It’s a place to pop into. In my case I popped out at the top of it. Yes, it’s O’Connell St.

We’ll get to Clerys later but as a street, it’s always been there. Before the era of Omniplexes, both the Savoy and the now defunct Carlton were the dark spaces that threw light and fired my young imagination. I can still smell the popcorn. They were destinations. Just like the street itself. It was a destination

There was the shop where my first radio cassette boom box came from. It’s still working 35 odd years later.

There was the Gresham of my childhood. It had the most amazing ham sandwiches and proper tea (from a teapot). It exuded class.

Across the road, we had a very personal connection to the Royal Dublin as my brother was a chef there. Its bar was cosy and great to find shelter after a day’s traversing the city.

It was a proper street but then something happened. People fell out of love with the street. Instead of a daytime destination, the profusion of fast food outlets and a disastrous attempt at public art – the floozie in the jacuzzi, anyone? - saw the street gain a bad reputation. I know there were times I refused to walk up or down that street for at least 10 years.

This brings us to Clerys. Of course I bought stuff there and it did feel that I did regularly drop in. The luggage department was great. The odd winter jacket but I was mostly an Arnotts man. Yet I do feel I was always there. It was handy. It was there. Clerys clock don’t ya know...

The revamp, pre and post flood, never rocked my boat. It seemed soulless. The glitziness was jarring. I yearned for the comfort of old.

A bit like the street itself. I want it to be proud of our main street. The arrival of the new Luas line might just breathe life into the place. The big hole that is the Carlton site might be built on. Clerys might be reborn.

A street to fall in love with again.

A phoenix from the fire and all that jazz.