Henry Street, Dublin at 18:30 HRS . . . on a Sunday !!!

An issue that has been debated to death on the bulletin board on a number of occasions is the pedestrianisation of the Main Street in Castlebar.

When I was young a trip to town to go shopping meant Main Street and it makes me a little sad to see the current shambolic state of the place. Maybe the 'Stans' can kick off a revivial of the area with the conversion of the old Dunnes/Bolgers site but I would like to see the local Chamber of Commerce, UDC, etc. get together and come up with a plan for a restoration of the area.

This is our little town people, and whilst I would applaud the Market Square development and to a certain extent the development of the 'shopping district', I would have to say that the Main Street (and Castle Street) looks squalid by comparisson and it is treated with the disdain and disrespect it deserves by both the shoppers during the day and the nightcrawlers at night.

Here's a photo of Henry Street in Dublin - taken at six thirty on a Sunday evening - the place is full of shoppers and that means tills ringing for all the retailers on the street. Wouldn't it be great to see our little Main Street alive with a buzz of people instead of motor cars, etc. ?

I look forward to the day when I can sit outside Mick Byrne's and enjoy a pint of Guinness alfresco, with the fresh newspaper from Wynne's / Shaney Macs on the wrought iron table beside me. I'll flex my feet in the shoes I've bought from Hynes's and I'll adjust me glasses (from the opticians on Main Street), open an extra button on me Mayo All-Ireland Winners polo shirt (from the Stan's Mayo shop) and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.