Orla Hegarty
@orla-hegarty.bsky.social
Architect Asst Professor @UCDDublin @UCDArch FRIAI RIBA ARB opinions my own #Housing #Architecture #Construction #CovidIsAirborne #ClimateAction
Headline: “Delay inevitable' as south Dublin residents launch legal challenge against MetroLink”
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
Backstory: In 2021/2 €12.5m was spent building an underground metro station at Charlemont “without ever notifying the public” www.irishtimes.com/news/environ...
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
Backstory: In 2021/2 €12.5m was spent building an underground metro station at Charlemont “without ever notifying the public” www.irishtimes.com/news/environ...
Work on Charlemont metro station begins before planning application for line lodged
Construction work costing €12.5m has already gone ahead
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Headline: “Delay inevitable' as south Dublin residents launch legal challenge against MetroLink”
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
Backstory: In 2021/2 €12.5m was spent building an underground metro station at Charlemont “without ever notifying the public” www.irishtimes.com/news/environ...
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
Backstory: In 2021/2 €12.5m was spent building an underground metro station at Charlemont “without ever notifying the public” www.irishtimes.com/news/environ...
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
🪧 New apartments for sale
Portugal Porto
Large 1-bed €240,000
Italy Turin
Large 1-bed €190,000
Portugal Porto
Large 1-bed €240,000
Italy Turin
Large 1-bed €190,000
November 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
🪧 New apartments for sale
Portugal Porto
Large 1-bed €240,000
Italy Turin
Large 1-bed €190,000
Portugal Porto
Large 1-bed €240,000
Italy Turin
Large 1-bed €190,000
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
🪧 New build apartments for sale
France: Le Mans <hour from Paris
2-bed from €159,100
Germany: Essen <hour from Düsseldorf
Large 1-bed €265,500
France: Le Mans <hour from Paris
2-bed from €159,100
Germany: Essen <hour from Düsseldorf
Large 1-bed €265,500
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
🪧 New build apartments for sale
France: Le Mans <hour from Paris
2-bed from €159,100
Germany: Essen <hour from Düsseldorf
Large 1-bed €265,500
France: Le Mans <hour from Paris
2-bed from €159,100
Germany: Essen <hour from Düsseldorf
Large 1-bed €265,500
🪧 New apartments for sale
Manchester 2-bed
£299,995 (€341,000)
Belfast 2-bed
£189,950 (€216,000)
.. & yet according to Dept of Housing urban apartments cost €535,198 to deliver in Dublin 🧐
Manchester 2-bed
£299,995 (€341,000)
Belfast 2-bed
£189,950 (€216,000)
.. & yet according to Dept of Housing urban apartments cost €535,198 to deliver in Dublin 🧐
November 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
🪧 New apartments for sale
Manchester 2-bed
£299,995 (€341,000)
Belfast 2-bed
£189,950 (€216,000)
.. & yet according to Dept of Housing urban apartments cost €535,198 to deliver in Dublin 🧐
Manchester 2-bed
£299,995 (€341,000)
Belfast 2-bed
£189,950 (€216,000)
.. & yet according to Dept of Housing urban apartments cost €535,198 to deliver in Dublin 🧐
Vibe-coding housing. It’s a thing
"writing code to solve a problem" used to have "understanding the problem" as a prerequisite. but vibecoding allows solution-shaped objects to be produced without any of the hard-won understanding. beware of solution-shaped objects.
November 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Vibe-coding housing. It’s a thing
💯 Covid lockdowns could have been avoided (after Spring 2020), we had all the science & all the tools.. but the medical & political establishments resisted & denied advice & expertise (& still do)
The COVID inquiry focused on whether lockdowns came too soon or too late, but the more important question is could they have been avoided altogether?
Inquiry says COVID lockdowns could have been avoided – they’re right
The COVID inquiry focused on whether lockdowns came too soon or too late, but the more important question is could they have been avoided altogether?
tcnv.link
November 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
💯 Covid lockdowns could have been avoided (after Spring 2020), we had all the science & all the tools.. but the medical & political establishments resisted & denied advice & expertise (& still do)
Headline: “Residents anger over €10m Monaghan housing development heeded as council chiefs reject hotly disputed plans”
Text: “Cars exiting the proposed development would have zero visibility when looking left for oncoming cars” www.independent.ie/regionals/mo...
Text: “Cars exiting the proposed development would have zero visibility when looking left for oncoming cars” www.independent.ie/regionals/mo...
Residents anger over €10m Monaghan housing development heeded as council chiefs reject hotly disputed plans
A Dublin based construction firm has been dealt a blow following a decision taken by local authority bosses to reject a multi-million euro housing development in one of Monaghan’s busiest towns.
www.independent.ie
November 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Headline: “Residents anger over €10m Monaghan housing development heeded as council chiefs reject hotly disputed plans”
Text: “Cars exiting the proposed development would have zero visibility when looking left for oncoming cars” www.independent.ie/regionals/mo...
Text: “Cars exiting the proposed development would have zero visibility when looking left for oncoming cars” www.independent.ie/regionals/mo...
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
thebetter.news
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
An architectural team has been selected to co-develop the Grenfell Tower memorial, working with the bereaved and survivor families of the 2017 tragedy 💚
Architect chosen for Grenfell Tower memorial
Architect chosen for Grenfell Tower memorial
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 AM
An architectural team has been selected to co-develop the Grenfell Tower memorial, working with the bereaved and survivor families of the 2017 tragedy 💚
“Ireland can’t compete in the race to build AI data centres & shouldn’t try”
“Ireland isn’t & won’t be part of the nuclear conversation”
..important piece by @unamullally.bsky.social ..but there’s a notable amount of soft messaging for nuclear in Ireland recently www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
“Ireland isn’t & won’t be part of the nuclear conversation”
..important piece by @unamullally.bsky.social ..but there’s a notable amount of soft messaging for nuclear in Ireland recently www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Una Mullally: Ireland can’t compete in the race to build AI data centres, and shouldn’t try
Our capacity to emulate massive developments happening elsewhere is not currently realistic
www.irishtimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“Ireland can’t compete in the race to build AI data centres & shouldn’t try”
“Ireland isn’t & won’t be part of the nuclear conversation”
..important piece by @unamullally.bsky.social ..but there’s a notable amount of soft messaging for nuclear in Ireland recently www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
“Ireland isn’t & won’t be part of the nuclear conversation”
..important piece by @unamullally.bsky.social ..but there’s a notable amount of soft messaging for nuclear in Ireland recently www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
“Number of housing sites with nothing done since filing of commencement notice trebles”
“while designed to incentivise housing, the [waiver schemes] which led to a significant number of commencement notices hasn’t led to increase in housing availability” www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
“while designed to incentivise housing, the [waiver schemes] which led to a significant number of commencement notices hasn’t led to increase in housing availability” www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Number of housing sites with nothing done since filing of commencement notice trebles
A commencement notice is a formal notification that construction is set to begin
www.irishexaminer.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:56 PM
“Number of housing sites with nothing done since filing of commencement notice trebles”
“while designed to incentivise housing, the [waiver schemes] which led to a significant number of commencement notices hasn’t led to increase in housing availability” www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
“while designed to incentivise housing, the [waiver schemes] which led to a significant number of commencement notices hasn’t led to increase in housing availability” www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
🙋🏻♀️ If anyone wants to factcheck his “red tape” concerns, I’ve 30+ years in the ecosystem of Irish construction regulation & procurement
A briefing for the Taoiseach ahead of a 'fireside chat' with Stripe warned the company’s co-founder billionaire John Collison was likely to be critical of Ireland’s 'red tape'.
The Taoiseach’s briefing ran to more than 25 pages for the one-on-one meeting jrnl.ie/6883478
The Taoiseach’s briefing ran to more than 25 pages for the one-on-one meeting jrnl.ie/6883478
Stripe billionaire would likely be critical of Ireland's 'red tape', Taoiseach warned ahead of chat
The Taoiseach’s briefing ran to more than twenty-five pages for the pre-arranged one-on-one ‘fireside chat’ between him and John Collison.
jrnl.ie
November 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
🙋🏻♀️ If anyone wants to factcheck his “red tape” concerns, I’ve 30+ years in the ecosystem of Irish construction regulation & procurement
“Ireland’s must confront age of homeowners”
“allocation of space, not only volume of new construction is central challenge for policymakers”
.. seems to suggest redistribution of private property? I can’t see Irish citizens supporting such a far-left position www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opi...
“allocation of space, not only volume of new construction is central challenge for policymakers”
.. seems to suggest redistribution of private property? I can’t see Irish citizens supporting such a far-left position www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opi...
November 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
“Ireland’s must confront age of homeowners”
“allocation of space, not only volume of new construction is central challenge for policymakers”
.. seems to suggest redistribution of private property? I can’t see Irish citizens supporting such a far-left position www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opi...
“allocation of space, not only volume of new construction is central challenge for policymakers”
.. seems to suggest redistribution of private property? I can’t see Irish citizens supporting such a far-left position www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opi...
Headline “Stringent new tenancy rules spark ‘stampede’ of landlords from market as fears for renters grow”
Fact “landlords with registered private tenancies increased by 0.24% annually to 104,072 in Q2 2025”-RTB
..landlords sell to other landlords or homeowners www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...
Fact “landlords with registered private tenancies increased by 0.24% annually to 104,072 in Q2 2025”-RTB
..landlords sell to other landlords or homeowners www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...
Stringent new tenancy rules spark ‘stampede’ of landlords from market as fears for renters grow
THE number of landlords leaving the market is accelerating ahead of new tenancy rules, estate agents across the country have told the Sunday Independent.
www.independent.ie
November 23, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Headline “Stringent new tenancy rules spark ‘stampede’ of landlords from market as fears for renters grow”
Fact “landlords with registered private tenancies increased by 0.24% annually to 104,072 in Q2 2025”-RTB
..landlords sell to other landlords or homeowners www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...
Fact “landlords with registered private tenancies increased by 0.24% annually to 104,072 in Q2 2025”-RTB
..landlords sell to other landlords or homeowners www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...
Really interesting podcast (in 2 parts) about Data Centre Alley in USA, insatiable demands of AI, fierce competition, battle for resources & the environmental, financial & social risks for all of us
Ireland take note
Part 1: open.spotify.com/episode/06HY...
Part 2: open.spotify.com/episode/0rW2...
Ireland take note
Part 1: open.spotify.com/episode/06HY...
Part 2: open.spotify.com/episode/0rW2...
Colossus 1
open.spotify.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Really interesting podcast (in 2 parts) about Data Centre Alley in USA, insatiable demands of AI, fierce competition, battle for resources & the environmental, financial & social risks for all of us
Ireland take note
Part 1: open.spotify.com/episode/06HY...
Part 2: open.spotify.com/episode/0rW2...
Ireland take note
Part 1: open.spotify.com/episode/06HY...
Part 2: open.spotify.com/episode/0rW2...
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
Curved corridors to limit a shooter’s sight lines. Bullet-proof glass. Concrete “bump outs” in hallways to provide hiding places. This is the sad new architecture of American high schools. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXeM...
Fruitport designs $48M high school with places to hide from mass shooters
YouTube video by 13 ON YOUR SIDE
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Curved corridors to limit a shooter’s sight lines. Bullet-proof glass. Concrete “bump outs” in hallways to provide hiding places. This is the sad new architecture of American high schools. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXeM...
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
Me & @judesherry.bsky.social were delighted to take Dee Reddy @poddleaudio.bsky.social for one of our 'walk and talks' in Cork City Centre for this Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) "Irish Cities in Crisis" podcast
Enjoy👇
linktr.ee/poddleaudio
#RestPlayWork #DerelictIreland
Enjoy👇
linktr.ee/poddleaudio
#RestPlayWork #DerelictIreland
November 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Me & @judesherry.bsky.social were delighted to take Dee Reddy @poddleaudio.bsky.social for one of our 'walk and talks' in Cork City Centre for this Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) "Irish Cities in Crisis" podcast
Enjoy👇
linktr.ee/poddleaudio
#RestPlayWork #DerelictIreland
Enjoy👇
linktr.ee/poddleaudio
#RestPlayWork #DerelictIreland
‘The Climate Emergency & the Lie of the Land’ @johngibbons.bsky.social & @tonygroves.bsky.social
a great podcast, connecting food security, biodiversity & climate ..& all linked to housing, energy & infrastructure
apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0kHd...
a great podcast, connecting food security, biodiversity & climate ..& all linked to housing, energy & infrastructure
apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0kHd...
The Climate Emergency and the Lie of the Land with John Gibbons
open.spotify.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
‘The Climate Emergency & the Lie of the Land’ @johngibbons.bsky.social & @tonygroves.bsky.social
a great podcast, connecting food security, biodiversity & climate ..& all linked to housing, energy & infrastructure
apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0kHd...
a great podcast, connecting food security, biodiversity & climate ..& all linked to housing, energy & infrastructure
apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0kHd...
“read the fine print—the Housing Authority can require repayment of equity share after 40 years.. you could find yourself having to pay up the discount you received in your 30s when you are in your 70s. Not only that, but a percentage of the value of the property” www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...
How to earn six figures – and still qualify for affordable housing
Government is ramping up its affordable schemes, but is the offering as good as it sounds?
www.irishtimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
“read the fine print—the Housing Authority can require repayment of equity share after 40 years.. you could find yourself having to pay up the discount you received in your 30s when you are in your 70s. Not only that, but a percentage of the value of the property” www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...
🇺🇸 “The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived”
“concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land & not really paying any taxes”
“electricity load from data centers are helping to drive up utility bills”
www.wired.com/story/the-da...
“concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land & not really paying any taxes”
“electricity load from data centers are helping to drive up utility bills”
www.wired.com/story/the-da...
The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived
A new report finds that local opposition to data centers skyrocketed in the second quarter of this year.
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:47 AM
🇺🇸 “The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived”
“concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land & not really paying any taxes”
“electricity load from data centers are helping to drive up utility bills”
www.wired.com/story/the-da...
“concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land & not really paying any taxes”
“electricity load from data centers are helping to drive up utility bills”
www.wired.com/story/the-da...
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
Car-dependent suburban sprawl is the most publicly expensive, publicly subsidized, and publicly consequential form of human habitation in human history. #SuburbanSprawl #CarDependency
November 22, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Car-dependent suburban sprawl is the most publicly expensive, publicly subsidized, and publicly consequential form of human habitation in human history. #SuburbanSprawl #CarDependency
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
🔖 Must read
“On Environmental Democracy & the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
a fact-packed response by Dr Andrew Jackson, UCD ..to the fact-free claims of John Collison’s Irish Times essay #Planning #Housing #Speirgorm @ucddublin.bsky.social @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
“On Environmental Democracy & the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
a fact-packed response by Dr Andrew Jackson, UCD ..to the fact-free claims of John Collison’s Irish Times essay #Planning #Housing #Speirgorm @ucddublin.bsky.social @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
On Environmental Democracy and the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
Andrew Jackson 21 November 2025 I. Introduction A clamour of praise greeted John Collison’s “how to get Ireland moving” Op-Ed following its publication in the Irish Times on 25th October: the Irish…
elajucd.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
🔖 Must read
“On Environmental Democracy & the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
a fact-packed response by Dr Andrew Jackson, UCD ..to the fact-free claims of John Collison’s Irish Times essay #Planning #Housing #Speirgorm @ucddublin.bsky.social @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
“On Environmental Democracy & the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
a fact-packed response by Dr Andrew Jackson, UCD ..to the fact-free claims of John Collison’s Irish Times essay #Planning #Housing #Speirgorm @ucddublin.bsky.social @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
Housing minister says limits on first-time-buyer supports & loans are 'under review'”
Govt has to be cautious ..he does not want to create inflationary pressures that drives up house prices even further & makes homes even more unaffordable” www.thejournal.ie/housing-supp...
Govt has to be cautious ..he does not want to create inflationary pressures that drives up house prices even further & makes homes even more unaffordable” www.thejournal.ie/housing-supp...
Housing minister says limits on first-time-buyer supports and loans are 'under review'
The minister said he wants to ensure all the schemes launched “tread together”.
www.thejournal.ie
November 22, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Housing minister says limits on first-time-buyer supports & loans are 'under review'”
Govt has to be cautious ..he does not want to create inflationary pressures that drives up house prices even further & makes homes even more unaffordable” www.thejournal.ie/housing-supp...
Govt has to be cautious ..he does not want to create inflationary pressures that drives up house prices even further & makes homes even more unaffordable” www.thejournal.ie/housing-supp...
🎧 Housing podcast, my chat with @tonygroves.bsky.social (no paywall, starts with 60 seconds of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey)
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6cAe...
Web: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6cAe...
Web: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
The Seven Stages of Housing Crisis Grief
Podcast Episode · The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack · 21/11/2025 · 36m
podcasts.apple.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:10 AM
🎧 Housing podcast, my chat with @tonygroves.bsky.social (no paywall, starts with 60 seconds of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey)
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6cAe...
Web: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6cAe...
Web: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Reposted by Orla Hegarty
Two years ago it was the Habitats Directive, now the European Court of Justice has found that Ireland hasn't bothered implementing the Water Framework Directive either!
swanireland.ie/2025/11/land...
swanireland.ie/2025/11/land...
Landmark EU water ruling shows systemic and abject failure of Irish government to protect water - Sustainable Water Network
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), a network of 25 environmental organisations, has welcomed yesterday’s European Court of Justice ruling [1] that Ireland is in breach of its obligations under the ...
swanireland.ie
November 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Two years ago it was the Habitats Directive, now the European Court of Justice has found that Ireland hasn't bothered implementing the Water Framework Directive either!
swanireland.ie/2025/11/land...
swanireland.ie/2025/11/land...