“That whole idea of capitalism and consuming more and more, we want to be the opposite of that, like as an antidote, I suppose,” says organiser Mary Fleming.
“I think it’s reaching a tipping point, that me and like-minded colleagues have been banging the drum for so long saying, we need to try something different, rather than keep doing the same.”
It once hosted an Anglican parish, which became popular with migrants, which was replaced by an Indian Orthodox Church – and it seems more change is on the way.
Peter McVerry Trust is in talks to buy the old James Weir Home for Nurses building for social housing, and the council looks set to take over the adjoining burial site.
The Ballymun City Farm group envisions farm animals, a community garden, and a nature trail. But first they need a lease from the council, and funding.
This challenge, epitomised by Clontarf, is cropping up all over Ireland and likely to become more common as efforts ramp up to adapt to climate change.
Two ash trees there are in natural decline, the council says, so they chopped some branches to keep them as healthy as possible, and visitors safe – but did they cut too much?
