The Dublin Developement Authority’s Docklands site just north of the River Liffey is made up of banks , finance houses , insurance companies, gated apartment blocks and “No Trespassing” signs. This , we are told is a three way partnership between private enterprise , the state and the local community but it’s the management company who decide where you may or may not walk. There is provision for social housing here but don’t expect to see the great unwashed sipping coffee at any of the many upmarket sidewalk cafes. This is a landscape both brutal and vulgar in equal measure. It’s also the sort of place that almost invites a terrorist attack.
All you need is a kitchen , a few bottles of cleaning materials and an Internet connection to check to see how it’s done……There are no shortage of people out there who feel marginalised , who no longer vote and probably don’t even read a newspaper…..(Why read a newspaper if it’s only going to tell you your a ‘racist’ or that your just stupid?)….and most of these have a kitchen. Then all you have to do is wait for the right moment (timing is everything)….try to get them on a bad day , a day when they feel even less wanted than usual and then ask them to come for a walk down Docklands…….It’s a simple as that. Just sit back and let nature take it’s course.
I was down there myself a few days ago so take it from me. If you want to push someone over the edge then this is the place to do it. Mind you , I’m not suggesting that you actually do any of this but I’m sure someone out there will ……..They’re building an extension to Docklands on the Pigeon House peninsula so I figure that just a few more “No Trespassing” signs and some more high gates should do the trick…
But either way , when the bombs do go off at least you’ll know who to blame…..
June 8, 2008 at 6:49 am
what the fuck kind of mess are you lot making of my city-jesus i knew i should never have left
June 12, 2008 at 1:00 pm
hey silly,
you are a self important, self serving, self centred and ultimately self pitying crank. inciting people to bomb others is just plain weird. i have walked the docklands for many years and yes the changes have been at a crazy pace and yes some of it is not good but then again some of it is good. some of the developments are very positive. but as a poet once said ‘we see what we want to see and we disregard the rest’. stop judging others so harshly. we all stuggle but i think that the majority are merely doing their best.
June 17, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Advocating guerrilla operations against white collar developments does not bother me too much, but the incorrect use of “it’s” warrants a severe reprimand. It’s its, not it’s!
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000227.htm
June 21, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Firstly, I agree with points raised by the writer of this blog. He like any one is entitled to express opinions be they good, bad or indifferent. One point I would strees is that TDD has generated employment for many people - that is a good aspect of any system. However, the Dublin Docklands represents the epitome of “Capitalism” the area reminds one of Wall Street in NYC & Canary Wharf in London - both centres of world capitalism & imperialism. Everyone knows that global markets set up shop in economies that provide maximum profit - up until 16 months ago Ireland was that sort of environment. Inevitably all good things run their course and what is the Dublin Docklands may yet become a shadow of its former past. Although I doubt if this will happen quickly.
I would say that from a distance the place looks semi-appealing; but as they say “far away hills are green until you get there”. Personally I would not like to live within its high-gated, security perimeter - gives one the feeling of being imprisoned. But there are many similar places not just in Dublin but in most capital cities.
Regarding social housing - politicians and the TDDA if we are to be honest only pay lip service to this issue. Remember that people on the margins as seen through the eyes of the capitalist-banker-politician represent very little in the way of investment. In short poor people are seen as non-entities and therefore nil investment in what is ultimately a poor investment.
The truth is there for all to see - peolpe who are marginalised & poor don’t fit in with the wealthy elite that make up this post Celtic Tiger Ireland.