DAOINE
B’iad Orla, Eileen agus Diarmuid foireann an lae.
We were busy with collecting signatures, talking to people, distributing leaflets and Easter Lillies.
Long-time supporter from France Veronique Crombé dropped by to greet us and posed for a solidarity photo.
Another who posed for a solidarity photo was Louisa and her daughter Jia Amalia Burke, who is doing a project at school on the Normans. They invaded in 1169 and the English Occupation of Ireland dates from then but many of their descendants resisted the Occupation throughout our history. Louise and Jia posed for a solidarity photo but their husband and father Michael seemed camera-shy.
A Polish young woman brought her companion to sign the petition and we had a Scot of Pakistani background signing too. And of course many from Dublin and parts further afield, including Eithne Coyle and Davy Coyle, from Armagh and Tyrone respectively in the Six Counties.
Jim Moore told us his relative Jim Matthews (“Mathers”) was fatally wounded when the RIC opened fire in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday Dublin 1920 – he thought he had survived his wounds but died at home. Jim told us “Mathers’” sister was killed by the Black and Tans too.
APRIL 13th WILL BE OUR 500th SATURDAY WITH THE CAMPAIGN TABLE ON MOORE STREET. We intend to mark the occasion with short event with some music and a few words. You are all welcome to gather around, in period costume or without.
Danielle Dunne is a descendant of ICA Volunteer “Dazzler” Andrew Mulligan, about whom we wrote not long ago. “Dazzler” collected the typeface to be used for printing the 1916 Proclamation from Capel Street and brought it to Liberty Hall, where it was printed under armed guard.
Longtime supporter Paul O’Toole and wife dropped by on bicycles (not the best day for that!) to wish us well and hopefully for Paul to check out the place for performing a few songs for us on our 500th Saturday (see below) on 13th April.
And author and north inner Dublin historian and Monto tour guide Terry Fagan stopped by to get an Easter Lily and to wish the campaign well.
AIMSIR
Bhí beagnach ‘chuile aimsir againn inniu: grianmhar, ag cur báistí agus ag cur clocha sneachta!
UASDHÁTÚ AGUS EILE
We had paper Easter Lillies available for donations and quite a few availed of them. These are worn particularly around Easter in commemoration of those who died in the struggle for Irish freedom. The 1916 Rising began on Easter Monday which that year fell on the 24th April but this year it falls on 1st April. The Lillies were first designed and sold by members of Cumann na mBan to raise money for the support of the dependents of Republican prisoners of the Free State.
In keeping with the time of year, we had a special display around our stall (see photos).
As reminded last week, we have an online petition and now a QB code also, so people can photograph the QB code and click on it to sign the petition and also send the code to friends and relations anywhere in the world so they can sign on it also.
Our appeals to ABP against planning permission granted to Hammerson are awaiting reply but we have been refused an oral hearing.
We have no update on Hammerson’s High Court case against Dublin City Council for councillors agreeing to give historical importance conservation status to five buildings in the Moore Street area.
