O’Callaghan project faced ‘disaster’ in election fallout

PROPERTY developer Owen O’Callaghan recalled the disaster that faced his massive building project for land in Co Dublin after local election results 17 years ago.

Fianna Fáil was devastated in the poll with 14 supporters of the Cork businessman’s plans for Quarryvale — now the location of the Liffey Valley shopping complex — failing to keep their seats on Dublin County Council.

The party’s majority evaporated at the same time. And, just a month after a vital council vote to rezone Quarryvale for planning purposes, the Fianna Fáil representatives were replaced by “unknown quantities” from a range of other political parties.