Crosbie plans 'Giant Man' project as colossal attraction

DEVELOPER HARRY Crosbie has unveiled proposals for a 35m (110ft) high “Giant Man” that will allow visitors to walk around inside and learn about how the human body works.

Mr Crosbie got the idea when he visited Corpus, a similar project at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He bought the licence and has got financial approval for the € 55 million project, which will now be submitted to Dublin City Council for planning permission.

Mr Crosbie said the Giant Man will be one of the centrepieces of the € 850 million Point Village which includes the refurbished and extended 14,000-seater Point theatre, reopening as the O2 in December.

“What the docks need most of all is people and we see this and the new O2 as a giant people-magnet. We want to move the centre of gravity of the city eastwards and down the river.

“We think it would be a phenomenal attraction for young people and there are just not enough tourist attractions in the city. I think we will be able to pull visitors into it in a way nearly to the extent that the Guinness Hop Stores does.”

Visitors will enter the giant’s brain through a lift to the 10th floor. They will then descend down the spinal cord, stopping off at all the major organs on the way to the feet. There will be screens at every turn with information on how the body works.

The project is supported by the Royal College of Surgeons. Its chief executive Michael Horgan said they were “delighted” to be associated with it. Trinity College provost Dr John Hegarty said it had the potential to capture the imagination of the public and “allow tangible interaction with the sciences”. It has also been endorsed by the Ireland Fund. Its chairman, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, said she was proud to be associated with it.

Mr Crosbie said the Giant Man could be built next year if planning permission is granted. He is confident a deal can be done with the council.

“My local councillor is Bertie Ahern – he advises me on matters like this all the time and he’s hugely supportive. Bertie Ahern is my man. Perhaps we could put his face on it, or Bono. Who knows?”

The Irish Times

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