Among Dubliners who socialise in their city centre there is often irritation about anything further disrupting the cultural fabric of the city. Perceived hostility to hanging out is a trigger point. The closure of the Complex arts centre, the threatened injunction against the club Izakaya by the Hoxton hotel, and the proposed redevelopment of St Stephen’s Green shopping centre weren’t just met with grumbles, but protest.

In recent years pedestrianisation has expanded to include Parliament Street and Capel Street, both much more pleasant now than when they were car-clogged, with plenty of public seating.

The most obvious example of pedestrianisation contributing to vibrancy is Drury Street, at the fringe of the George’s Street Arcade. Drury Street draws large numbers of people to shop, eat outside its restaurants, drink outside its pubs and popular wine bar, and hang out on its kerbs. It has become such a focal point some Dubliners now refer to hanging out there as “Drury Duty”.

Last week news emerged that Dublin City Council revoked the outdoor licence of a pub on the street, Ciss Maddens, meaning their Drury Street terrace is no more – at least for the moment. This provoked the usual reactions, irritation flowing in that familiar slipstream: why are they taking away things that we like? Why are they killing the vibe?

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