Inside the Grangegorman squat last September.
Empty grey car park turned enchanting botanical courtyard.
Thugs.
William Hederman writes:
Raised beds that are part of the community garden at the squatted complex in Grangegorman, Dublin 7, photographed in September 2014. Local families have worked at the community garden, and some of them came out on Monday to show their support during the attempted eviction.
Earlier: Grangegormanghast
Update:
Rosie (above left) and Jason (with crutch) outside the Grangegorman squat
This afternoon.
Mark writes:
Rosie and Jason (they didn’t wish to give last names) outside the ‘squatters’ complex in Grangegorman in Dublin where the attempted eviction by security personal took place last night. Some reports stated that security were using anything from golf clubs to hurleys. Jason is walking with a crutch after being struck on the shin with a metal pipe.
About 30 people are squatting on the site. Behind the houses is a large communal space which is used by all of the neighbors, not just the residents, for growing food, playing games, watching movies, exchanging clothes and books and a general meeting space. Before people moved into the location the area was used as an illegal dump, filled with glass and concrete.
(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)
I’m very much in favour of community gardens but the legal basis underpinning use of the land must be sound and not based on an assumption of squatter’s rights.
It’s just childish to assume you can occupy land you don’t own without agreement of the people who own it or have a claim over it.
Hardly childish.
They turned a derelict site into something vibrant and productive.
Now they can go dere-lick my balls.
I tip my hat.
as do I ….I LOL’d
But they’re only interested in vibrancy and productivity.
quite – not flaccidity and dwarfism
I think I’ll go and give the old Smithfield Fish Market a lick of paint. Needs it god bless it. Then I’ll set up shop. *rubs hands together*.
“It’s just childish to assume you can occupy land you don’t own without agreement of the people who own it or have a claim over it.”
A bit of a philosophical conundrum for you… all land is claimed in the first instance.
Here, have a quote.
“What is this you call property? It cannot be the earth, for the land is our mother, nourishing all her children, beasts, birds, fish and all men. The woods, the streams, everything on it belongs to everybody and is for the use of all. How can one man say it belongs only to him?” -Massasoit
“One does not sell the land people walk on.” –Crazy Horse
Native American quotes on land ownership.
As motivational quotes go Anne, I’m not sure those are the best to be using seeing as how they worked out for the native americans.
vacant posession is a sound legal footing on which acquire the use of property. ownership is a different thing altogether.
Eviction is the removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord. This isn’t an eviction, it is removing illegal trespassers from private land. I am sure they have made the place nicer then it was when derelict but that doesn’t mean they can just take over any property they want.
So we should leave derelict properties vacant for years until the wealthy entities that own them find wealthy entities that have deemed the property suitable for increasing their wealth?
Screw that.
Turn them into gardens.
Yes that’s true. But it is owned by someone and no one has a right to claim use of it.
How wealthy does someone have to be to trigger others being entitled to take from them?
If they own something that you don’t have but covet.
Couldn’t give a fupp how rich you are or are not. If you are not using a site, I’m quite happy to watch others trample all over your rights while planting strawberries
So surely now tgatvthe owner wants to use it again it should be no problem allowing them to do so?
Better still, introduce a derelict site tax and ring fence the funds to provide amenities and services in the areas in which the funds were raised.
The LPT was supposed to do this but I think it’s clear that won’t be happening.
But if you’re going to remove them, you need the correct paperwork, which wasn’t produced.
What paperwork is needed for trespassing?
Well I think you need a sign that someone is trespassing in the first instance.
the proper eviction papers for the actual address would have been a good place to start…
You evict a tenant. These people were not tenants and are trespassing there unlawfully
When it comes to a derelict yard that really has no use as a personal space by the owner members of the local community should be allowed carry out improvements that benefit the area, especially if the alternative is junkies using the space….
So now you want to evict vulnerable members of society, junkies, so crusties can plant strawberries.
Sounds like some kind of societal pyramid scheme.
Yes thats exactly what needs to be done.
I’d like to hear this fully fleshed out.
So, all you legal experts, who owns the land? or are you assuming that someone actually does?
The owner does. The crusties can take their tomatoes and lettuce with them
You would choose junkies over tomatoes and lettuce? pull your copy of the sun out of your arse…..
Ye I was never a fan of the LT from a BLT
“There wasn’t enough Hippies to save us”.
Nothing in that garden looks edible…. perhaps smokeable but not edible.
Any one with any knowledge of property business know that people allow sites like this to become run down and drive down the value of neighbouring plots making it ripe for speculators to snap it all up. great for vultures; terrible and horrible for those who are living near by. squatters like these enhance neighbourhoods by turning wasted sites otherwise used for anti social behaviour into pro-social community use. If you own significant land in a highly built up area and are just sitting on it allowing it fall apart then tough titties community 1st speculators last
I think a lot of people here seem either not to grasp the concept of private property or be against the concept.
I must be a chump to get a mortgage and pay it regularly when it seems the way to go is not pay your debts but expect to keep living in someone else’s property or just steal a random property outright.
Everyones friend Una has a bit in the IT about this. According to her, this is not the first time that they have tried to evict the squat. I see Dan also worked for the IT
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/poplife/2015/03/24/the-grangegorman-squat/
If you’re referring to me, it’s not the same Dan.
sure didnt we let the English stay here cos they planted some veg too sure?
FROM IT “Dan Griffin has been reporting from the squat in Grangegorman, where a sudden attempted eviction took place yesterday. The squat has been through eviction attempts before. But this time, it seemed to draw a lot of heat, as well as press for a space in the city few talk about.”
If there were attempts at previous evictions they cant say they werent informed
I’ve been up there. It’s a squalid kip. All the vegetable plots and poetry jams in the world won’t change the fact that is an illegal occupation of private property, by tax dodgers and trustifarian wasters, be it derelict or not.
Well you know the old saying :
It’s not daylight robbery, if you go plant a strawberry
If you can plant it then eat it, you’re entitled to keep it and the land that does feed it *
*Disclaimer : This may not be an old saying at all and just something I may have made up
If rhyme it do, it must be true!
Guardianship. Solved.
Does anyone know what they do with their waste/ rubbish? Do they have water/ heat etc… If they do, then how do they pay for them?
Fair play to everyone involved in this. These places and the people who create them make the city a better, more vibrant, more creative, better place.
Totally agree. If there was a journalist in Ireland worth their salt they would be contacting the owners asking why the space was allowed to become derelict in the first place.
How is that rock you’ve been living under for the last 8 years?
Its it is debt free so comfortable and your real question is?
Love this keyboard.
Just take whatever you need from our boutiques until you can get back on your feet.
G’WAN Grangegorman! We squatted in London (Registered as a squat, paid bills council tax, removed hundreds of needles from carpet, ugh) and had direct contact with courts who agreed to allow us to stay until owner (housing association) had a sale. Here, sadly nothing like that exists but people WILL try anyway.
Not every squat is the same and some are just junkie dens, but after been in GG a good few times seeing these mix of guys (good guys, not saps) aspire to do something different, it will be sad to see it’s eventual end. Fair Play Lads!! – Now check out James St, it’s in utter ruin (more deliberate dereliction) and could do with a few strawberry plants or three.
James St is bizarre. Beautiful buildings in the heart of Dublin city sitting vacant yet toxins from a multinational allowed to pollute the city centre’s air.
I love free accommodation and free land to grow my lentils.
I shouldn’t have to pay my way.
I am great and never wrong.
I also have dreads and many cords of many colors.