Sunday Tribune, Squatters and Anarchy on Leeson St.

by Abandonment - Urban Rural and holiday home locations Sat Mar 05, 2011 15:52

Rachman

You wrote over two years ago about this but things are a lot worse now. We have ghost estates throughout the country and nobody knows what these hell-holes will cost people who already are already committed to their negative equity home within the estates. The laws of supply and demand are weighted to an over supply of houses and already the 'fire sales' of surplus stock have started with houses reducing in value by treble the price paid or even more. This does not bode well. There must be a way of reviewing the stock of surplus houses, taking account of genuine social housing need, providing people who are committed to mortgages, who lose jobs and can't make repayments with a mortorium or at least an alternative option for a more cost efficient home without savage penalties. Twitter can create social unrest in Libya, Egypt with the greatest of effect and impact so perhaps we can use twitter to create ideas for our new Government to settle what is an unacceptable housing crisis through.

You speak of the elitist areas like Fitzwilliam Square, Merrion Square, Pembroke Street but I suggest you take a walk through these streets and see these mansions of old awaiting new owners and going by the looks of things they could become the homes of squatters and foreign nationals who use the common sense approach to inner city living. Papers today say the Labour are taking over the 'Green Party mantle' and if so let us urge them to take a view on property and renewal of our georgian housing stock in the prime locations. We ought not forget that our tourism markets these houses yet there is a dereliction trend being firmly embedded due to this recession.

Demolition may be the only answer but we need to be watchful of the assets we have and let them not be devalued by an economic banking catastrophe that has produced many casualties.

by Rachman - Squatting Irish style Wed Nov 18, 2009 16:47

Fair comment perhaps in 2006 about middle class anarchists. But do we know who is squatting there now and what nationalities!

We need to be alert to the maintenance of a certain standard so that all people have access to a 'Green' acceptable standard of living.

The Green part are remarkably silent about our emerging inner city concept and climate change impact! We ought to focus on the utilities factors of our Georgain Squares like Fitzwilliam, Merrion etc. If you walk through the squares presently all you see every 4 to 5 'Georgian' doorway is a 'To Let' sign or For Sale. This does not bode well for our Heritage and of course our eco friendly tourism.

Do we know who presently owns these properties? Are we aware of the Irish Architectural Museum and the access to the information as who lived in these houses since they were built several centuries ago! Our history, in all its splendour, is hidden herein.

In the UK, properties in Mayfair, owned by the billionaire Halabi who went into administration recently are being sold off for a song! Halabi held a trophy collection valued at sterling£500 mn, a property similar in design and with a unique history is to be sold off in Mayfair for £30.5. We need to be diverse in the source of media we imbibe. Ideation and innovation is a good way out of the recession mindset.

The Green Part concern themselves with 'light bulbs' and a nominal BER cert while the realities of the older properties of our city are ignored.

refer: www.treehugger.ie for some ideas

by Ci Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:54

"Ironically, they all left to spend Christmas with their families (nice touch of Irish middle-class anarchism there)."

How is going to spend Christmas with ones family ironic or "middle-class?!" Ridiculous inference.

by Squirrel - Anarchists and Choice Tue Nov 17, 2009 16:51

Seamy

Well done that you have confirmed the older posting. This may have been the news in 2006 but now the Celtic Tiger is 'dead and gone' and as far as we know and hope 'he is not with O'Leary in the Grave, it means we must look to our Georgian quarters, the squares, the avenues, the roads like Waterloo, Wellington, Raglan, Elgin and 'ensure 'climate change' criteria (I think referred to as retro - fitting) these buildings.

Rachman is the name that comes to mind. In the 1950's, this man saw the potential market for bedsits in the once plush areas of Kensington in London and created warrens of flatland accommodation. With the economic crisis we now face in Ireland, this could easily happen to Dublin and this would not be the first time in our history.

We need to stop the urban sprawl and retro-fit our inner hidden 'wealth'.

by Seamy - correction to earlier comment Sat Oct 10, 2009 23:06

Eoghan Rice's report was actually correct. I recently met a woman who lived at the house with two other people long after March 2004. Three people remained living on and off at the house mentioned in the article up to December 2005, she said. They were all from Dublin and two were recent drop-outs from Arts in UCD. Ironically, they all left to spend Christmas with their families (nice touch of Irish middle-class anarchism there). When they returned in late January or early February 2006, she said the place had been fairly securely boarded up and there were planning notices posted on the front of the building. One of the lads got access to the back of the property and pitched a tent in the garden but she and the other person decided not to return.

by Seamy Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:35

In his UCD days Eoghan Rice used to write consistently left wing pieces for the College Tribune, pieces that echoed many of the themes of the emerging anti-capitalist movement at the time. Some may remember he was among those arrested at the anti-PPP protests at the Burlington so many moons ago. Surprised he could end up doing something as off the wall as this.

by Camelot Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:26

Hi, Cant upload the text of this article, but wanted to find out if squatting is a problem in the City??? Over here in London its rife, and although I have heard the odd report from Ireland it does not seem to be as prevalent..

by rebelrebel Tue Jul 18, 2006 22:32

I suppose the piece was more about the squat itself being destroyed, the headline is probably a bit misleading.

by @ Mon Jul 17, 2006 14:14

"Its over two years ago since @ activity in the city peaked (no borders weekend)"

Perhaps from the perspective of an outsider or maybe you only count spectacular confrontation with the state as "activity", but the anarchist scene is very much alive and well look at Baldonnel, the recent red and black blocks, the anarchist bookfair and the arrival of a new anarchist group in dublin AY. May04 wasn't a peak it was really only the beginning.

by Clare Mon Jul 17, 2006 13:55

Can someone post up the text from this article? Tried to get it on the Tribune website but unsuccessful.
Thanks.

by tm Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:24

Suppose its good that's its a positive piece but this is quite lazy and inaccurate journalism, wouldnt you think? The smallest bit of investigation or inquiring would have revealed even the smallest bit of info about when people had moved out (March 2004), an email or phone call to any anarchist group would have meant a very different article (maybe if the author knew the house was empty for over 2 years after the squatters left after the council served an injunction on them, the article then wouldnt have been as exciting).

Its over two years ago since @ activity in the city peaked (no borders weekend), dont think it will scale those heights again for a while... doesnt seem to be the same enthusiasm or ideas being generated.