The Doors of Dublin, 1970 by Bob Fearon for Bord Failte

Doors of Dublin, 2019 by Graham Martin for The Dublin Inquirer

Dublin Inquirer

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32 thoughts on “The Doors

  1. Col

    Yet there are only 298 vacant sites across the whole country according to Eoghan Murphy.

      1. Col

        No, but if there are at least 9 Georgian buildings empty and falling into dereliction, it’s safe to assume there are a lot more than 298 vacant sites nationwide.

      2. martco

        ah now @Querty123 don’t be judgin a book by its cover

        that “tent” you refer to is probably really a bijou 3 Bed villa in need of a little modernisation but with all the amenities you could wish for on the doorstep & with faboulous potential to extend

  2. Point of order

    The government really need to get a handle on this. Unfortunately, it will never tackle the uncomfortable subject of immigration though. Big influx of immigrants=no houses left. It’s not the most scientific of formulas but it’s true. As someone who walks down The Grand Canal every day, I can also confirm, by using my eyes & ears that most of the homeless people sleeping there are middle-aged Eastern European men. Are there not any services in their own countries? I should think if I found myself sleeping in a tent in Vilnius, I would strongly think about coming home.

    1. George

      Immigrants are not the problem. You don’t shape your population to fit the housing available you provide housing and other services to meet the needs of the population.

      Migration is important for Ireland in bad times as our economic problems would be much worse if we didn’t have emigration as an option. It is also important in enabling Irish people to grow their skills; in enabling businesses to source key skills; and in providing employment in low-skill jobs that Irish people do not want during the good times

      1. Point of order

        You cannot keep building indefinitely, for many reasons, most prevalent of which
        is the environmental impact.

        1. Rob_G

          If too many people is the problem, perhaps we should temporarily ban people from having kids(?)

  3. Penny

    If people stopped giving them sandwiches and cups of tea it might help the situation. There is a tent on the Grand canal opposite the Mespil hotel that has 3-4 take away coffees outside it every morning. The beggars opposite Trinity on Nassau street have 5 or 6 shop bought sandwiches left beside them.
    People are not helping these individuals they are feeding their problem. Stop.

    1. millie st meadowlark

      You’re right Penny. It’s not like we should show empathy. It’s not like they need food. They’re actually a subspecies and you’re perfectly justified in holding your nose as you pass them by.

      1. Catherine costelloe

        Penny is referring to homeless charities wasting resources is what I’m taking from her post.

      2. Penny

        Empathy for the alcoholic is another pint, is it?
        “Subspecies, nose holding”. Don’t assume. It’s the mother of all error dear.

    2. Mickey Twopints

      On balance, while I am disgusted to read Penny’s odious contribution to this debate, I am heartened to read that there are humans out there prepared to buy a coffee and a sandwich for rough sleepers.

      1. Penny

        because that’s what the mentally unwell living on the fringe of society need. A sandwich and a cup of coffee. Good man Mickey, you’re part of the problem.

        1. Rob_G

          I agree that giving a homeless person a sandwich is not going to solve all of society’s problems, but it is hardly doing any harm – do you really think that the odd free sandwich is acting as some sort of ‘pull’ factor in the current homeless problem?

          1. Penny

            Yes.
            If you’re that much of a bleeding heart, bring them home and give them your sofa or a spare room.
            Otherwise, stop doing it. you are creating a problem.
            For them.
            And for society.
            If you feed a problem you get more problems, not less.

    1. Qwerty123

      Correct, Dublin in 1970, from the original photo, had no dereliction and inequality. We really are worse now. Slow steady declines all around since then.

        1. Qwerty123

          Ah, class, everything brilliant in 1970 Dublin then, no homeless and housing for all in lovely estates…

          jaysus…

    2. eoin

      Trying to remember when I first saw a homeless person on the streets of Dublin. Maybe it was the 1980s, but I’m fairly sure it would have been big news in the 1970s.

      1. Penny

        since time immemorial there has been some tinker on the streets of Dublin looking for odds. it’s nothing new. the reason theres more than ever is because silly people are handing over the couple of quid and the sandwiches and the coffee etc.

  4. Stan

    So was just talking to someone, initially from London, now working in Liverpool, who told me the first time she saw someone begging on the streets was when she first went to Dublin in the early ’80s – and remarked what a common sight it now was in London and Liverpool (and here in Leeds)

  5. Stan

    So was just talking to somoene, initially from London, now working in Liverpool, who told me the first time she saw someone begging on the streets was when she first went to Dublin in the early ’80s – and remarked what a common sight it now was in London and Liverpool (and here in Leeds)

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