DAOINE
Bróna, Orla and Diarmuid were the foireann on our last Saturday of our group’s 9th calendar year – next year we will enter our tenth.
Máire dropped by to visit with us for awhile.
Though the street was a lot quieter than is customary, as usual we had conversations with people about the status of the campaign, about Irish history, the street market etc and also pointing out to children still-visible physical features of the battleground.
A group posed for a solidarity portrait but we neglected to get their names (if they see this, please send us their names).
People who had relatives who were street traders in flowers and in fruit and vegetables often tell us about them. This time it was Annie Delaney and Stephen Callaghan that we were told about.
In the 1960s there were often over 70 stalls on the street and now there are normally less than 10 traditional stalls on any day. Dunne’s Stores and Lidl supermarkets killed a lot of the stalls and then also often the children of the traditional traders don’t want to work in cold and rain without toilets of their own, or nearby water supply for the flowers or for washing produce.
EILE
A number of the traditional stalls were absent from the street this Saturday as were all the new market stalls; the latter apparently will not return until February 2024, which is not good as the street market begins to look half-deserted again without them. A couple of years ago we argued for the livening up of the street market with new stalls, including hot food and crafts and this was adopted by Dublin City Council but, instead of running it themselves as we recommended, they handed it over to a private company. Now, when less trade is expected and the weather worsens, the private company packs up and leaves the street pretty bare.
UASDHÁTÚ
As we noted previously: We have no information on whether Hammerson made an appearance at the High Court in pursuance of their complaint that Dublin City Councillors have “interfered with their planning permission” by recognising a number of buildings in the Moore Street area as of historical preservation importance.
We will be pursuing this matter with the Legal Department of Dublin City Council which is a public entity and answerable to the citizens rather than a private legal firm or supposed to be a friend to property developers.
Since the Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 has come into effect since objections to the Hammerson Plan were lodged but unsuccessful, then appealed, observations may be made on the Hammerson Plan with respect to aspects of Chapters 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 15 of the DCC Development Plan.
The deadline for submissions is the end of office hours 11th January 2024.
AIMSIR
It was a lá Geimhreadh breá bog and also remained dry.
