New Lift

Is this a sure sign that Raheny's baby boomers are on their last legs? A new lift is installed in the Supervalu shopping centre to enable senior citizents to access the retail outlets at first floor level. These include a solicitor, hairdresser, tax advisory service and stationers. Whatever about the ageing baby boomers, many disabled people will be glad of this extended access.

For those who were not familiar with the original scene, the above is how it looked before any talk of a lift (8/4/2014).

And this was the rather optimistic and impermanent notice which appeared at the beginning of the work in mid August 2015. Mother nature has masked the gender specific nature of the notice's heading. I suppose this might be justified as a "traditional phrase" equally ambracing the fair sex in a modern context. But I didn't see any of them engaged in the manual labouring end of the work (if you'll excuse the imperfect pun).

As it turned out, the lift opened for business in the second week of November 2015. This was only a few weeks over the estimate of seven to eight weeks given to me at the outset by one of the workmen on the job.

The first job is to section off all the working areas at both levels. Then it's on with the job. The bottom section of the existing stairs intrudes into the space needed for the lift. So that is the first to go.

That's going to leave the solicitors and the hairdressers, in particular, in some shade or darkness. But never mind. The sign asking us to excuse the inconvenience says it will only be for a few days! Clearly designed with a smaller job in mind.

How do we even get near them with normal access blocked off and in the course of destruction.

Just as well there is a well thought out plan and the newly erected emergency stairway at the far end, and duly signposted, comes to the rescue.

Now that we can get an aerial view of the works we see that all of the original stairway is gone.

Looking at the wall, you'd never know it had ever been there.

The work is not confined to one pokey corner, though. This is a serious makeover and the base for a roof extension is now to the fore. We can't have the lift getting wet.

And that means even more machinery in the confined workspace.

A view from first floor level and a last look at part of that sky.

Not forgetting the Off Licence which will turn out to have the heaviest door in the world replaced by an automatic door by the end of the operation.

The Off Licence entrance now needs protection from dust and debris as the focus of the operation shifts back to the lift area.

And lo, the first sign of an actual lift. Looks a bit self assembly, or Meccano to the older generation, but these guys know what they are at.

Further progress as the outer glass is installed in the liftshaft. The old railings has now been removed and the new one in place. The guts of the lift itself are installed and used as a dumb waiter platform.

A sneaky look by night.

Almost there. The stairs is already in use.

Reminds me of a pair of jump leads, but touch at your peril.

Come into my parlour ... When's the party?