Mayor of Dublin chats to business community during meet and greet with DublinTown

The Lord Mayor of Dublin (Ardmhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath), Críona Ní Dhálaigh, put on her walking shoes and got a taste of the diverse businesses this city has to offer during a meet the business walk with DublinTown.

DublinTown CEO Richard Guiney met with the mayor at the Mansion House before they headed off across the road to meet the General Manager of the Dawson Hotel. Walking up to the reception room on the first floor, the Mayor strolled straight over to the window, looked out at the Mansion House and asked, “Can you see me from here? I have always wondered what you can see from across the road,” she laughed. Thankfully for the mayor, it’s actually not much at all!

This was the first stop of a number of businesses the Mayor of Dublin was set to meet on a sunny afternoon in the city’s south district with DublinTown’s Richard Guiney to have a friendly chat but also to hear first-hand how businesses in the area are getting on. Walking from Dawson St to South Anne Street she stopped in to the new premises of Magee 1866 Clothing to meet manager Hugh Hilley who managed to surprise her by showing her their selection of womenswear on the first floor, which she never knew they had. Her next stop was on to Paul Sheeran’s jewellers where manager Paul Burke showed the mayor around the store’s vast supply of  diamond jewellery, striking watches and brought her behind the scenes to the private room where couples make that big and expensive decision on – the engagement ring.

Business highlights

For businesses near Dawson Street, the timescale of the Luas Cross City works was on their minds, while others were hoping that bigger events, like the Rugby World Cup, could take place in Dublin to help bring in tourists. There was also great pride from businesses who were delighted with how the 1916  Easter Rising celebrations went.

Creative Quarter

The next business to meet the Lord Mayor was Cooks Academy on South William St in the Creative Quarter. The academy’s kitchen was filled with a tasty aroma thanks to the cooking demonstration taking place for that afternoon’s class. After chatting to Vanessa Greenwood, co-founder of Cooks Academy, about her business the mayor was off to her next destination – Drury Buildings. Impressed by their recent exterior make over, she was given a tour of the urban bar’s impressive floor plan, which includes a restaurant, seated garden area and venue area.

With the weather on their side, the mayor and Richard strolled through Fade Street before crossing over to Decwell’s Hardware Store on South Great George’s Street.

Following her chats, just a short stroll down the road, which forms part of the Rainbow Mile, the Mayor was greeted by Darragh Flynn at The George. Here they reminisced about the sense of pride everyone had when Ireland voted Yes in the marriage referendum on May 23 last year and how quick the year as gone as the year anniversary of the vote nears.

With just a few businesses left, it was off to Exchequer Street to the Music Maker where the mayor was amazed to see just how many different guitars there are! So much so she decided to test one out for herself, but unfortunately she never learned how to play so just holding it was enough!

Manager, John Paul Prior then showed her the percussion floor before it was time to leave to visit the staff at The Back Shop.

The afternoon comes to an end

Taking in the sights on a sunny afternoon would not be complete without an ice-cream to end the day, so no better place to do that than Murphy’s ice-cream on Wicklow St.

Once back at the Mansion House, the mayor shared her thoughts on the afternoon which she said was a great way to meet city businesses and find out what’s happening in the area. The mayor also intends on visiting businesses on the North side of the city in the coming weeks – lets hope the weather holds up!