NOT ONE of the six Irish nominees for the Academy of Urbanism’s awards this year has survived on the shortlist, which was announced last night at a dinner in the Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield.
Both Belfast and Cork had been nominated for the Great City award, but the three chosen by a vote of members of the academy are Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle-Gateshead.
Armagh was in the running for the Great Town award, but instead the academy chose two English towns, Chichester in Sussex and Richmond in North Yorkshire, as well as Stirling in central Scotland.
Rathmines, described as “a vibrant place just outside Dublin city centre with a unique history, beautiful garden squares, splendid public buildings and a beautiful Victorian architectural heritage”, was another Irish also-ran.
It lost out to the “bustling” Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, the Lace Market in Nottingham and the Stockbridge in Edinburgh for the Great Neighbourhood award.
Donegall Street/Royal Avenue in Belfast lost out to two famous streets in London – upmarket Kensington High Street and Portobello Road are competing with Skipton’s High Street for the Great Street award.
Mayor Square in Dublin’s Docklands was among 10 nominees for the Great Place award, but it was omitted in favour of Crosby Beach near Liverpool; North Lanes in Brighton and Oxford Castle.
Frank McDonald is a founder member of the Academy of Urbanism of Great Britain and Ireland.