‘sup?
Yesterday.
Breakfast by the River Dodder at Aikenhead Terrace, Stella Gardens, Irishtown, Dublin 4.
Thanks Luke Breenan
Yearly Archives: 2016
Cork Circuit Court
This morning.
On Today with Seán O’Rourke, hosted by Katie Hannon, journalist Brian O’Connell reported on repossession cases.
Mr O’Connell said, according to his calculations, there were at least 300 repossession cases in last few days around the country and more to come this week.
On Thursday last, there were about 25 cases in Kerry; 50 in Tipperary; 50 in Athlone last Friday; 35 in Athlone today and more taking place today in Waterford.
Readers may recall how it was reported last month that the Courts Service in Limerick had stopped publishing the dates for home repossession hearings, as a means to prevent courtroom demonstrations by anti-eviction protesters.
During his report, Mr O’Connell explained that he was in Cork Circuit Court on Wednesday last – where there were 52 cases listed – all of which involved a family home.
Mr O’Connell spoke to one woman, whose house is back in positive equity, and who was visibly upset after leaving the court. The arrears of the woman, who has five children, amount to around 30-odd thousand euro.
The woman was just after receiving an adjournment until May when Mr O’Connell spoke to her.
She said:
“I don’t know how it’s going. I’m just hoping and praying that something is going to happen; that I can sort something here…I don’t have Christmas decorations up, I don’t have any Christmas shopping done, I actually, I love Christmas, but I can’t think. You don’t think about anything else, when this is going on. It’s in the back of your head the whole time. You talk to people, you pretend everything is normal, but nothing is. And it’s, it’s like standing on quick sand. You can’t do anything.”
“My marriage broke up, obviously the financial crash, my wages shrank, I actually haven’t had a payrise since 2005, my mortgage is about €800 a month, I’m paying close to €500 a month. You don’t approach the bank anymore, do you understand? You don’t ask questions because you’re afraid to come to their attention. You just want to say quiet and, hopefully, that it’ll just, you can carry on with things for a little bit longer.”
“No, [my children] don’t know the situation. I am in pieces, my health is suffering, I am constantly stressed. I find everything so difficult. They don’t need to live like this. Your kids pick up on things, things are not good but they don’t know. My youngest, the other day, he wanted change for a collection for Focus and he said, ‘Mum, at least we’ll help some homeless person’ and I’m actually thinking ‘that could be you’. And it’s so tough and it’s so hard.”
“And it’s so difficult when you hear all these people saying ‘these people don’t pay their mortgage’. Nobody lives like this, nobody lives under this stress… and I tell you something I can feel my whole body crumbling. I’m so tired, so weary all the time. I’d give anything just to sleep, sleep, just to actually not be thinking constantly, not be worrying constantly. Every decision in your life you’d be thinking [about], your kids’ future, what they’re planning on next year. ‘I have exams this year and am I going to be in my home..my child is in her Leaving Cert..is she going to be in hotel studying?”
“…You were in the court today. Nobody talks, people just come in, they don’t talk to each other or anything. Nobody wants to tell them. I think everybody out there, you may not realise it but you actually know people in this situation. And they’re just going through this. None of my family know I’m here today. They don’t know. Nobody knows I’m here today. And I can’t, I can’t be putting this stress on my family. I know they worry about me, but they don’t, they don’t, they shouldn’t have to take this on aswell.”
“...There’s nobody to talk to, there’s nothing, do you understand? There is nobody who can tell me, it’s…what can they tell me? I can talk to them, I can tell them I’m stressed, I can say I can’t eat properly, I can’t sleep, I cannot live with this uncertainty constantly, I cannot look at my kids and not knowing where they’re going to be if they put me in a hotel. They’re looking at €200 a night to put me in a hotel. The arrears on my house are 30-odd thousand. They’re going to spend over that on me…
Listen back here in full
Previously: Out By Christmas
Relax.
Irish Gifts to buy online that will still make it in time for Christmas.
Charmaine Kenny, of The Irish Workshop,online home of Irish-made crafts and whatnot,writes:
You’d want to be quick: these Irish designers and artists will make sure that your gift will arrive just in time for you to wrap it up, sneak it under the tree and pretend that you bought it weeks ago… Avoid the crowds and let the postman do the work.
1. There Are No Strangers Here Print (from €15)
It was good ole WB Yeats that said “There are no strangers here, only friends you have not yet met.”. We love this quote and we love the minimalist design by Lainey K.2. Aran Nua Cable Cape (€90)
Award-winning Irish knitwear designer Áine Knitwear has the very thing to keep one feeling snug and looking cool over the colder months. It’s 100% lambswool and comes in white or oatmeal.3. Limited Edition Print of your Favorite Dublin Pub (from €85)
Dublin artist Chris McMorrow has captured 25+ of our capital’s favourite drinking establishments – Kehoe’s, Doheny & Nesbitts, Slatterys – in his limited edition fine art prints. He has also painted a tonne of Dublin landmarks.4. Trinity Library Arches Silk Scarf (€69.95)
Go fancy with a gift made from 100% silk Crepe De Chine. Designed by newly established Dúinn Designs in Co.Louth, this one is inspired by the arches in the Old Library of Trinity College.5. Poolbeg Chimneys, Dublin Town Print( €18)
The Dublin duo behind Jando Design love modern & bold, just as much as they love Dublin.This print is schmokin’!Shop before midday on Tuesday December 20 for guaranteed delivery within Ireland.
Irish-made stocking fillers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-Made Stocking Fillers’. No fee
Save Poolbeg
Spotted in Sydney, Australia.
Stephen Flynn writes:
Shocking stuff in Sydney! Tayto in the UK section…
Joe Dole
at
In this week’s episode, Match-head has a long hard think about his life
Joe Dole is a weekly webcomic with a continuous storyline.
Previous parts here
Arf.
Keith Brady writes:
Tess is ready for the Twelve Barks of Christmas.
My pet at Xmas to broadsheeet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘My Pet At Xmas’
He’s back!
Are Ya Having That writes:
‘Leather Jacket Guy’ and ‘Johnny BS’ show you how to insult American people…
From top: Apollo House; Adam Boyle
Further to last Thursday’s occupation of Apollo House on Tara Street, Dublin 2 – a Nama property – in order to provide accommodation for rough sleepers…
Adam Boyle, above, writes:
Last Thursday we saw an example of civil disobedience in the form of the seizure of Apollo House in Dublin’s inner city. However, we saw something more. We saw concrete actions, built on top of the tireless work of homeless charities day-in day-out across the country, to provide help and accommodation to the city’s homeless.
Most importantly, we saw how easy it is to provide a short to medium-term solution to this problem.
We have seen an overwhelming support for this action, as well as cautious moves against it. Most striking of all is the claim from the Department of Housing that there are sufficient numbers of emergency beds for those sleeping rough.
This claim simply does not stand up to scrutiny. Perhaps ten years ago, before the housing crisis, it could be claimed that those sleeping rough were ‘choosing to do so.’ However, the growing numbers of people sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin, estimated between 100 and 300 every night, put lie to this idea.
The homelessness and housing crisis is multi-faceted and needs an appropriately detailed and well thought-out response. As such, the Housing Action Plan introduced by Minister Coveney should absolutely be welcomed – in the long-run there is one answer and one answer only to solve this issue; we need more social housing.
But what about the short term?
Home Sweet Home have themselves claimed they are seeking to save lives via their illegal occupation of Apollo House. This claim is far more based in reality than the claims of the Department of Housing with relation to emergency beds. This is a short-term action – and it is one that the Government could replicate easily, swiftly, safely, and cheaply.
As The Irish Times reported on Saturday, 9% of Dublin dwellings lie empty this Christmas. Arguments that these are not ‘fit for purpose’ or that outfitting them to house families in the short term is too expensive or impossible have been utterly turned on their head.
Mazars have rightfully and legally claimed that this occupation is illegal, and I would expect it was a tough but understandable morning’s work in their solicitors’ offices in issuing a request to vacate the building.
The law probably cannot permit Apollo House to remain occupied. However, there are a slew of alternative buildings open for the Government to redirect the energy and resources of this movement towards, to provide the kind of accommodation being sought. If they don’t create an alternative option which is equally as viable as that produced by Home Sweet Home they should be ashamed of both their ineptitude and callousness.
If nothing else, they should provide an alternative to save some face. A group of socially conscious poets, artists, activists, and community leaders last week seized a building in Dublin’s city centre in a stand against inequality, poverty, and what they see as an out-of-touch elite.
Does our government really want to be seen to stand by as these activists are turfed out of this occupied building? It’s been about 100 years since we have seen something strikingly similar happen.
Make a plan, fulfil that plan, house the homeless. If they cannot do what a bunch of artists and volunteers have managed to do then perhaps they should really question their purpose to the Irish people.
Adam is a a final year student of Law with Social Justice
Meanwhile…
The Apollo House Outreach Team writes:
Apollo House – a vacant NAMA building now being ran as a residental unit for and by the homeless – was taken over by Home Sweet Home Eire Irish Housing Network Thursday night. It has been in the hearts and minds of people since. More then 1,500 people have applied to volunteer.
[Tomorrow] night the Outreach Team will host a public meeting in the Teachers’ Club [36, Parnell Square West, Dublin 1] at 7.30pm, [entitled] ‘Apollo House how can you volunteer and support?’
Along with our continued replies to calls, emails and messages this is the place to be if you want to volunteer and support the campaign.
‘Apollo House how can you Volunteer and Support?’ meeting (Home Sweet Home)
Pic: Sam Boal/Rollingnews
Make Him Do
at
Get your boyfriend to propose.
Tis the season, in fairness.
By Emma Doran