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The Dublin 7 ‘gentrification’ continues.

Via Rob Doyle in today’s Guardian:

In the aftermath of the culturally barren Celtic Tiger years, Ireland is said to be undergoing something of a literary rebirth. It’s now harder than ever to swing a cat in Dublin without skulling a handful of writers and dole-queue poets. Debut novels and short story collections are launched with pummelling frequency. Stoneybatter has become a hub of this renaissance.

Moynes? Fight!

A word to the hungry: Stoneybatter’s tastiest almond croissants are found in the Green Door Bakery on Manor Street – but only if you get there early enough, which I have managed on no more than two occasions. A few doors down is a real gem, still largely unheralded: the pleasant and unpretentious Biscotti Caffe, which offers what is hands down Dublin’s most satisfying full Irish breakfast (available all day, too).

FigNOMNOMNOMNOM

Discover Dublin’s Stoneybatter, a district on the rise (Rob Doyle, Guardian)

Pic: Failte ireland

Thanks Kevin Finnerty

Alicia Lawlor with Cllr Gary Gannon at Leinster House (above)

Sixteen and never been canvassed?

Time to lower the voting age.

Alicia Lawlor writes:

Why can’t I vote about my future ? Why can’t I share my opinion , let people hear my voice? Why should adults decide what can and can’t happen for me and the world that I am part of , I should have a say in my future don’t you think ?

I and sixteen I should be allowed to vote.

You sit there … think about it, why shouldn’t I be allowed vote, I shouldn’t only be allowed say my opinions to current affairs to a class room I should have the privilege of being able to make my own choices , own decision on what I think the government can and can’t do.

I’m sixteen yet I’m getting talks about career choices and colleges for what I want to do in life yet I can’t decide what I want for my countrys future .

It’s me who has the rest of my life to live here unless I decide to move a road which I don’t plan on doing, I plan on making a change , but how can I if you won’t let me vote ?

By  law I’m allowed to leave school and get a full time job or stay in school and get a part time job . Laws and tax effect that yet I can’t affect them by casting my vote in things that will effect my job , income , life, future.

Why should I be allowed sign consent to an operation but I can’t vote on something that will also affect my way of living ?

I myself would like to go into politics in near future and  would like to make a change for the people, for a better equal future… what a true republic should be… and will be, soon.

I want you to think and ask yourself what is a true republic? How many of you can honestly say you understand what a true republic is ? I’m sixteen yet I understand the meaning of a true republic from experience in life , which has nothing to do with my age.

Scotland lowered their vote to sixteen during their independence vote , people aged sixteen actively took part in the referendum with debates , campaigning and the voting … so why can’t I take part in my country’s referendums?

I believe in a true republic and I believe lowering the vote to sixteen will help us reach that promise from 100 years ago… a true republic. 26+6=1 I’ll leave that with you to figure out and think about.

Alicia Lawlor is currently on one day a week work experience with Cllr Gary Gannon, Social Democrats candidate for Dublin Central.

FIGHT!

Earlier: ‘Ireland Was Taken Back’

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