As an anti-immigrant encampment dwindles on Basin View, its organisers try to rally
One man who’s been involved has been trying to organise a social event on a nearby council football pitch, something the council says it’s “monitoring”.
Two major hotel developments are planned to rise beside St Catherine’s Church on Meath Street, high over this place of peace and prayer.
“The area does get quieter in the evening. But we hope the new place will draw people,” says Florencia Pugliese.
The scheme for the iconic Liberties shopping street has been years in the making.
Last Thursday, in John’s Lane Church, singer-songwriter Imelda May led the room through an impromptu, slow rendition of “Molly Malone”.
It is just the latest route that Dublin councillors have proposed closing, following a similar arc of discussion.
Artist Augustine O’Donoghue and author Conor McCabe made 50 of the mats and gave them away on Meath Street recently. From there, they spread out.
As the show’s opening approaches, the artists say they aren’t sure what to make of the fact that the hotel owner hasn’t raised an eyebrow at the subject matter.
Dublin City Council has started a public consultation as part of the process of applying to itself for planning permission.
It’s the third community centre the area has lost in recent years, after Carman’s Hall and the Donore Avenue Youth and Community Centre.
A spokesperson for NCAD said it’s in talks with Diageo about what to do with the old 600-seat venue, including the possibility of a community use.
“We have a proposal put together regarding the future use” of the space, said a spokesperson for the Staycity aparthotel, which opened in January 2022 and hosts it.
“It’s crazy, with all the struggles that are within the inner city, something should be done,” says Eddie Keogh, chairman of the club.