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THE MINISTER OF STATE with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has called for people to “respect” St Stephen’s Green after “reckless behaviour” was witnessed at the bandstand in the park yesterday.
Fencing was placed around the bandstand earlier this week. This fencing was removed by people in the park yesterday and a crowd of young people were seen inside the structure.
In a statement, Patrick O’Donovan said people are “understandably eager to enjoy the outdoors now that brighter days have arrived”.
“However, this is no excuse for damaging historic structures and displaying reckless behaviour as we have witnessed yesterday and in the past days at the bandstand in St Stephen’s Green,” he said.
“Covid-19 is still circulating in the community and to protect the progress we have made, basic health measures still apply outdoors, including avoiding crowds and keeping your distance.”
He appealed to people to “respect” the park, be mindful of other visitors and respect OPW staff.
The bandstand was constructed in 1887, a statement from the OPW said.
“It is almost 150 years old and fragile, and, ordinarily, it would not have been accessible to the park’s visitors,” it said.
This had not caused issues previously, as the public respected the small gate at the bandstand and its specific purpose for music performances and readings organised in summer time.
The OPW said the bandstand has become a place where groups were crowding in “oblivious to public health guidelines and social distancing” over the past week.
People were “posing a risk to themselves and others by climbing the slender steel supports that hold the bandstand’s roof”, the OPW added.
St Stephen’s Green closed an hour early yesterday after large crowds gathered in the park.
Video footage shared on Twitter showed two young people pulling down fencing erected around the bandstand before a crowd of people entered.
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Nothing to do with public health just scùm ashamed of nothing
@Kiern Mcx: On the national news every 20 minutes. Jebus wept!
Anyone on the bandstand should have been arrested and fined. Is it okay that teenagers who have had it so hard during covid, be allowed do as they please, as this seems to be the arguement these days, that they should be allowed to enjoy the outdoors in the nice weather. However, destroying public property, accessing a fenced off structure, littering/urinating/defacating on streets is seemingly okay. They didn’t do this pre-covid, so why are we allowing it now?
@neuromancer: but dey hav no cillities!
@neuromancer: They did do that before. But I agree with you otherwise.
@David A. Murray: agree, but there does seem to be more now
Is anything safe anymore from spoiled kids , too much time and too much money.
I’d say mammy and daddy would be quick enough to sue if the roof collapsed on their little darlings
5cum ruining the country as usual for the rest of us
Numpties – should have left it alone and not give the Twitteratzi another excuse to go on a tirade against them.
While I don’t condone this behaviour, I understand it. We have been told that it’s going to be an outdoor summer, but when people naturally gather after the longest lockdown in Europe and let their hair down, they block it with very little explanation, don’t provide facilities that should naturally be there and then condemn people’s behaviour. Blocking off Portobello for the kids only sends one signal and when other things are blocked off too it’s an invitation, rightly or wrongly, to ignore it. I won’t blame the next generations for getting on a plane and never looking back. My generation (50s) will pay for this dearly when we require a State pension and there will be no people to pay as our kids (mine included) won’t be paying tax here.
@Sean Oige: They are in a big park, Phoenix park the biggest in Europe is open. You can enjoy an outdoors Summer without the need to destroy a bandstand and swinging out of the roof.
@Sean Oige: What in the name of god is this? Pay dearly, emigrating? Because OPW blocked off a bandstand? I know I have heard people being a tad bit dramatic about emigrating over the restrictions, but jaysus Sean, didn’t know the bandstand meant that much to you.
@Sean Oige: well I don’t understand how spoiled kids think it’s acceptable to damage an iconic bandstand that has been there for 150 years. If any of those were my kids they would be in serious trouble at home.
@Sean Oige: You’re gripeing because today’s kids (mine and yours) may not be here to contribute to your State pension ? And if your kids went out this weekend and caused damage to property, urinated and crapped in public areas, your message to them would be “I don’t condone your behaviour, but I understand it” ? Sort out your own financial future and take a parenting class,
@Sean Oige: Your generation i hope pays very very very dearly for what its done to the youth and future generations to come ..Lumped generations with debt You’ve some cheek..
There’s a strange narrative, that it’s okay to do this because they’ve been locked up for a year. The kids where I live have never been “locked up”. Also, would this be acceptable from someone who got out of mountjoy? They’ve been locked up for a long time…
If only people were as outraged about the carry on in nursing homes, as per kick the youth..
@MickN: ah yeah your dead right sure let the youth burn the city to the ground. We’re too busy being outraged about something else
Seeing the band stand fenced off was such a stark metaphor for the current treatment of live music in the country. Banned by bord failte? Who’d have thought eh?
Let the Garda Public Order Unit baton charge the delinquents from the park and see how long before mummy and daddy come running to make complaints. They aren’t blowing off steam, they are ruining the park/city for the decent people
Our young fella was just jumping up and down on next doors car roof but it’s okay because he was locked up during covid.
What about running a well controlled Covid compliant open air concerts on the bandstand. Now that would be sensible but…..
this fragile bandstand that had nothing round it until a few days ago ? faux outrage methinks
have your say