Photos from Dublin Water Charges Protest on Sat Jan 23rd

dublin | bin tax / household tax / water tax | photo-essay Wednesday January 27, 2016 14:30 by T

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There was a reasonable turnout at Saturday's Water Charges protest in Dublin. There were two main assembly points, Christchurch and Connolly station and both groups met up on O'Connell street outside the GPO where the speeches were given and crowd generally entertained with music at the start and end.

Estimates for the numbers are hard to come back as it seems RTE, the government and media like to play down the numbers while the estimate from Right2Water seemed a bit high but it was probably somewhere between 10,000 and 20,00 in Dublin.

There are other protests simultaneously around the country in Limerick, Cork, Galway, Letterkenny, Wicklow, Carlow, Sligo, Cavan and Meath. The Right2Water campaign were saying there were several thousands at each of these so when the grand total is added it does show the campaign is still very much alive and well.

As the crowd arrived at the GPO, there was some excellent vocals and lyrics performed by Evelyn Campbell on the stage and she certainly has a very loud and projecting voice. This was followed by speeches from various activists and politicians including Joan Collins, Mary Lou McDonald, Richard Boyd Barret and Clare Daly. Brendan Ogle from Right2Water was on stage as the main host and a good job he does because at many a demonstration sometimes it is hard to make out what is said and they can ramble whereas he is always loud and clear to the point and in that way keeps people's attention.

There was also an activist, Mel MacGiobúin on stage talking about the Save Moore Street campaign and their efforts to preserve the 16 buildings used during the 1916 Rising and he explained how a huge shopping centre is planned for the site with a token plague to commenerate the 1916 rebels while what we really should have is a proper extensive musemum of the entire historic sight which in itself could become a major cultural attraction. However as Richard Boyd Barret correctly said they are not just trying to satisfy their own greed with this planned destruction and retail development, but they most importantly want to crush and wipe out for once and for all the rebel spirit of 1916 and any notion of the idea of revolution.

The Right2Water campaign announced a major demonstration in Dublin in approxinately 3 weeks time which would be one week before the election.

The Save Moore Street Campaign plan a demonstration next Saturday 30th Jan to highlight the planned destruction of the remaining historic buildings on Moore Street

For anyone interested in Evelyn Campbell who is exceptionally good especially with her patriotic and rebel songs, she can be found here https://www.facebook.com/evelyncampbellband/

Save Moore Street Campaign:
https://www.facebook.com/savemoorestreetdublin/
Mel MacGiobúin