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Ballymun (Baile Munna in Irish) is an area on Dublin's Northside close to Dublin Airport currently undergoing demolition and regeneration. Located on Dublin's Northside close to Dublin Airport , it is currently best known for the Ballymun flats, a development of seven apartment towers and many smaller "step-up" blocks (i.e. no elevator). The seven towers are currently in the process of being demolished.
Historically, Ballymun was a larger area than it is now, but due to what were seen to be undesirable associations, the area has shrunk since the completion of the flats. For instance in the early days of Dublin City University, then called National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin, this institution was referred to as being in Ballymun (part of the "Ballymun Project") whilst today it is referred to and has a postal address in Glasnevin even though it has not changed location, indeed much of the present day Ballymun town center comprised of the northern site of Albert Agricultural College, the forerunner of the present-day university, Dublin City University. Despite these slightly negative associations Ballymun is in fact a thriving community with a high standard of living. New housing estates are currently being built and will most likely be bought by young aspiring businessmen as their first step on the Property ladder. The rest will be occupied by the former residents of the flats. Streets have also been renamed, for example the now Glasnevin Avenue was formerly called Ballymun Avenue. The term "Glasnevin North" also appeared to describe areas formerly part of Ballymun.
The lines "I see seven towers/But I only see one way out" in the U2 song 'Running To Stand Still' are a reference to the towers in Ballymun.
Moreover, in the U2 song 'Bad', the song and lyrical focus is on drug use in the Ballymun flats. (Taken from Wikipedia article on Ballymun) |
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New Ballymun Blog
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Ballymun Rumours: Time lapse camera on Ceannt Tower |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
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According to the workers at the demolition site, there is a time lapse camera that has been taking snapshots at intervals of the demolition of Pearse Tower!
 The camera is located at the top of Ceannt Tower (opposite Pearse) and is in an ideal spot to visually document the demolition over the passage of time. Our cameras *may* have spotted the camera - a large sealed box with a glass front at the top of Ceannt Tower.
This is either where the camera is housed or just a large spotlight. Time will tell (excuse the pun).
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Ballymun Concrete News - Online Edition |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 17 August 2004 |
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The Ballymun Concrete News is now available for download from their website in PDF format
 Published by journalist Seamus Kelly (NUJ), this local free newspaper aims to report only positive news stories from the area and is packed full of colour photos and up to date information. The website also contains an archive of past issues, a great resource for ex-Ballymunners living abroad or outside of the terrestrial delivery area.
Seamus was kind enough to plug this website (New Ballymun dot com) on page 5! So please support this local newspaper and get your copy of the Ballymun Concrete News today at: http://www.BallymunConcreteNews.com |
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Wireless Broadband Internet in Ballymun |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 12 August 2004 |
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Wireless broadband internet provider 'Irish Broadband' has recruited 40 additional staff members this year and is on target to generate at least 60 new jobs by year-end, the company says.
To enhance its coverage in Dublin, two new high sites are being activated this week in Ballymun and Killester, with Baldoyle to follow shortly to provide full coverage to the north side of Dublin by the end of the month.
A further site at the Northside Shopping Centre will ensure complete coverage within the bounds of the M50.
Irish Broadband’s managing director Paul Doody said: “We pride ourselves in our ability to listen to and respond quickly and efficiently to market demand.
“We are continuously reviewing, expanding and upgrading our operations.”
Source: iol.ie |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 09 August 2004 |
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For those of you interested here's a bit about the demolition machine being used by the Controled Demolition Group Ltd. to demolish Pearse Tower.
 The 102 tonne purpose-built PC750SE, supplied by Marubeni-Komatsu of Redditch and manufactured at Komatsu UK's Birtley plant, is powered by a Komatsu diesel engine developing 331 kW @ 1800 rpm and has a maximum reach of 40 m.
To withstand the arduous conditions usually associated with demolition sites, the machine is fitted with a variety of heavy reinforcement and protection equipment plus a fully certified FOPS cab. This cab also features a closed-circuit TV system and a high level window to give the operator an excellent view, even when working at maximum reach.
This rugged and powerful demolition tool has a 4-piece boom which can be broken down in length to suit different applications and hence also handle heavier attachments at reduced height if required.
Source: komatsu.co.uk |
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Ballymun Rumours - 5th Aug 2004: Army in mun; Lift cables cut |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 06 August 2004 |
Army MOUT training
The army are reported to be using the now vacant Ballymun towers for urban
operations training according to the local security guards on duty I spoke
with yesterday. The 3 security guards said that they could hear loud explosions
and lots of shouting from the block opposite the Pearse tower demolition site
during the day. Seems like a great idea if you ask me!
Lift off!
The security guards also mentioned that there was a spectacular event earlier in
the day when the Control Demolition Group workers cut the cables of the lift and
let it free fall down the shaft to the bottom! I can only imagine the noise that
made.. according to the witnesses it was unbelievable! |
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Bono proud to come from the Ballymun area |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 05 August 2004 |
An article posted on the official U2.com website reveals how Ballymun is
still close to the lads hearts!
I See Seven Towers...
... And they're not running to stand still anymore.
 Contrary
to recent reports, U2.Com are happy to underline that Ballymun, in the north of
Dublin - close to the hearts of both Larry and Bono - is in better shape than
ever.
One recent online story about 'U2's Dublin' described the area, immortalised in
the band's 1986 song Running To Stand Still, as 'bad' .
It went on to warn fans 'do NOT go here on foot.'
Well, they obviously haven't been there recently - Ballymun is being
transformed, thanks to a huge €1.8bn regeneration scheme.
And Bono, who grew up in nearby Glasnevin, says 'he's very proud to come from
the Ballymun area.'
Small wonder that local people are upset that a drug problem which it faced 20
years ago, is being dragged up to knock the area again.
'Ballymun is not an area where you have to fear for your life,' said Poppintree
community worker Jimmy Gilchrist. 'It's far from that.'
See the actual article
here |
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