What to do with the horses of Darndale?
Grazing in public parks means other uses are being pushed out, and adding momentum to calls for an equine centre and stable club to properly support horse culture in the area.
In 2021, Justice Minister Helen McEntee announced a “community-safety partnership” for the area. It hasn’t yet finished its plan for what to do.
“How do kids integrate in a community?” says Niamh Fox, one of the residents. “It’s just not right.”
“The BAI regulations did not apply to content on RTÉ Player at this time,” an RTÉ spokesperson said. Then, later: “This was not included due to human error”.
“We came in one day and the locks had been changed,” says Rivermount Boys FC chairman Rory Maher. “We went looking for it back and we were told no.”
“Now is the time to do it,” says Labour Councillor Darragh Moriarty. “Attendance at games is skyrocketing.”
“Ladies football and camogie is going gangbusters,” says Erin’s Isle chairperson Paul Campbell. “You have to find space for them and we struggle.”
A focus right now is aggressive dogs, said a council official.
“It worked out from day one,” says Udo Wittmann, owner of the Grían cafe. “We opened the door, and we were full.”
It has plans for 1,800 of them, and councillors will have to decide how it’s going to allocate them – whether it’s fastest fingers first or a lotto-style draw.
“It reminds me of the Iveagh Markets,” says Sinn Féin Councillor Máire Devine. “It’s neglect.”
This includes redeveloping Croke Villas, which was previously earmarked for redevelopment under a PPP deal that fell apart in 2008.
“You are awake all night not being able to breathe and then the banging starts,” says June Byrne, who suffers from COPD.