Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Joe Dolan Statue on the move for reinforcement

Visitors to Market Square Mullingar may have noticed that the Joe Dolan statue is gone - disappeared!

However, he will be back, stronger than ever and hopefully sooner rather than later. "It became loose as a consequence of people literally getting up on the statue" according to Westmeath County Council chairman Michael Dollard.

Erected in 2008, the statue has been a huge draw with people from all over the world visiting and having their photos taken beside the great man. However it seems that some have been over-zealous in their movements around the statue, to the extent that it has become loose and the repair works have become necessary.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Directions to Joe Dolan Statue

From Dublin:

Use N4 to get to Mullingar.
Exit at first exit for Mullingar, also signed for Park Hotel.
Turn left at the end of slip road and take the third exit (right) off the roundabout you come to.
Keep on going straight into the town.
Pass two junctions and one pedestrian lights - three sets of traffic lights.
Go straight through the next roundabout.
You will see the next set of lights as you pass the Greville Arms hotel.
Park along this street, before the lights.
The statue is on a square just at the corner of Pearse St. & Mount St., in front of Canton Casey's pub and the tourist information office.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Joe Dolan Bridge - Some Technical Specifications

The Joe Dolan Bridge officially opened on September 6, 2010. It is the final link on the Mullingar orbital road and diverts traffic from the Westmeath town, a move the council hopes will improve quality of life and increase business opportunities.


FACTS:
540m long (longest bridge in Irish Republic)


The 19 spans are made up of 171 reinforced concrete beams, all cast on site.


There are single traffic lanes, one each way, with cycle lanes and footpaths to each side.


Design and construction carried out by Jons Civil Engineering Company Limited.


10ft or 3.1m clearance for boats to pass under.


It is supported in circular hollow section piles (12 piles to a pile cap).


Underlying the bridge is 10m of soft peat and 20m soft silt.



The bridge was built at a cost of €12m.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

New €12m bridge in Mullingar to be named Joe Dolan Bridge

The new 12m Euro, 540m long bridge over the River Brosna in Mullingar will be named the "Joe Dolan Bridge" when it opens this September, according to an article in today's Irish Independent.

The same paper mentions the Joe Dolan statue in Market Sqaure as a stop off on a trip from Dublin to Sligo - "Reaching out to passers-by outside Market House, it's both cheesy and fun -- a bit like the star from Mullingar himself."


Read the article here.