DUBLIN ONE CELEBRATES PURPLE FLAG ACCREDITATION
- Tue 10 January, 2017
Dublin One turns purple after the area is awarded Purple Flag accreditation for excellence in night time economy.
Dublin One, the area from O’Connell St to Capel St and Parnell St to the Quays, has been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag award. Purple Flag is the ‘gold standard’ for town and city centres in the early evening and at night from 5pm to 5am.
This is the second such accreditation for the city with the Creative Quarter and Dame District holding this accolade since 2013. At that time it was considered that the north side was not ready to seek a Purple Flag. However, very significant progress has been made in the district in recent years and this has now been independently verified. The district has added to its evening time offer especially on streets such as Capel and Liffey Street Lower. Many of the issues that were impacting on perceptions of public safety are being successfully addressed through Garda initiatives including Operation Spire and the Small Area Policing programme of community policing in the district.
A working group comprising of representatives from DublinTown, Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochana, Fáilte Ireland as well as local businesses was established to support the application. A team of independent assessors visited the area in December 2016 and they recommended that the district be awarded Purple Flag status. Areas are judged under a number of criteria including the quality of the offering, ease of movement through the area and the safety and security of the location.
Dublin One will officially receive the Purple Flag new accreditation along with, Leeds, Limerick, Maynooth, Paisley, Reading, Wexford and a further seven towns, Dunfermline, Leicester Square, Newcastle under Lyme, Preston, Salisbury and Southend who will have their Full Renewal status renewed at an awards ceremony which will take place on the 08 February 2017 in Carrick-on-Shannon. A further 14 areas also received an Interim renewal accreditation.
Commenting on Dublin One’s Purple Flag accreditation, Richard Guiney, CEO DublinTown and regional chair of the ATCM in Ireland said:
A Purple Flag is hugely significant for areas that achieve it. Not only does it demonstrate excellence in the management of the evening and night time economy, it adds a level of prestige to an area. Purple Flag districts generally have higher footfall and lower vacancy rates and have a self-sustaining vibrancy.”
When we first applied for Purple Flag for the Creative Quarter, the Northside of the city was not ready. Since then there has been significant improvements to the area and it’s great to see that development gathering pace to the point where it can achieve a Purple Flag award.
With quality investments such as Selfridges investing in Arnotts, RIU buying the Gresham Hotel and several major plans being developed that will regenerate the district we envisage it becoming increasingly popular with both Dubliners and visitors in the coming years. Special praise is due to the partners on this project. It is this co-operative approach and collegiate spirit that has brought us to this point and will ensure that future plans will also come to fruition. Dublin One is an important destination in Dublin and we look forward to seeing the evening and night-time offering expand throughout the district.
Chief Superintendent at Store Street Pat Leahy said:
Store Street Gardai are delighted to support the Purple Flag initiative. We are very pleased that the Dublin One area has been recognised as a quality evening destination. This is a testament to Garda on the ground who have enabled initiatives like Operation Spire and the Small Area Policing initiative to develop over the years. We want to re-establish the area as a quality destination and this only enhances the great work being achieved between local businesses and Gardai.
Failte Ireland’s Dublin Programme Executive Nicola Fitzgerald comments:
This is great for Dublin’s northside and coincides with the recent launch of Dublin Northside Attractions (DNA) Dublin Discovery Trails along the Dubline. The area also boosts the 2016 legacy project GPO Witness History exhibition. While O’Connell St has hosted a number of large scale family events culminating in the 2016 celebrations. It’s great to see increased hotel and hospitality offerings in the district and we are delighted to be part of the Purple Flag working group.
Area Manager for Dublin City Council Rose Kenny says:
The council is delighted to be partners in the Purple Flag initiative. It’s a great recognition for the area and a great initiative to promote night time economy for the northside. We are always looking at ways to promote the city’s offerings and having two purple flags in the city can only add to the city’s appeal.
Purple Flag recognises places that demonstrate quality in their evening and night time offering. The flag is awarded by the London based Association of Town and City Management (ATCM). Similar to the Blue Flag for beaches and marinas, only areas that achieve the required standards of 30 criteria are successful in flying the flag. Purple Flag destinations distinguish themselves by being vibrant and well-managed.
