The Dublin Community Blog

I took the Dart home from work today. I was sitting on my seat minding my own business listening to my MP3 player when this guy sat directly next to me. No one was sitting across from me. There were other seats available. Why did he have to sit right next to me? Doesn’t he know the public transit rule? You don’t sit next to someone unless you have to. Not only did he sit right next to me, he squashed me and invaded my personal space. I was really happy that I was getting off at the next stop.

I also noticed a few other silly things on the Dart today. This morning, one of the guys getting off at my stop got up a bit before hand and kept hitting the “door open” button. The train was still moving! I hope that the doors aren’t going to open with the train moving. He just kept repeatedly hitting the button like a rat in an experiment hoping to get a different result. The doors opened after the train stopped and it made the little “open the doors now” sound. That hit got rewarded. This evening at my stop, a lady hit the button before the train stopped. She only hit it once. After the train made the little sound, she just stood there like she expected the door to open. The door only opens when you hit the button AFTER the train stops and the sound is made. I ended up hitting the button again to open the door because she was just waiting and the people on the other side of the door were staring at us waiting to get on the train.

The guy sitting next to me brings me to a tangent about personal space. I don’t think most people here need as much personal space as I do. I frequently feel like someone is sitting too close to me or standing too close to me, especially in a queue. If you are touching me in the queue, you are too close! Give people at least a few inches. This is especially important when using an ATM. Give the person using the ATM at least a few feet. If you stand too close, you can see the person’s pin and you really don’t need to see what they are doing at the ATM. Unless you are trying to take their pin number…

Hi,

It’s been a while – I’m working on the world’s greatest post… or something like that

In the meantime… here are some photos from yesterday in Howth

 

The Lifeboat

The Harbour

 The Lifebelt

 

IF YOU cannot bear a rant about taxis in Dublin, you probably turn away now. We all have our taxi rants but mine (this time) concerns rude Dublin behaviour around taxis. Or what I have unaffectionately called doing a Dublin.

[From http://newsfeed.tcm.ie]

Why is it that when you are standing waiting for a taxi some eejit thinks it is perfectly acceptable to see you looking for a taxi and then walk in front of you to get ahead thereby ensuring they get the first taxi that arrives.

On Friday I stopped off in a supermarket after work and was standing waving at all the full taxis that were flying by in the rain bringing home lucky people.

Then some arse came out of the pub, saw me and then stood about 20 feet in front of me. Normally I would just fume, but having it happen a couple of times recently I thought ‘no bloody way’.

So I trundled up the road, carrying two heavy bags of shopping, walked five yards ahead of him, turned around and gave him one of my famous evil-eye looks, then (luckily) flagged a taxi immediately.

Course this could have turned into a carry-on scenario, he could have walked ahead of me, then me him again and so on.

One incident was particularly strange and it did turn into something from a carry-on movie.

I was temping for a couple of weeks some years ago and I was late for my first day in one work place having to be there for 9am across town, and having to leave the Young Wan in school and wait for teachers to arrive. So I was stressed and worried about being fired before I even started.

Though I could ill-afford a taxi at that time I stood at a crossroads trying unsuccessfully to flag a taxi from two directions so I could at least try to get to work in time. When I noticed a woman in a very lovely suit walking down a road which cuts onto the crossroads.

The next thing I realise she was standing less than five feet from me and was flagging down the only empty taxi for 20 minutes.

Now this is where I became a mad Belfast woman, I went over and informed that I had been waiting before her and she would have to wait her turn.

She snottily and snootily tried to say she was there first and of course because I had noticed her and her lovely suit walking down the road, I just laughed and said ‘away-a-thon’.

The next thing we were hip fighting to get into the taxi. She tried to whip me out of the way with her hip to get into the taxi, so I hip-whipped her back and I have good child-bearing hips.

It was less read my lips, more read my hips.

Mad, surreal and slightly deranged I know, I couldn’t believe this was happening or even that I was participating in it, but it was a point of principle at this stage for me.

The taxi driver drove around the corner and she ran over and jumped in. He wouldn’t have taken me anyway because he saw her first. And that’s where the problem lies.

That was one incident. I have had others from the same crossroads when the Young Wan was wee and people would come by, grab the taxi and leave me and herself in the rain.

Whatever doing that to me but doing it to a child.

In Belfast this would not happen, at all. Because one form of public transport is the black taxi which you share with other people and this can be flagged down anywhere on the road.

So when you see someone standing by the side of a road, you stand behind them. Simple, mannerly and it works. No one would dream of bunking the queue.

I have once done this in Dublin where I stood beside someone who was before me and all I got was dirty looks from him though in fairness I think the fella thought I was going to do a Dublin on it.

Not me mate.

He was in crutches and copped us trying to get a taxi, but I stood aside and waited for him to get sorted. Apart from the fact he was in crutches (and I would have let him go first anyway) he was first.

So just for general good feeling and harmony, bear in mind that while it might feel like it should be a free for all regarding taxis, there are some things we should do to make life more pleasant for everyone. And bunking, queue-jumping does not do this at all.

While I could tell you a million stories about this, the rant is over (probably just for now though).

WicklowCountryside

Originally uploaded by heidirific37.

This was one of the views from the Great Sugarloaf Mountain.

The hunger strike has ended peacefully. All the protestors have left the Cathedral. The Gardai first removed the 8 minors who agreed to leave voluntarily around 10pm. In the last hour they removed the adults, they did not resist. The adults will now be brought before the district court tonight where they will face criminal charges on public order offences.

After the rapid changes of yesterday the situation inside the Cathedral appears to have calmed down somewhat. The stand-off continues and the Church of Ireland says it was instructed by the Department of Justice to withdraw from all negotiations involving the asylum seekers. With things now in the hands of the Gardai they seem to be content to wait, for the moment, but I suspect once they decide to act it will be swift and sudden allowing the protesters little time to react and hopefully prevent them harming themselves.

While things were quiet inside there was some action outside the Cathedral with pro-asylum and anti-asylum protesters meeting outside the Cathedral. I went to the Cathedral for a while today to see what was happening and took some photographs. The Gardai kept things low key but still managed to keep the situation from boiling over and stepped in to calm things down when individual protesters got over excited. You can find the photographs at this page.

There is currently a protest taking place in St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin, by a group of 41 men from Afghanastan seeking asylum here in Ireland. Many of these men have not been through the asylum process, and are trying to heap pressure on the authorities and fast track their application by going on a hunger and water strike.

The fact that there are a number of boys under the age of 18 has caused some controversy, as these boys should not be facilitated by law, by the adults in the group, of harming themselves. There is also presure on the authorities to act, as they know that minors are willingly harming themselves.

The story has been played out in the media over the past few days, with the government sticking to the position that any right minded person should, that they cannot negotiate with these people for fear of opening up the floodgates, as has happened in Belgium and Italy. There are of course, many people who object to this line of thought as well.

However, it would appear that things have just taken a very sinister twist, with one of the Afghan men stating that the young people of the group are now in posession of rope and razors, and are prepared to take their own life. There are also reports that many of them attempted to take their lives last night.

Gardai have now moved into the church, and we’ll have more news as it happens….

Update 12:14pm – Dec – The Gardai have the Cathedral surrounded but according to the news sites “sources inside” deny that the Gardai have entered the building. It is also reported that they are there to “remove the seven minors among the protestors and place them in the care of the HSE”

Update 12:25pm – Dec – RTE.ie is reporting that a youth has been hospitalised, but it is not known if he was injured or needed medical care as a result of the hunger strike.

Update 12:30pm – Dec – Newstalk 106 is reporting that the youths in the cathedral are involved in a “standoff with nooses around their necks” and that two ambulances have left the Cathedral.

Update 12:41pm – Dec – Newstalk 106 is now covering the story live and has reported that a mediator (Phil Flynn, busy week for him fresh from mediating the rail dispute) and legal representatives have entered the Cathedral.

Update 2:30pm – Dec – The situation seems to have settled down somewhat with the standoff continuing. There are still reports that the youths are threatening to commit suicide with nooses around their necks and razor blades, however Rosanna Flynn from Residents against Racism who was inside the Cathedral downplayed this on Newstalk saying the ropes were very light and she had not seen any razor blades. However she agreed that at some stage this afternoon the minors would be removed from the Cathedral though they had said they would resist. I expect that things wont change rapidly but will change suddenly, if you get my drift.

Update 3:00pm – Dec – Residents against Racism and the legal representatives have left the cathedral. Residents against Racism have claimed the asylum seekers are saying they are ready to die. The Dean of the Cathedral has appealed for them not to harm themselves but has also asked them to leave peacefully. The young man who was taken to hospital earlier had apparently tried to commit suicide. It is also reported that there has been a deadline of 7pm set by the Gardai for the men, or perhaps just the minors, to leave the Cathedral.

Update 3:30pm – Dec – 20 Gardai have entered the Cathedral

Update 3.43pm – Red Mum – Picture from traffic-cam showing crowd in front of the cordoned off St Patricks as well as an outside broadcast unit (near to bottom right hand side of pic.)

Update 4:00pm – Dec – Newstalk 106 is reporting that the men are now refusing medical care and have moved to a higher area of the cathedral from where they are threatening to jump. Some Garda vans have been removed and there is only one left outside the cathedral. This is being reported as an attempt to defuse the situation.

Update 4:17pm – Dec – Newstalk 106 is reporting that a Dublin Fire Brigade paramedic crew has entered the cathedral with a stretcher.

Update 4:18pm – Dec – One of the asylum seekers is on Newstalk, Osman Hotec (sp?). He says 10 of the men are on a balcony threatening to hang themselves. The others have sharp items and are theatening to harm themselves. He says the assylum seekers are afraid of uniformed officials after their experiences in Afganistan so the Gardai have left the Cathedral. He has appealed for the international community and other nations to come forward and help them becaue they have found no help here. He has denied that any of the men are former members of the Taliban saying the Taliban would not come to the West. He has thanked the public for their assistance.

Update 4:27pm – Dec – A second man has been brought to hospital. He is one of the younger ones and apparently collapsed from dehydration and did not harm himself.

Update 4:40pm – Dec – Osman was interviewed earlier today by Today FM and he says the man taken to hospital earlier today had banged his head. He also repeated his appeal to the international community. He says the Irish are great people and thats why they want to stay here. He said one of the younger members of the group tried to commit suicide last night and that no one is in charge of the group so no one can stop individual members of the group from killing themselves.

Note: 4:44pm – Dec – The only people talking seem to be the people on the side of the asylum seekers, I’m just posting notes of what I hear and read. This thread is not meant to seem biased and I will post the governments point of view if I hear it.

Update: 5.05pm – Red Mum – RTE radio 1′s Five Seven live programme is going to be reporting on the events.

Update: 5.16pm – Red Mum – There is a large group gathered outside, among them reporters and supporters of Residents against Racism as well as local people against the protest. A row broke out from those in the crowd from the local area and was played on the show, strong stuff. Among the comments were “Shift them off and let them work in their own bleedin country! “Get them f*cking out” “I have no compassion for them at all, thats my opinion” “They are looking for refuge, why are they doing it here, why don’t they go to a mosque”. Appparently most of the tape was too foul-mouthed to be broadcast.

Update: 5:21pm – Dec – Newstalk are now reporting that there are only 2 or 3 of the asylum seekers on the balcony in the cathedral threatening to jump. It is speculated that the standoff will continue late into tonight before the Gardai act. The media are able to talk to the asylum seekers on mobile phones. It is being reported that one of the minors has slit his wrists in the last few minutes but that is unconfirmed.

Update: 5:48 – Dec – Today FM is reporting that the Church of Ireland has said further mediation has occurred but the men refused all options and are ready to throw themselves off a 20 meter high balcony. The Gardai are saying the operation is sensitive and wont comment on their plans. Osman Hotac (sp?) was interviewed by Today FM and said the men have sharpened toothbrushes and will jam them in their eyes if the Gardai approach, that the church was offering them no help and that the men were refusing medical attention and water. Michael D Higgins was on the radio and said he believes the men would not have been deported anyway as few Afgans have been previously deported. There are issues with the way the Department of Justice has dealt with these men that has contributed to this situation developing. He seems to think there were translation issues and that some cases were not dealt with as fairly and evenly as others. He says no one has sat down with the men on an individual basis and discussed their cases.

Update: 6:10pm – Dec – For anyone familiar with the Cathedral the asylum seekers are on the organ loft. A Church of Ireland representative Janet Maxwell states that further mediation was attempted but the asylum seekers rejected all proposals. There are further legal options being considered.

Minister of Justice Michael McDowell has said the removal of the men is a Garda operational matter and the state will not deal with group asylum appeals and that the Gardai have as much time as they want to deal with the situation sensitively.

One of the minors, aged 17, said he and others threatened to hang themselves until the Gardai ran to the door and then he cut himself with glass until they left completely.

Update: 6:46pm – Dec – There are uncomfirmed reports that one of the asylum seekers is on the roof of the cathedral.

Update: 8:23pm – Red Mum – I drove past St Patricks in a taxi and there was a large crowd of supporters out in force with posters and banners. I wasn’t able to take pictures so sorry about that. I can’t confirm yet what Dec posted in the last update but I will be keeping an eye on the events over the evening and will post any updates.

Update: 8:50pm – Red Mum – There are reports that a third man has been hospitalised and attempts involving the Gardai and protestors failed resulting in a number of hunger strikers have threatened to throw themselves off a balcony in the cathedral.

The photograph is from the Irish Times site (sorry it is a subscription site).

The IT breaking news reports “Gardaí remain stationed around St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin this evening as negotiations aimed at ending the hunger strike by 41 Afghans, now in its sixth day, continue inside the church.

Some of the hunger strikers have threatened to kill themselves if any effort is made to remove them by force and calls have been made for the Taoiseach to intervene.

Three of the men have threatened to jump from the organ loft of the cathedral if attempts are made to remove them. “There are now some asylum seekers threatening to throw themselves off the organ loft,” a church spokesman said. “We understand there are three of them.”

Update: 9.20pm – Red Mum – The men are on a hunger and thirst strike. So far the Gardai has not attempted to remove them. They have been refusing water since this afternoon.

Minister McDowell said he will not negotiate with the protestors.

RTE reporting from the Cathedral, note the child holding a sign behind the reporter which says ‘Send them home’. (sorry for the bad quality, taken from the TV)

The High Court which earlier made some of the protestors wards of court refused to allow the Gardai to go in and arrest these individuals. However the Gardai can do so if church authorities allow them. Garda action remains a possibility over the evening.

Update: 10:05pm – Red Mum – TodayFM 10pm news reports the men are refusing medical assistance from HSE officials. RTE is reporting that the Church of Ireland has confirmed that it is pursuing legal options to bring the stand-off to a conclusion.

Update: 11:30pm – Red Mum – Great round up of pics from the protest outside on Indymedia

From K – the media interest.

Update: 12.10am – Red Mum – According to TodayFM’s midnight news the Gardai are continuing to block off St Patrick’s. Some men are still on a 30ft high balcony with nooses round their neck and are reported to have razor blades.

The protestor who was brought to hospital earlier was suffering from dehydration.

More tomorrow…

Update: 3pm Saturday – Red Mum – The sit-in is in its seventh day. The men are threatening to refuse medical assistance and are said to be very weak. Last night two of those who were hospitalised were refused re-entry to the catheral.

Update: 3.40pm – Red Mum – RTE reports that the Church of Ireland has been instructed to withdraw from all negotiations with the asylum seekers. The instruction came from the Department of Justice today. The department said it is not possible to enter into agreement involving commitments which go beyond what the protestors are entitled to under the asylum process. The department aso said it could not agree to compromises brokered by the Church of Ireland as it would lead to copycat actions.

Update: 5.45pm – Red Mum – TV3 news show the protestors and counter protestors. One shouting ‘let them die’ and others shouting ‘shame, shame, shame’. 38 men remain inside the Cathedral and the Church of Ireland spokeperson, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neil said: ” We had arrived at a set of proposals which were acceptable to the asylum seekers and which we felt offered a fair and equitable way forward for all parties. Unfortunately this view was not shared by the Department of Justice.”

The Indo breaking news (subscription required) reported at 4.42pm that another statement from the men is expected tonight.

Update: 6:20pm – Red Mum – RTE 6 news reported some of the proposals negotiated by the Church of Ireland included an interview with the department of Justice on Monday with the asylum seekers and human rights representatives as well as accommodation in Dublin. Attempts were also made to move the asylum seekers from the organ loft last night.

Breaking News.ie reported at 5.05pm that an ambulance had pulled up in the previous hour in front of the Cathedral and two medics went inside.

If you’re not lucky enough to be heading to Cardiff this weekend for the European Rugby Cup Final (unlike Colm and I!!), then here’s something well worth doing this evening.

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Swords Cricket Challenge

Malahide Cricket Club President’s XI v Leinster Rugby XI

Tonight will see the Leinster rugby cricket squad being captained by former Leinster assistant coach Gerry Murphy and includes Ireland international stars Girvan Dempsey and Guy Easterby. England international prop Will Green, a winner of the Heineken Cup with Wasps in 2004, has also been named as have the likes of Rob Kearney, Ben Gissing, Brendan Burke and former Ireland underage cricketer Brian O’Riordan. The Leinster side will also include members of the backroom team such as former All Black and current forwards coach Mike Brewer, video analyst Emmet Farrell, assistant coach David Knox – a former Australia Under-19 cricket international – and kit manager Johnny O’Hagan.

It should be a fun and entertaining night for all, with a BBQ, raffles and lots of entertainment lined up. Most importantly, this is all happening for an extremely worthy cause, the Welcome Home Charity. Everything kicks off from about 6pm this evening…let’s just hope that the weather holds out for them!

I moved to Dublin to have a challenge in my career and try to make a difference here. Today, I realized that I have started to do that. This has been a crazy week. Monday night, another speech therapist and myself met with some parents and explained what speech language therapists do. The parents seemed to really appreciate the talk and gained a better understanding of the field. They didn’t realize that there is a lot to it.

Speech Language therapists work with children (and adults) who have difficulty understanding language (receptive lang.), using grammar forms (expressive language), saying sounds clearly (articulation/phonology), and/or social skills (pragmatic language). Some of us, like myelf, also work with people who have difficulty eating and swallowing food.

Current Weather Conditions: 2006.05.17 2130 UTC
Wind from the S at 21 MPH (18 KT) gusting to 33 MPH (29 KT)
Sky conditions: mostly cloudy
Temperature: 55 F (13 C)

A massive gust of wind is after blowing past the house here, sitting down here now, it’s sounding like November outside.

And now for the forecast:

Tomorrow
Very windy in all areas tomorrow, with showers or longer spells of rain. Some of the rain will be heavy and possibly thundery. Strong to gale force southwest winds, later veering west, will gust as high as 100 kilometer per hour in places. Highest temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees.

sigh