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U2 Tower strikes bad chord with residents
A multi-storey tower bearing the name of rock giants U2 has struck a bad chord with some Dublin residents.
Householders in Ringsend are complaining that the proposed new tower in the city's docklands will leave them in the shade.
The 100 metre tower will exceed the 26 storey 80 metre Obel Tower planned for the Laganside area of Belfast.
Situated on the southside of the River Liffey, the 31 floor building will house luxury duplex apartments and U2's new recording studios.
Once built, it will be the tallest building in Ireland.
Initial plans were for a 60 metre tower, however last month Irish Environment Dick Roche approved an increase to 100 metres.
'Small maritime village'
However, Damien Cassidy of the Ringsend Environmental Group said he planned to take its protest to Europe.
"Dublin city is rather like Belfast. The heart of the city is the River Liffey as the Lagan is in Belfast," he told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday.
"This particular tower is going to appear as a monstrosity in what used to be a small maritime village of the three-storey buildings.
"It is a contradiction in planning, because we are busy down here at the moment blowing up the Ballymun towers where people have been living since 1960 because they just didn't work."
Paul Maloney, chief executive of the Docklands Authority, said: "The U2 Tower will provide a unique and remarkable architectural icon for docklands and the city of Dublin."
The regeneration of Dublin's docklands includes another 100 metre tower on the north side of the Liffey - the Watchtower.
Meanwhile, U2 have began pulling their multi-million euro business out of Ireland as a result of changes in the country's tax laws for artists.
They are transferring their interests to Holland, where artists enjoy extremely low tax rates.
Other rock bands, including the Rolling Stones, have their business assets based in the Netherlands.
U2 were the world's biggest earners through music last year, bringing in more than 210 million euros.
They would have been forced to give over millions to Ireland's tax authorities following changes made in last December's budget.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5251794.stm
A multi-storey tower bearing the name of rock giants U2 has struck a bad chord with some Dublin residents.
Householders in Ringsend are complaining that the proposed new tower in the city's docklands will leave them in the shade.
The 100 metre tower will exceed the 26 storey 80 metre Obel Tower planned for the Laganside area of Belfast.
Situated on the southside of the River Liffey, the 31 floor building will house luxury duplex apartments and U2's new recording studios.
Once built, it will be the tallest building in Ireland.
Initial plans were for a 60 metre tower, however last month Irish Environment Dick Roche approved an increase to 100 metres.
'Small maritime village'
However, Damien Cassidy of the Ringsend Environmental Group said he planned to take its protest to Europe.
"Dublin city is rather like Belfast. The heart of the city is the River Liffey as the Lagan is in Belfast," he told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday.
"This particular tower is going to appear as a monstrosity in what used to be a small maritime village of the three-storey buildings.
"It is a contradiction in planning, because we are busy down here at the moment blowing up the Ballymun towers where people have been living since 1960 because they just didn't work."
Paul Maloney, chief executive of the Docklands Authority, said: "The U2 Tower will provide a unique and remarkable architectural icon for docklands and the city of Dublin."
The regeneration of Dublin's docklands includes another 100 metre tower on the north side of the Liffey - the Watchtower.
Meanwhile, U2 have began pulling their multi-million euro business out of Ireland as a result of changes in the country's tax laws for artists.
They are transferring their interests to Holland, where artists enjoy extremely low tax rates.
Other rock bands, including the Rolling Stones, have their business assets based in the Netherlands.
U2 were the world's biggest earners through music last year, bringing in more than 210 million euros.
They would have been forced to give over millions to Ireland's tax authorities following changes made in last December's budget.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5251794.stm
