VIDEO: What Dublin City Centre looks like on Christmas Day

Have you ever wondered what Dublin city centre looks like on Christmas Day, free from traffic gridlock, fumes, public transport, commuters and shoppers?

Oliver Foley went to the trouble of videoing our capital city over a number of hours on December 25 – and the results are quite interesting. The following observations were noted by him after reviewing the footage:

1.    Lack of gardaí in the city on Christmas morning – only two spotted in three hours.

2.    Seagulls – we forget that Dublin city is a seaside town. It’s like living beside a mountain and forgetting the mountain is there.

3.    Street signs – galvanised street poles everywhere. They look like a smaller version of the Spire, like something you would see in a farmyard. They are very unattractive compared to the majestic street lamps on Kildare Street which can also be seen in the video.

4.    Molly Malone is moved from her old spot – two ESB boxes are in her place end of Grafton Street.

5.    Lack of public toilets – not one to be found on Christmas Day.

6.    We need our old water fountains back – the big old granite ones.

7.    How sad to see Clerys closed down, especially at Christmas time.

8.    Abbey Street and Parnell Street are very rundown looking.

9.    St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre still looks amazing.

10.    If we put up statues to our heroes, they should be maintained. The Davis memorial water fountain on Dame Street looks neglected.

11.    The Volta was Ireland’s first cinema. Penny’s on Mary street occupies the site now. It opened on December 20, 1909 and was managed by James Joyce.

*Music by Count Tornado