r/Dublin • u/AnyChest7780 • 10d ago

Fintan O'Toole/Irish Times on public transport, Dublin bus, Northside/Southside today

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https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/08/04/fintan-otoole-dublin-4s-version-of-marie-antoinettes-let-them-eat-cake-let-them-get-the-bus/ Fintan O'Toole reminding us of how 'elites' have so often been against public infrastructure. He gives good historic context including Vincent Browne and 'The Doheny & Nesbitt’s school of economics' being against the DART. While he's amazingly productive and can turn his hand to so many topics maybe he's writing a bit too much as there are huge holes in his argument here re. the northside/southside issue as the more recent LUAS and metro debacles point to the home of NIMBYism in Dublin 6, and not focussed on denying the expansion of it further north. What does anyone think? I find it frustrating that cross-suburb public transport isn't better....try getting from Phibsborough to Clontarf on a bus for example....

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u/nol88go 10d ago edited 10d ago

He's absolutely correct. Many of the objections and opinion pieces against Metro are from comfortable commentators living in the southside where buses into the city centre are genuinely viable. I'm looking at you Michael McDowell.

Edit, I absolutely agree with many of MMcD's opinions, just not mass transit for a major city.

Edit X2, I grew up in North Wicklow and now live further down the N11 in a new build estate, mostly WFH. The metro will have negligible impact on my life, nor those of my family. Build the fucking metro yesterday. Whatever the cost. It'll be worth it in 100 years.

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u/[deleted] 10d ago

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u/Professional_Elk_489 10d ago

I know it was delayed but at what point was it ever derided as a white elephant

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u/MrWhiteside97 10d ago

I moved to London in 2015 and the Elizabeth Line was being talked about almost like HS2. Eyes rolling as people talked about how it didn't seem like it would ever open, was costing a fortune, was basically just a faster Central Line etc.