TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

old age poverty and by 2013 sustainability pressures were at an all time high. The East coast of
the country had been disfigured with concrete and no longer resembled the once rich and fertile
plain it was so famous for during the 20 th century. Energy consumption levels doubled in less
than a decade and increasingly waste production called for a major rethink of environmental
policy. In order to increase Ireland’s international competitiveness the budget in 2014 saw
government holding back on introducing carbon taxes and increasing fossil fuel subsidies in some
areas. It was clear that investment in renewable sources would only take place if it made
economic sense to do so. The movement towards sustainable development had regressed almost
20 years. A growing sense of disillusionment prevailed among Dundalk inhabitants who had
embraced the shift away from unbridled capitalism. As Dundalk City Council continued to crawl
into the pocket of big business, Dundalk’s dreams of holding the environmental crown were
fading fast.
By 2015 Dundalk was faced with glaring inequality across all spectrums: socially, economically,
educationally, and also in terms of opportunity. Addiction to ‘growthism’ had led to mass
segregation of society and extreme disintegration of community spirit. Survival of the fittest
prevailed. Huge immigration in both historical and comparative terms caused serious social and
racial tensions as immigrant ghettos surfaced around the fringes of Dundalk’s town centre.
Pockets of poverty and deprivation emerged as the drug culture in housing estates reared its
ugly head once again. Reactive urban sprawl has overshadowed the once green belt between
Dublin and Belfast. Little control exists over the development of the area. The incapacity of the
transport infrastructure of the early 2000s to facilitate the present trend of increasing car
ownership has led to the demand for the development of the M15 multi-lane motorway
stretching from Waterford to Belfast. With increased revenue, local people were encouraged to
set up small business in proximity to the Odyssey arena, injecting dynamism to areas outside of
the town centre. The redevelopment of Market Square in 2015 greatly enhanced the heart of
Dundalk town. Investment in roads and rail infrastructure continued into 2016, with significant
development along the Eastern Inner Relief Road.
Increased investment and further collaboration between the public and private sector over the
next 3 years facilitated major landmark developments within and around Dundalk, the most
ambitious of which was unveiled in 2019, as Dundalk witnessed one of the biggest investments in
tourism the town had ever seen. The ‘Odyssey’ closed-top sports and event arena, seating over
80,000 people, and hosting high profile concerts and sporting events enabled Dundalk to become
the centre for events based tourism in Ireland. Over 500 houses were built around the arena,
calling for improved transport links and the building of extra roads. With a journey time from
both north and south destinations taking less than 40 minutes, and close proximity to airports in
Dublin and Belfast the stadium was set to become a major driver of tourism in the region. By
2030 the arena had become an immense tourist attraction and major contributor to the local
economy, competing effectively with Dublin’s Point Theatre. However with Dundalk’s unspoiled,
clean, green and safe image long gone, future development is plagued by unsustainable
development. A cautious approach in the future must be employed in order for Dundalk to
develop in an environmentally sustainable fashion.
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