More than 75,000 people visited the Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin on its opening day yesterday, according to centre managers, with long queues at restaurants and coffee docks throughout the day.
A spokesman for Crossridge Ltd said its 3,400-space car park had been 80 per cent occupied yesterday. "Much to our own surprise, there were no traffic hang-ups, and we hope that will continue," he said.
The centre was officially opened by the cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Niamh Breathnach, following a multidenominational blessing.
The Rev Alan Wardlow of Methodist Ministry, Dundrum; Canon Des Sinnamon of the Church of Ireland, Taney; and Fr Donal Doherty of the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dundrum, read a series of blessings, one of which ran: "God of Beauty, may we see in the magnificence of this centre a reflection of your beauty, variety, brightness and colour; may it fill us with wonder, and may it raise our hearts and spirits to you."
Canon Sinnamon admitted: "A number of people have said to me, 'What are you going to that Citadel of Mammon for?' Others might think of it as the new cathedral of Dundrum. But where there are people, the church has to be present."
He added that the three churches were looking at working with the operators to establish "a quiet, sacred space within the centre, where people can have a few moments of contemplation".
Such spaces were in short supply yesterday. The only seating available to shoppers travelling around the three-level complex were within pay-only dining areas.
While people moved freely along the wide corridors, queues of parents with buggies had formed at the lifts within 15 minutes of the 10am opening.
The Crossridge spokesman admitted that some matters still needed to be ironed out, including the street-level parking noticeboards, which had not been activated yesterday.
Ms Breathnach said the centre, along with local attractions like the "bijou villages" of Glasthule and Dalkey, would help residents of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown to keep their money in the county.
Ms Margaret Gillies (69), the mayoress of Dundrum and a resident of the village for 58 years, said: "It's sad to see the little shops go. But it's a wonderful centre. We won't have to go into town any more because now we have our own town."
Crossridge said the development would employ 4,000 in the €850 million first phase, as well as contribute about €150 million annually to the local and national exchequers in the form of rates and tax receipts.
A theatre and 12-screen cinema complex, and a Harvey Nichols-anchored fashion district, are to open in the autumn at the conclusion of Phase 1.
Phase 2, redevelopment of the old Dundrum shopping centre, will be completed in spring 2008.
