Much of the talk surrounding the housing crisis has been focused on problems facing tenants in the private sector. Dramatic rent increases and spikes in homelessness in recent years have been especially severe in Dublin making this inevitable. However, long-term policy failures within the provision of a functional social housing sector are being ignored. Patrick McCusker takes a look at how repercussions of this are being felt across the city. … Read More
He’s Lovin It.
Above: Harbo longs for gloating days of the Celtic Tiger, when it was all Bertie Ahern and clanking champagne glasses in painful chrome covered nightclubs. Shudder. Picture lifted from our friends at Come Here To Me. Lovin’ have been bravely traversing establishments with potentially ‘dodgy’ clientele – so you don’t you have to – for years now. It’s their MO, their thing, their yoke that they do be doing. But … Read More
What Simon Says.
Above: Simon Coveney at a defence symposium in 2015. Finally, after months of dithering and hanging on like a bad dose of the clap we picked up when we were in a bad place and made some bad decisions back in 2011, Enda Kenny has finally decided to step down. Tomas Lynch takes a look at the heirs to the Blueshirt throne. There’s not much to choose between … Read More
Meme Streets.
Above: Credit to Holly Pereira for the illustration accompanying this in #rabble13. Make sure to check out more of her work at hyperpictures.com Few writers have scoured the sewers of chan culture with as keen an eye as Angela Nagle. Martin Leen sat down with the writer who is making a name for herself the world over as the definitive voice on the internet subcultures that have given life to the alt-right. … Read More
We Need More Than Talk.
Above: A still from the Youtube promotional video for the Green Ribbon campaign. Watch it here. This month sees the roll out of the Green Ribbon campaign, one of them cosmetic marketing pushes that state departments channel millions of euro into in order to create a nationwide perception that your government is being proactive. Sean Finnan says it’s far from enough. The Green Ribbon Campaign is rolling out over … Read More
The Trial.
Above: rabble reader Ciaran Boylan sent us these shots from a recent #JobstownNotGuilty demo. We had a few words with Paul Murphy before the trial started too for #rabble13. On April 24th, the court case of seven men accused of falsely imprisoning then Tanaiste Joan Burton during a protest at Jobstown began at the Criminal Courts of Justice. If our former Minister for Social Protection sought to criminalise one of … Read More
What Was The Point Of That?
Above: Photographer Giuseppe Milo captures this piece of graffiti in the Bogside. Check out more of his work here. Well, that was pointless. To borrow a McGregorism. It should come as a surprise “to absolutely nobody” that talks intended to produce a new power-sharing executive in the North ended in failure last week. Tommy Downshire takes us through what’s happening up the road. The two largest parties, the DUP and … Read More
Hail To The Bus Driver.
Daycent stuff from the crew at SIPTU Digital giving an insight into the slow chipping away at terms and conditions and hammering rural routes. With an all out transport strike brewing – it’s worth listening to the voices of transport workers as an antidote to the inevitable bar-stool George Hooks that’ll be moaning in your ear come three points in or the absolutely pond life level of humour that … Read More
The Long March For Medicinal Marijuana.
Above: Medical cannabis campaigner Vera Twomey on the march in Littleton. Photos from Gino Kenny’s Facebook page. Her long march for medicinal cannabis put Cork Mother Vera Twomey in the news as she battles on behalf of her daughter. She’s returning to protest at the Dail this Wednesday and we’ve a feeling she won’t be on her own. Fergal Eccles and Beggars take us through the background to the Medical Cannabis Bill … Read More
A Great Bunch Of Lads.
Last Tuesday, while looking for special treatment for the undocumented Irish in the States, Enda Kenny got called out for playing the “Irish Card” by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. Jamie Goldrick takes a look at the notion of Irish exceptionalism and asks why do our politicians feel they can ask for special treatment. In one sense this episode can be seen as typical of the parish pump politics that we’re … Read More