In the latest issue of Carlow leading newspaper - The Nationalist - there was an article about the Carlow Castle issue. One of the biggest tourist attractions of the town has been left without proper tourist facilities (car park, easy access to the site), covered with litter and in darkness during the night. I have described Carlow Castle in one of me first posts on my Polish blog 2 years ago. I mentioned the large number of the broken bottles that were covering the yard (or interior of the building). It seems that Carlow Council noticed that 2 years after me. Also, they have noticed that there has not been lights in the Castle during the nights for the last 8 months. Indeed it is very hard to notice that because of the surrounding estates that were built up recently. This is the worst thing that Carlow Council could do to the castle. It is surrounded by a ugly modern estates that almost completely wiped out the castle from the town’s landscape. The castle is almost invisible to the newcomer - somebody who doesn’t know the town. The modern estates are placed too close to the castle that the surrounding around the ancient building are not attractive to the tourists at all. It seems that the Carlow chancellors have forgotten about the simple fact - the monument is not only the castle but its vicinity as well, and now - thanks to the Carlow Council - there is nor historical surrounding nor facilities for tourists around the castle.
I remember, it was only 2 years ago, while I was walking down the Graigcullen town’s park or walking down the Castle Street I could watch the beautiful shape of the castle but not any more. The parts that remained visible don’t help the overall ugly look of that part of Carlow town’s landscape.
Dear chancellors - it is a pity, but it is to late to cry. You did nothing when the land around the castle was sold out to the developers, you didn’t prevent the destroying of the town’s landscape and cutting off the castle from the living organism of the town. In my opinion The Carlow Council’s policy in that part of the town was as much devastating to the castle as the ideas of the mad doctor Middleton (who nearly completely destroyed almost untouched structure). The light won’t help much. The castle will remain abandoned by tourists.
It is obvious that Ireland needs more and more development and it is changing rapidly. I am just afraid that there is not too many people in charge who care about the Irish heritage. I wish you all not to wake up one day when you are not able to get back part of your soul that is being sold these days.
carlow carlow town car park castle street darkness developers easy access ireland Irish culture landscape nationalist newcomer shape tourist facilities vicinity
It’s risky to say, that Ireland needs more buildings. I’ve heard recently that up to 16% new buildings are not used and won’t be sold nor leased to anyone.
Hi! Nice shots! Seems like you’re really havin’ fun eh?!
here’s one great spot I think you’d also be glad to visit!
DUBLIN CASTLE
Originally built in the 13th century on a site
previously settled by the Vikings it functioned as a
military fortress, a prison, treasury, courts of law
and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for
700 years.
http://secretireland.blogspot.com/2008/06/dublin-castle-vikings-chapel-entrance.html
Hi there,
I worked in carlow for some time and I am now working in Dublin and I have met very many Polish people in both places.
I am sure that there are quite a lot of very nice Polish people somewhere, but not very many here in Ireland. That said I have met a few that I would say were very friendly and would have no problem with the rest of the Poles in Ireland, if only they realised that they are not in their own Country now and made some efforts to blend in to Irish Society and for F….K sake try and say hello when spoken to, not just a blank stare.
I think that in Poland now, people are arriving from near country’s for work and it will be like Ireland when all the Non Nationals arrived to work for less than what the Irish were being paid, well that is happening in Poland now.
It is time for all Polish people to either adopt in some small way to this country and make a real difference to the future of Ireland in a meaning full way.
It’s time to stop working for less pay, speak Irish or English and try to fit in to our society and not just the drink type of society and make an effort to talk to the Irish.
I think that we needed an influx of people, just not as many as have arrived and not just from Poland. My own preference is for the Polish as they are of the same type of people as ourselves in the most part as happy go lucky as we are too.
Thats all for now,
Just try and not let your selves down in Ireland.
Pedro