DAOINE
With Covid striking, our team was reduced to Bróna, Diarmuid, and Daniel but beefed by the arrival of Christian, with Steve later also.
In addition to English, there was a fair bit of Spanish spoken around the campaign table as we had supporters originally from Spanish-speaking countries in America and the Spanish state, all very supportive of the struggle to preserve our national and social history and our amenities, all of which are represented by the Moore Street area.
One of the Spanish-speakers was Eduardo, from Panama but living in Ireland for years and chef in a big hotel. He was not just a chance visitor but came to present us with one of his delicious cake-breads of banana and blueberries (of course bought off stalls in Moore Street – Carolyn, one of the stall-holders, introduced him to us). The bread/ cake is delicious. Eduardo is interested in learning Irish so … go raibh míle maith agat!
And Irish was also spoken around the table, not just by some of the group who often do so but with a young Dublin lad who was interested in the campaign and liked using the language whenever he could, he said.
We received a €20 donation towards our expenses from a random visitor and a donation of €150 from one of our group who earned it conducting a walking history tour. The donations we’ve received over the years have gone towards purchasing folding tables (currently on our third), thousands of leaflets, Council objection fees, banners, placards, posters, website, tape, bungee cords, rope, hooks, hand gel …. Not to mention our activists dipping their hands into their own pockets often enough.
UPDATES
During the week, the news came that the Planning Department of Dublin City Council has approved the third of the three Hamerson planning applications for Moore Street (there are another three for the O’Connell Street area).
This one is curious in that Hammerson applied for a 15-year building period on this and were turned down by the Planning Office, which recommended seven years, to which Hammerson stated that they could not do the job in seven and needed fifteen years. Now the Planning Office has granted Hammerson the planning permission but only on seven years.
This hardly makes sense – unless the plan is for Hammerson to start work, knock down buildings, then appeal for an extension with the only other option being to leave a demolished site ….
Would they be that devious? Could they be?
Appeal
Those who objected to the application may now appeal and if refused (as we have been with the two others) objectors can appeal further to An Bord Pleanála (but for a fee of €120). It is important to LIST ALL THE REASONS FOR OBJECTING since reasons not mentioned previously will not be listened to by ABP. We will post instructions and recommendations later this week; the deadline is around two weeks away.
STILL NO REPLY ON WHAT THE COUNCIL INTENDS REGARDING THE O’RAHILLY MONUMENT MISSING SIGNPOST. Christian had to bring Frank, visiting from London, to see where it was. Frank was astounded at the low importance given by DCC to the monument and to the whole street.
AIMSIR
Bhí se te go leor agus brothallach but we were well clear of the báisteach a thuit go trom on Dubliners, GAA fans from elsewhere and tourists a little later and yet again later still for much of the night. “Beidh an Tulcadh ‘na thuillte tréana ….”