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CROWDS OF DEMONSTRATORS turned out to support a group of protesters that occupied buildings on Moore Street in Dublin this afternoon.
The rally – which was addressed by independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald and other politicians – was held to oppose building works being undertaken on the street as part of the 1916 commemorations, which activists contend could destroy a site of historical significance.
Around 200 people attended the rally outside the terrace.
What’s going on?
Restoration work at the site on 14-17 Moore Street, where the decision to surrender to the British forces was made, began last November.
The row of houses was declared a National Monument in 2007 – but the question of what should be done with the site was the subject of fierce debate for years with plans suffering a number of setbacks. The government finally stepped in and acquired the site in March of last year.
The ‘Save Moore Street from Demolition’ group organised a rally yesterday following the erection of hoarding between 18 and 19 Moore Street – and around 15 people climbed on the scaffolding, roof and into the buildings.
More protesters joined them overnight.
In a statement this evening, the Save No 16 Moore Street Committee, which is led by members of the Connolly and O’Rahilly families, expressed concerns on the protests.
It said:
As a committed group that has campaigned for the protection and restoration of the historic buildings 14 -17 Moore Street and 8 & 9 Moore Lane, we fully support the work of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in its endeavours to establish a Commemorative Centre on the site, during the Centenary Year celebrations for the 1916 Rising.
Following consultations with building and conservation experts we have been given absolute assurances, and are fully confident, that the restoration work plans are being conducted in the most professional manner. The protests that we are currently witnessing are causing unnecessary delays and are jeopardising having the restored buildings ready for centenary celebrations.
‘Not historically significant’
Speaking to TheJournal.ie yesterday, activist Mick Mooney said they plan to remain in the building until a resolution is put in place. The group is concerned that planning permission granted to developers of a shopping centre allows for partial demolition of Moore Street houses.
A spokesperson for heritage minister Heather Humphreys, who is heading up the 2016 commemorations, said she was very disappointed that any group “would attempt to delay these works and jeopardise the project”.
“Furthermore, the occupation of the building poses risks to the individuals involved and the building itself, which is in a very fragile state.
“Numbers 13 and 18 and 19 are not part of the National Monument, and are not historically significant.
“Minister Humphreys only has control over the National Monument. The development of the wider street is a matter for Dublin city council.
“Documentary evidence (Valuation Records 1911-1915, 1915-1925; Thom’s Directory 1915) shows that Nos. 18 and 19 (the former Paris Bakery) were in ruins prior to the 1916 Rising.
“There were no insurance claims made in relation to either building subsequent to the Rising. Evidence from the Ordnance Survey suggests that No. 19 was still in ruins as late as 1939.
No. 13 has received a new façade in modern brick. The interior is modern and nothing survives of the historic fabric.
Tight deadline
Work on the National Monument site is being carried out by Lissadell Construction, who were chosen in part for their experience on conservation and restoration projects.
While it’s expected the project will be completed later this year, it won’t be open by Easter. The plan is to allow some access to the site at the end of April to mark the anniversary of the surrender.
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That place in letterkenny is always being closed.. There has to be a limit to how many times a place can be closed and be allowed to open..
Ireland’s hygiene standards are on a different planet to the rest of Europe, let alone the rest of the world. Anyone who has every taken a foreign holiday can verify this.
What about GMO crops, chemicals such as Aspartame in all foods and Fluoride in the water? Why isnt there anything been done about that or even reported on in mainstream Media? The Journal keeping the Government Happy as per usual.
Aoife why lead with the Montessori? Surely the other business’s that serve a wider population would be more news worthy? Especially if they have been in breech before.
@ Gary Brandon, because when the main stream media actually to looks in detail at these stories they realise there’s more fiction than truth in them. Remember these are professional journalist not a collective of cranks and conspiracy theorists…
Your tin foil hat is slipping again Gary.
Hi Cliodhna, I used this in the headline as it is unusual to have a montessori in these lists. We get this information on a monthly basis and this is the first time I’ve seen one as having received an enforcement order. Also, it demonstrates that is not just restaurants and take-aways that can be given enforcement orders, which is useful information for both the public and business owners.
Hope that explains things,
Aoife
@Tom Barry Yeah I do forget that Mainstream Media and what they report is always right. I must believe everything the Media tell me and do as my Government says because they are always right.
When the facts are there and then the Government pay people and doctors to come out against the truth like it has always been you get morons like you who actually then support everything and anything they say. If GMO crops are so safe why do the people who spray them where full protective suits and breathing apparatus? Its not safe to breathe in but it must be safe to ingest and let linger in your system.
And also on the term “Professional Journalist” what makes them so? Just because they write things in mainstream media makes them professional? Its always easier to believe what is in front of you instead of doing proper research yourself I suppose and the Fluoride that is mellowing you out makes you more susceptible to the bull that they feed you everyday so in part I cannot blame you for following the Heard.
You are just proof of exactly what the Governments have been perfecting for years and it seems to have worked well.
Or maybe its because you do not actually want to know the truth about what you actually consume and are just happy to ignore the fact that you are being poisoned everyday. Either way its up to you to do your own research. And if your research consists of FOX News and the likes well then you keep on being a sheep. :)
*herd
@Gary Brandon your little rant speaks volumes; give a man enough rope…
You sound like a broken record Gary
Gary I can’t u understand why aspartame has to be put in children’s dilutes etc isn’t it banned in the US
What does the above comment mean. Please explain.
Its in everything! Bread, Coke, Diet Coke, All brands of Chewing Gum, its not just in “sugarfree” so Cakes, sweet cooking sauces its everywhere!
Was referring to Gary’s comment re aspartame – supposed to say I can’t understand why it’s put into children’s drinks etc when it’s banned in US
@Fiona here is just a small list of what contains Aspartame, but the list is alot longer
http://supersweetblog.wordpress.com/list-of-products-containing-aspartame/
Probably makes it taste better??
@John Billane
Well I’m Glad you like the taste of Cancer
I smoke. I know the taste.
@ Gary – all the diet stuff really isn’t it – are we better off with the full fat stuff?
From Wikipedia:
Cancer
Reviews have found no association between aspartame and cancer. These reviews have looked at numerous carcinogenicity studies in animals, epidemiologic studies in humans, as well as in vitro genotoxicity studies. These studies have found no significant evidence that aspartame causes cancer in animals, damages the genome, or causes cancer in humans at doses currently used.[7][36][39] This position is supported by multiple regulatory agencies like the FDA[53] and EFSA as well as scientific bodies such as the National Cancer Institute.[45]
Concern about possible carcinogenic properties of aspartame was originally raised and popularized in the mainstream media by John Olney in the 1970s and again in 1996 by suggesting that aspartame may be related to brain tumors. Reviews have found that these concerns were flawed, due to reliance on the ecological fallacy[54] and the purported mechanism of causing tumors being unlikely to actually cause cancer. Independent agencies such as the FDA and National Cancer Institute have reanalyzed multiple studies based on these worries and found no association between aspartame and brain cancer.[39]
As discussed in the article on controversies around aspartame, the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences released several studies which claimed that aspartame can increase several malignancies in rodents, concluding that aspartame is a potential carcinogen at normal dietary doses.[7] The EFSA[55] and the FDA[53] discounted the study results and found no reason to revise their previously established acceptable daily intake levels for aspartame.
Aoife
Thanks for explanation. I see your point and I agree with you, I was looking at it from a different angle places I’d avoid when I was out and about. I didn’t mean it to sound as if I didn’t think they should be there in fact they should.
Cliodhna
Hi Cliodhna, no problem at all! Glad it clarified things for you, I appreciate the question.
Thanks a million
Aoife
Thanks Gary for the link. It’s interesting to see which foods it.is in.
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