Dublin

Capel Street and Liberties say ‘no room at the inn’ for more tourist accommodation

There is a de facto ban on planning permission for further hotels and aparthotels in two large areas of Dublin city centre at a time when the tourist sector warns of an acute shortage of rooms

Rory O’Neill, aka Panti Bliss, in the Panti Bar on Dublin’s Capel Street. ‘Do we need more hotels around this part of town? I absolutely do not think so.’

For nearly all of Rory O’Neill’s time on Capel Street, there has been a “eyesore” across the way from his PantiBar.

When O’Neill first opened the celebrated bar in 2007, “a funny little patch” of small shops occupied the opposite corner of Capel Street and Little Strand Street. Three years later, a fire ripped through them, burning down the buildings.

Not much has happened with the corner site since. It has traded hands a few ...