SMITHFIELD MARKET AREA - APRIL 2016

Golden Rule: If an area has a bad reputation re-name it and if you have some cash to spare install some street furniture that can be described as public art. Smithfield Market became Smithfield Plaza and the locals have some ugly wooden sheep and a sheefdog [not 100% sure if they are sheep] to draw attention to the fact that there is some grass availabe [other than the type that one may smoke if so inclined]

For a very short period this area was newly fashionable since 2008 stagnation set in as developments stalled and the Irish economy nose-dived once the post-Celtic Tiger economic recession struck. The significant issues of variable apartment occupancy rates, coupled with closed retail spaces and with a large number of unfinished and unoccupied commercial units a highly visible reminder of the economic and community challenges still to be addressed in this historic part of Dublin.

Every year an new plan for the area is announced, a lot of money is spent but there is never any sign of improvement. The area is bleak and anti-social activity is a major problem which encourages visitors to leave the area as rapidly as possible.