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Green Party TD to appeal decision on expansion of hotel into beer garden off O'Connell Street

Dublin City Council has sanctioned the development of a six-storey extension to the hotel which is designed to provide an additional 95 guest rooms.

GREEN PARTY TD Neasa Hourigan has said she intends to appeal the decision of Dublin City Council to approve a large extension to the Holiday Inn Express on O’Connell Street, which will result in the loss of a popular courtyard used by three well-known pubs.

Dublin City Council has sanctioned the development of a six-storey extension to the hotel which is designed to provide an additional 95 guest rooms.

The proposed changes involving some internal alterations will result in the total number of guest rooms increasing from 214 to 303 – a net increase of 89 rooms.

The developer had originally sought approval for a seven-storey extension which would have provided eight additional bedrooms but lowered the height of the building following concerns raised by council officials.

The plans provide for the demolition of an existing courtyard which acts as an outdoor seating area for three popular bars – Fibber Magee’s, The Living Room and Murray’s.

Most of the dozen initial objections to the project expressed concern that the proposed development would rob Dublin city of a unique cultural centre and one of the few late bar venues in the O’Connell Street area.

Since the decision, more than 4,000 people have signed a petition to save the beer garden.

Today Deputy Hourigan, who was one of the objectors to the application, said she will appeal the decision.

Speaking to The Journal, she said the decision to allow this hotel expansion to go ahead seems “very shortsighted”. 

“I think it is well worth fighting to preserve our night time economy and night time culture,” she said. It’s a very important part of the city.

“It doesn’t make a huge amount of sense to build an incredible number of hotel rooms and not have the cultural amenities there for people to visit, it’s a disservice to Dublin to do that.”

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    Mute Aaron O'Leary
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:13 PM

    Merry Christmas to all the staff at the Journal and all the let’s just say opiniated commenters haha. Wouldnt be the same without the daily arguments. Have a good one guys. Be merry!

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:07 PM

    Who are you to tell me to be merry?

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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:43 PM

    Tosser

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    Mute Dan Harrington
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:16 PM

    Normally I take these things with a pinch of salt, but I would gladly watch Muppets Christmas Carol on repeat in July.

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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:20 PM

    Merry Christmas to all the readers and to the trolls and shinnerbods who keep the rest of us normal people on our toes in the comments section ! We know who you are !

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    Mute Supernova
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:34 PM

    Merry Christmas to all the teenyboppers with multiple fake accounts who have nothing better to be doing than constantly talking about sinn féin and saying the same stuff over and over. Yous know who ye are. Merry Christmas all!

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    Mute Ger Comings
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:39 PM

    SFIRA?

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    Mute Rosie Gluten
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:45 PM

    Ger-m8!

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    Mute Gareth
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:58 PM

    Merry Christmas to all the west brits who write on the journal

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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:07 PM

    DieHard..yippeee kayaaa..mother superior….etc

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:06 PM

    Roses are muck, time for Cadburys to cull them!!!

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    Mute Rasputin
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:19 PM

    They were probably always muck but we never knew better however it’s traditional to eat a few…. boxes..

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    Mute D H
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    Dec 25th 2015, 5:47 PM

    Its cadburys thats muck…changing the recipe to a successful product to save money sucks

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    Mute Supernova
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:08 PM

    Whoever eats the bounty style sweets should be shot!

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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Hung!

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:07 PM

    Miracle on 34th street. Sound.

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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:28 PM

    Am gutted that Raiders of the lost ark isn’t on. It’s not Christmas without it.

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    Mute John Ward
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:17 PM

    Merry Mythmas!

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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:15 PM

    Happily watch National Lampoons!! Actually think I will. Bad Santa last night!

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:57 PM

    Elf! Result!

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    Mute Gareth Stewart
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:46 PM

    ”Song of the Sea, because it’s lovely and the rest of the family haven”t seen it.. Merry Christmas everyone. Drive safe.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:27 PM

    Gareth that’s a great little movie to watch , a real family one.

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    Mute stephen
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:14 PM

    Schindler’s List, ?

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:25 PM

    Great movie!

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    Mute Carm(Little Vampire)
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:36 PM

    Muppets Christmas Carol I got. Yep I like the story of Scrooge

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    Mute P. Ennis
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:25 PM

    With very young kids, snow white does the job

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    Mute Ger Comings
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:21 PM

    Now 3pm – who could miss HM the Queen. Even the shinners would find it hard to disagree with her views and sentiments.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:35 PM

    I was watching our own queen “panty blisses” summing up of 2015 on tv3. Made for great telly.. Not

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Dec 25th 2015, 3:53 PM

    He’s had his 15 minutes of fame now. Please no more.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Dec 25th 2015, 4:27 PM

    Totally agree !

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    Mute Anne O'Hara
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    Dec 25th 2015, 6:28 PM

    2nd poll I’ve done telling me National Lampoons Christmas Vacation is “my” film. I hate it

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    Dec 26th 2015, 12:06 AM

    Batteries not included!!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 26th 2015, 2:30 AM

    You should watch… Muppets Christmas Carol

    Light the lamp, not the rat!

    Never say it, don’t fancy it either…

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 26th 2015, 2:31 AM

    Know too many muppets anyway lol.

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