is not your thing, you can always walk into one of Oxfam’s bricks n’ mortar stores at the below addresses:

54 South King Street, Dublin 2
9 Lower Abbeygate Street, Galway
18A French Church Street, Cork City
16 Rosemary Street, Belfast BT1 1QD

Arnotts, a department store in Dublin, is proposing a €700m redevelopment of Henry Street, Liffey Street, O’ Connell Street and Middle Abbey Street into a shopping and residential zone which is being called the ‘Northern Quarter’
Artists impressions of the redevelopment which includes constructing a plaza between Henry Street and Middle Abbey Street, are shown below. The plaza is proposed to contain 47 new shop buildings, 17 cafes, restaurants, bars, apartments and a hotel.

The Evening Herald is reporting that Arnotts has been snapping up properties between Henry Street, the GPO arcade, Middle Abbey Street and Liffey Street in the event their plans are given the go-ahead spending an astonishing €100m. They estimate the works will take place up until 2010.

I have a couple of thoughts on this, while it looks good and sounds exciting, how can a department store decide to redevelop an area this size? Also can we face more works in this area? How many of you remember the ongoing works on Henry Street a few years back where a significant proportion of the street was inaccessible for a pretty long time. Christmas shopping was a nightmare. Or am I just being a kill-joy?
Let us know what you think?
News link: Irish Independent (free subscription required)
      

Arnotts photograph taken by Diarmuid on Flickr