The Irish Times

Plans to create a new public square on the site of the disused Carlton cinema to link Upper O'Connell Street with Moore Street in Dublin 1 are to be unveiled this autumn as part of a long delayed rejuvenation scheme for the area. Dublin Central Architects, representing three architectural practices, have apparently agreed on an overall design for a new shopping, leisure and residential area covering more than four acres between Upper O'Connell Street and the Ilac Centre. The square will become the centrepiece of the new quarter which will cost more than €500 million to develop and will directly link O'Connell Street into the retail core of the city. The Ilac centre is undergoing a major remodelling and upgrading and on the opposite side of Henry Street, Arnotts is gearing up for a massive redevelopment that will greatly enlarge the shopping areas. The scheme is expected to include about 6,503sq m (700,000sq ft) of double-height shopping with a heavy emphasis on restaurants, bars and other leisure facilities to attract tourists.