Over the past weeks and months, the team behind Irish Cities in Crisis spoke to people all over the country about the issues facing our urban centres. A notable theme throughout has been the passion and ambition they all share for the places they live. This came across in each and every episode, despite the scale of the problems being discussed. So it seemed fitting to cap off the series by bringing some of those people together, along with some new voices and perspectives, for an evening of panels where we look to the future.

On Tuesday 2nd December, Poddle Audio hosted a very special event with the kind support of Irish Cities 2070 and the RIAI, where Matt Cooper spoke with 14 different panellists, over the course of one evening. These conversations happened in the Poddle Audio studio while guests and contributors watched a live stream at a small reception next door. These conversations capture the drive and purpose of the many people working to turn this crisis around.

About Irish Cities in Crisis

Sean Mahon (RIAI President)

Jim Coady (Irish Cities 2070 Group)

Building Better Days

Maxime Laroussi (Architect, Urban Designer)

Louise Bruton (Arts Critic, DJ, Disability Activist + Director)

Frank O’Connor (Designer + Activist with Derelict Ireland)

Carole Pollard (Irish Cities Group 2070)

Joining the Dots

David Browne (Irish Cities Group 2070)

Joe Clarke (Producer, Promoter, Regional Instigator)

Maria Donohue (Architect, Independent Councillor)

Planning Ahead

Conor Sreenan (State Architect)

Cllr Cian Farrell (Councillor, Social Democrats)

Tony Reddy (Irish Cities 2070 Group)

What happens next?

Tríona Stack (Architect, Researcher)

David Browne (Irish Cities 2070 Group)

Jude Sherry (Designer + Activist with Derelict Ireland)

Irish Cities in Crisis is proudly supported by the RIAI and the Irish Cities 2070 Group - the podcast was largely inspired by the book they published late last year under the same title.

This series is hosted by Matt Cooper and produced, scripted and edited by Dee Reddy of Poddle Audio. Recording for this episode was by Stephen O'Brien.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late 1950’s Ireland was a young nation facing an almost existential crisis - the impact of which would be felt for generations. It was against this backdrop that T.K. Whitaker, then a departmental secretary, penned a note to the newly appointed Minister for Finance. Simply titled ‘The Irish Economy, 1957’, it was a stark and sobering read but it became the catalyst for major reform.

In many respects, it’s hard for Irish people now to relate to life in that era - socially, demographically and politically we feel like a different country. So why does Whitaker’s warning still resonate?

“It is accepted on all sides that we have come to a critical and decisive point in our economic affairs. It is only too clear that the policies we have hitherto followed have not resulted in a viable economy.”

This is episode 5, how to build it?

Contributors include:

• David Browne (Irish Cities 2070 Group)
• Alice Charles (ARUP)
• Sean Dobbs (Waterford City + County Council
• Jane Dillon and Jack Cantillon (Green Room)
• Máire Henry (dhb Architects)

Irish Cities in Crisis is proudly supported by the RIAI and the Irish Cities 2070 Group - the podcast was largely inspired by the book they published late last year under the same title. This series is hosted by Matt Cooper and produced by Dee Reddy of Poddle Audio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In adapting the work of the Irish Cities 2070 group to podcast form, we’ve tried to take things in a more conversational direction and to talk to people who share that sense of purpose and from a wide range of perspectives. With that in mind, we’ve talked to Irish people about these urban challenges - from housing, to dereliction, population, traffic and business over the past 3 episode.

This week we’re going to hear about how sustainable development, or the lack of it, became a catalyst for the book that inspired this series. And we're asking; how sustainable is the growth we heard about in E03, how do our cities impact the environment, what solutions do compact growth and sustainable development offer and ultimately, what's the future cost?

Jim Coady (ICG 2070)

Alice Charles (ARUP)

Helen Shaw (Athena Media)

Yvonne Farrell + Shelley McNamara (Grafton Architects)

Jack Cantillon + Jane Dillon (Green Room)

David Browne (ICG 2070)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.