24th Oct 2007
Wheely great sight
OK so its an unashamed plug for a WS project but the new Belfast Wheel looks brilliant. Shadowing the east side of City Hall and towering sixty metres above the pavement our own answer to the London Eye will I am sure be a hit with locals and visitors.
It’s another sign of the ever changing city centre. This week’s commercial property pages are packed full of glass edifices set to change the Belfast skyline forever and all the indications are that the Belfast commercial property market at least remains stable. That said, if you look carefully there are still signs of ten years ago. Walking down Linenhall Street this morning I noticed a rusting old security gate hanging on to the end of the Health Board building. A closer snoop revealed a security hut (empty) and what must have been the way into this office block a decade ago. It looks so out of place today. In fact my first thought was that you could squeeze a new office block on its narrow site. I’m probably not the first person to have that thought.
So lots of good publicity for the Capital’s developers and the DSD who are behind the Belfast Wheel with Belfast City Council.
Pity we cant say the same about the Giant’s Causeway. Anyone who saw BBC Spotlight last night is might well have the sinking feeling that we have not heard the last of Mr Paisley Jnr, the developer and the future of our only World Heritage Site. From a PR perspective they are all losers. Despite all the interviews and statements the questions remain. Sometimes, even in communications, less is more. It is pretty near impossible to spin your way out of a hole. A much better approach is to address the issues soberly and concisely and ensure that your answers don’t beg more questions. I am not sure all the interviews and two hour press conferences have achieved this.
This worm may well turn!
The rusting security gate is a perfect metaphor for what has happened in Northern Ireland. I think its an image that captures the change. I live in Dublin and I haven’t been to Belfast since my relationship with a girl who lived there ended in the 90s. I’m from Donegal and I know the west of the province fairly well, but regrettably I haven’t taken the chance to visit the East in recent times. I have promised myself to take a weekend in Belfast with my wife but haven’t got around to it. Good intentions and all that. I have to say that I get the feeling that the prosperity that followed the political settlement is ill divided along and east-west basis. I suppose if I visit Belfast I’d see if that is borne out on the ground. I know that when I visited Derry recently I thought, yes, in terms of atmosphere and the absence of security, it lagged the sheer verve and energy of the boom on the other side of the border - even in Donegal. I wonder what’s your take on how the economic spoils of peace have been shared around the province (leaving aside for a moment those certain areas (pockets?) where community relations will take a long long time to approach what we might call normality).
So you are the one behind the Wheel? Congrats amigo it looks great. Have to say I get all ‘civic pridey’ when things like this happen in Belfast. Still haven’t made it on the London one yet though…
as for Tomaltach - get your a## up here my friend. Am sure Conall and I could give you a few recommendations for a fun packed weekend. He can tell you about the trendy spots to meet pr types and I can tell you where the real people go
Nice one on the wheel! The Belfast Eye - must give it a go!
As for recommendations on a fun packed weekend. I may know of a drinking establishment or two that could be recommended for a bit of craic. This city has improved so much in recent years this is the place to be. Why dont you do an online discussion on the best pub/entertainment venue to visit?
Off to UUP conference tomorrow (see what I mean about a fun packed weekend!!!)
T
I can confirm that Terry does indeed know interesting places to frequent. However T- did you think the Ramada was the place to be this saturday? And apologies for not squeezing up to let you share my seat - the older uu lady beside me was not for moving.