Never Mind The Cobbles

Delgany 2030. Maybe.

here’s a distinct sense of deja vu mixed with cut and paste about The Paul Hogarth Company’s just-released Public Realm Enhancement Plan for Delgany.

And we’re not just talking about the photos slyly lifted from your snoreaway Guide.

As with the Hogarth 2020 public realm plan for Greystones, the many images of shiny, happy corners of other similar-sized communities makes for some vague wishful visuals, and their inclusion no doubt saves someone from having to break out the Photoshop to do any kind of artist impression of what Delgany just might look like with a makeover. Which makes it hard to tell what the heck they’re actually proposing here.

Back in 2020, the Hogarth gang had big plans for Greystones – such as changing huts returning to the South Beach and al fresco dining outside the Irish Permanent and the Greystones Business Bureau.

And that little masterplan for Greystones 2.0 cost €38,000. For pint-sized Delgany, hey, it’s just €17,000.

Wicklow County Council are footing the bill for the Hogarth wish list for Delgany 2.0 through the Town And Village Renewal Scheme, and once again, you get some banging insights for your buck.

Such as, according to the 2022 survey taken of Delgany people, the vast majority of them visit Delgany every day of the week.

Also, when it comes to what Delganites most dislike about Delgany, the top answer – from 485 survey participants – turns out to be The General Impression Of The Place.

And what makes Delgany special and unique? Top answer this time: its Unique Character.

But, hey, we’re being cynical. And also, we’re annoyed they didn’t offer up any great artist impressions of Delgany in all its sci-fi future glory. Just that one shot of cobblestones down the main drag.

At the realm launch in The Horse & Hound on Monday, Delgany Community Committee chair Paul Armstrong said of the plans, “You can expect to see more seating around the village, more walking trails with signage to capitalise on our rich natural environment, and play spaces for children.”

The Public Realm launch MON13NOV23

Armstrong added that everyone was also looking forward to Delgany becoming a place to relax and socialise as opposed to being merely a speedway for every Tom, Dick and Duke of Hazard doing the school run. “Delgany has seen major expansion in recent years without the necessary investment in facilities and infrastructure; we want to change that by implementing these plans for our village.”

As the court battles over squeezing a town-sized housing estate into a small village rage on, it is the proposed Carmelite development that, ironically, might gift Delgany its first playground, park and community centre.

In the meantime, the committee’s Alice O’Donnell knows it’s all about finding the all-important funding when it comes to the 12 potential projects for Delgany – outlined here. “We all want to see the plan become a reality so that Delgany is a better place to visit, to work and to shop in…”

You can check out the Public Realm Enhancement Plan for Delgany in full right here.