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ON EASTER MONDAY one hundred years ago, a group of around 150 people stormed the GPO just after 12 noon.
Minutes later, the Proclamation was read out to the passing crowd on Dublin’s Sackville Street – also known as O’Connell Street – publicly marking the beginning of the Easter Rising.
To mark the centenary, TheJournal.ie is documenting the events of the Rising as they happened. Every day this week, you can follow what happened during one of the defining events of Ireland’s history, from the moment the rebels started assembling outside Liberty Hall on Easter Monday to the surrender on the following Saturday. You can see all our sources here.
As ever, we want to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, tweet us @thejournal_ie, send a mail to news@thejournal.ie or send a telegram to The Journal, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.
Morning everyone, and thanks for joining us. It’s Christine Bohan here on liveblog duty.
On an exceptionally mild and sunny day across Dublin, there is some confusion this morning among the groups which had been planning to begin a rebellion in the city yesterday.
Eoin MacNeill, the head of the Irish Volunteers, placed an order in the Sunday Independent yesterday appearing to call off the marches which had been planned for Sunday.
The order has left many of the other leaders baffled. The Military Council – made up of Pádraig Pearse, Thomas Clarke, Seán MacDiarmada, Joseph Plunkett, Éamonn Ceannt, James Connolly and Thomas MacDonagh – met in Liberty Hall yesterday to decide what to do.
Reports suggest that they have made the decision to go ahead with the planned rebellion – but to start it at noon today instead. The postponement will give time for couriers to go around the country informing the Volunteers that the Rising is going ahead – despite the message in the Sunday Independent.
That wasn’t the only bad news in Sunday Independent, by the way: it also contained a reference to the arrest of Roger Casement in Kerry, and news of the accidental drowning of three men on their way to set up a transmitter for signaling to the gun-running boat The Aud.
Members of the Irish Volunteers wearing their uniforms have been spotted gathering around Blackhall Place.
Reports are saying there are around 250 men in total at the scene. A bystander tells us that the commandant in charge has asked any man present who does not agree with the opinions of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republic to return home. No man has left the rank, according to the witness.
Members of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army have now begun assembling outside Liberty Hall, the home of the ITGWU trade union and the headquarters of the Irish Citizen Army.
According to some estimates there are 1,250 volunteers mobilising around Dublin right now, but it is unclear exactly what is happening or what they are planning.
More Volunteers have been seen moving down towards the Grand Canal on Dublin’s southside. They appear to be participating in a march.
BREAKING: A group of around 40 rebels led by Michael Mallin have just run into Stephen’s Green and ordered the people inside the park to leave.
Several shots have been fired into the air to move the members of the public out of the park, where they were enjoying the bank holiday weather. There are reports that a number of British soldiers who were in the park have been taken prisoner.
The rebels have established a barricade at the entrance to Stephen’s Green using park benches and nearby carts. They are currently setting up a position inside and have begun digging trenches.
WG Smith, a St. John’s Ambulance volunteer who was passing Stephen’s Green just before it was evacuated a few minutes ago, says that the rebels look very young. He describes them as “mere boys, with only about one in ten a man”.
BREAKING: A group of approximately 120 rebels has stormed the Four Courts on the quays, a short distance from Sackville Street.
They have also taken nearby buildings in North Brunswick Street and Church Street, including Father Mathew Hall and a pub called Reilly’s.
Rebels have just taken control of the South Dublin Union, a huge poorhouse and hospital close to James’s Street where around 3,000 people live. It appears the people living in the poorhouse have not been evacuated, but are trapped inside.
In the last few minutes, rebels appear to have taken control of Jacob’s biscuit factory on Bishop Street, beside Aungier Street.
They are also reported to have occupied Boland’s Mills and Bakery on Grand Canal Dock and the Jameson Distillery on Marrowbone Lane, as well as houses at 25 Northumberland Road and Clanwilliam House.
BREAKING: A policeman has been shot dead outside Dublin Castle, the administrative centre of British rule in Ireland.
The man, who was the sole guard at the Castle gate, was killed by a group from the Irish Citizen Army, led by Seán Connolly, as they tried to gain entry to the Castle.
BREAKING: The General Post Office has been seized by rebels, and staff and customers have been forcibly removed from the building.
It is reported that the group of around 150 rebels had marched from Liberty Hall down to Sackville Street. When they arrived in front of the Imperial Hotel, James Connolly ordered the group to charge on the GPO – much to the surprise of bystanders, who had thought that it was a routine march.
Many of the people in the GPO – both staff and customers – were similarly surprised and it has taken several minutes to force them all to leave.
Further groups of rebels have been dispatched to the Imperial Hotel, Clery’s, and other buildings along Sackville Street (also known as O’Connell Street).
A very rowdy crowd of women are banging against the main gate of the Jameson’s Distillery on Marrowbone Lane in protest against the rebels inside who have beaten up the caretaker of the building as they were occupying it.
One of the rebels has been shot dead as he tried to climb through a window to get into the barricaded GPO. The shot is believed to have been fired by a British officer from a window in the nearby Metropole Hotel.
Volunteers have attacked the British Army’s magazine fort in the Phoenix Park, where army weapons are stored. The rebels were reportedly disguised as footballers heading to the nearby green for a match.
The attack has failed – but the son of the Fort’s commandant has been killed. He was chased down and shot on his front doorstep as he tried to get inside.
The rebels managed to seize some guns and ammunition from the magazine fort.
We are receiving reports that a 29-year-old policeman from the Dublin Metropolitan Police called Michael Lahiff has been shot dead at Stephen’s Green.
Lahiff had tried to approach the closed gates of Stephen’s Green and climb over and was warned by the rebels to leave the area. He continued to try to force the gates – and was shot dead a few minutes ago after one of the rebels fired at him twice.
Some reports say that it was Constance Markievicz who fired at Lahiff but there are no witnesses to back this up.
This didn’t take long: the British have begun responding to what’s happening around Dublin city.
A patrol from the British Army has been dispatched to Sackville Street, while three battalions of the Dublin garrison have been sent to defend Dublin Castle. There has also been a request for the cavalry at the Curragh barracks to be sent to Dublin.
The rebels have now seized the Mendicity Institute on Dublin’s south quays, one of Dublin’s oldest charities which aims to alleviate poverty. All of its homeless inhabitants have been turfed out into the street at gunpoint.
British reinforcements have been sent to defend the magazine fort in the Phoenix Park, after rebels managed to gain access and take some weapons earlier, and the Viceregal Lodge which holds the King’s official representative in Ireland.
One of the leaders of the rebels, Pádraig Pearse, who is a teacher and a barrister, has appeared outside the GPO and is reading out a document called the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
Pearse is declaring “the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland.” He says that the “Irish Republic is a Sovereign Independent State” and claims “the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman.”
Pearse says that the rebels have established a provisional government.
As he finishes reading, James Connolly, who is another one of the seven men who signed the document, shakes his hand in front of the crowd and says: “Thanks be to God, Pearse, that we have lived to see this day.”
Copies of the Proclamation have been stuck up around the GPO using post office stamps.
The reaction to the reading of the Proclamation is mixed. There’s bemusement from some of the people on the street, but others have started throwing stones at the rebels and hurling verbal abuse.
Volunteers led by Liam Mellows have begun to gather in a number of areas scattered around Galway.
Our reporter at the scene tells us that the rebels have raised two flags above the GPO: the tricolour and a green flag with the words Irish Republic over a gold harp.
There is also third flag flying across the road over the Imperial Hotel, showing a starry plough.
We’re told the tricolour was chosen for its symbolism. The green represents the Gaelic tradition of Ireland, the orange represents the followers of William of Orange in Ireland, and the white represents the aspiration for peace between them. It was introduced in 1848 by the independence movement, the Irish Confederation, and was first flown by Thomas Francis Meagher in Waterford in that year.
Constance Markievicz has been seen at Stephen’s Green, armed with a gun. She is co-commander of the rebels there, along with Michael Mallin.
Volunteers have seized buildings around Fumbally Lane and Malpas Street, close to St Patrick’s Cathedral.
The rebels have now taken a number of key buildings around Dublin city centre.
As well as taking control of buildings, rebels are securing control of bridges around the city, including O’Connell Bridge, possibly in a bid to control the main routes in and out of the city.
Annesley Bridge between Fairview and North Strand has been taken by the rebels in the last few minutes.
There are bloody scenes outside the GPO right now.
A number of soldiers in the British cavalry attempted to retake the GPO by charging down Sackville Street – but they weren’t successful. Three British lancers have been killed at the scene after being shot by the rebels, and another is so badly wounded that it seems unlikely that he will survive.
The dead soldiers and a number of dead and wounded horses have been left lying in the street for now.
The rebels, led by Seán Connolly, have retreated from Dublin Castle. They seem to have met a stronger resistance than they expected, even given the fact that many of the British soldiers are off at the Fairyhouse races today.
The rebels have instead decided to occupy City Hall next door, and the Daily Express and Evening Mail building across the road.
This map shows some of the buildings held by the rebels as of now:
Rebels have taken control of Harcourt Railway Station, the only major transport terminal in the city that they have managed to seize so far.
The rebels attempted to block the lines with locomotive trains but the station’s signal man locked himself inside the signal box and blocked all the points.
There is tragic news coming in from near the Four Courts: A two year old boy has died after he was shot in the crossfire on Church Street just before noon.
The boy has been named as John Francis Foster from Manor Place in Stoneybatter, and he was shot in his pram as he was being wheeled along by his mother, Catherine Foster.
The firing in the area broke out after British soldiers on horseback were ambushed by the rebels at the Four Courts. There is no word yet on the other injuries, although it appears there are wounded men and horses lying in the street.
There is intense gunfire around City Hall between the rebels, who are on the roof, and the soldiers who are on the streets around it. If you’re in the area take extreme care and stay indoors, if possible.
BREAKING: Seán Connolly has become the first casualty on the rebel side after being shot and killed while trying to raise the rebel flag over City Hall.
Connolly was an actor and singer and had led the group of rebels who had tried to storm Dublin Castle before retreating to City Hall.
Dr Kathleen Lynn, the chief medical officer among the rebels at City Hall, attempted to treat him but his injuries were too severe.
A second policeman has been shot just outside St Stephen’s Green.
So far six policemen have been shot, two of them fatally.
The insurgents appear to be armed with an assortment of rifles and revolvers. They don’t seem to have any heavy equipment, although it appears they have home-made bombs or ‘rifle-cans’.
The rebels have also been making use of any equipment that they find. This photo from the Four Courts shows the rebels using furniture as a barricade at one of the entrances:
The GPO has become something of a magnet for many of the Volunteers who were looking for somewhere to go. The original number of 150 has grown steadily over the past few hours since this all started and it is now the biggest concentration of rebels anywhere in the city.
It’s not just the rebels who have joined the fight, though: two seamen, one from Sweden and one from Finland, who had just arrived in Dublin with their ships have turned up at the GPO and taken up arms.
Neither of the two speak much English, but they have reportedly communicated to the rebels that they wanted to take up a cause which they believed in. They compared Ireland’s situation with Britain to the way that their own countries are governed by the Russian empire.
A company of British soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment, many of whom had just arrived back from action in France, have been ambushed by a group of rebels at the South Dublin Union near James’s Street as they marched towards Dublin Castle.
It briefly looked as though the British soldiers had gained the upper hand in the battle at the South Dublin Union, but they have been stopped by gunfire from the nearby rebels in Jameson’s distillery.
Vicious running battles are taking place in the hospital wards at the South Dublin Union, with staff and patients caught in the middle.
As the number of casualties grows around the city, Dublin Fire Brigade is working hard to cope with the volume of injuries and fatalities.
The majority of those being picked up by the DFB ambulance are being treated for gunshot wounds and are being taken to nearby hospitals.
Three hours after this uprising began, here’s everything we know so far:
Pádraig Pearse has issued an order than no unarmed men, even in uniform, are to be shot at, following an incident on Northumberland Road.
The elderly, unarmed Georgius Rex group of the Veteran Defence Force, also known by their nickname The Gorgeous Wrecks, have marched into a rebel ambush on Northumberland Road. Four were killed and several were wounded by snipers in surrounding buildings.
The group were attempting to get back to their barracks in Beggar’s Bush after exercises in the Wicklow hills.
Speaking of Pádraig Pearse: he has requested a priest to come to the GPO to hear the confessions of the men there.
Here is the note that he sent from the GPO to the nearby church on Marlborough Street:
The note reads:
Please send a priest to the GPO to remain an hour or two and hear the confessions of some men.
Signed P.H. Pearse
Commandant-General
Looting has begun around the city in response to the apparent lack of law and order.
It appears looters are taking luxury items and baked goods such as cakes and biscuits.
A nurse working at the South Dublin Union has become the first civilian casualty of the Rising, as the heavy fighting there continues just off James’s Street.
Margaret Keogh, who worked at the hospital with some of the poorest people in the city, had stayed at work after the rebels occupied some of the buildings. There are conflicting reports of how she died, but one report suggests that she was killed by a British soldier as she treated an injured Volunteer.
After initially being slow to react, the British Army now appears to have engaged most of the positions occupied by the rebels across Dublin city centre.
Thousands of army men have arrived in the city by train over the last few hours, despite attempts by rebels to block the lines.
Dubliners are being warned to avoid the streets of the city centre as gun battles are taking place near City Hall, the South Dublin Union, Stephen’s Green and the GPO.
Here’s what we know so far about some of the buildings which are being occupied:
First battalion: Commandant Edward Daly is leading the rebels in the Four Courts. At 25 years of age, Daly is the youngest Commandant in the Rising. He works in a chemist shop.
Second battalion: Commandant Thomas McDonagh is leading the occupation of Jacob’s biscuit factory. McDonagh is a poet, a playwright, a teacher and one of the founding members of the ASTI.
Third battalion: Commandant Eamon de Valera is occupying Boland’s flour mills at the Grand Canal Dock and the railway line from Westland Row to Landsdowne Road. De Valera is a mathematics teacher.
Fourth Battalion: Commandant Éamonn Ceannt is occupying the South Dublin Union, close to James’s Street. Ceannt is an accountant for the Dublin Corporation.
Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz are leading the occupation of St Stephen’s Green along with a group of Citizen Army men. Mallin is a silk weaver. Markievicz founded Fianna Éireann which teaches teenage boys and girls how to use firearms. She is also a suffragette.
We’re receiving reports of civilians standing near O’Connell Bridge to look at the unfolding battles between the rebels and British troops. Dubliners have been advised to stay indoors as they are putting themselves at risk.
Fighting is taking place on the Dublin-Kingstown railway line. Rebels have opened fire on a much larger detachment of the Veteran Defence Force.
We have been granted a look at the notebook of Joseph Plunkett, one of the men who signed today’s Proclamation and who is stationed inside the GPO. His notes for today:
It says:
Easter Monday 1916
GPO occupied in the name of the Republic shortly after noon (about 12.15pm). Republic proclaimed.
About one hour later a detachment of enemy lancers attempted to rush O’Connell Street. They were opposed at the Parnell Statue.
A small number (described as “about twenty”) succeeded in advancing as far as the GPO but on our opening fire they retired in confusion leaving a few casualties.
Simultaneously with our operation positions were successfully taken up in the front and rear of Dublin Castle and troops in that stronghold prevented from coming out.
We have received one of the first photographs of a member of the public reading the Proclamation today, shortly after it was read out by Pádraig Pearse at the GPO.
This photograph shows UCD academic Dr Edward McWeeny reading a copy of the document which he took from the railings of 86 St Stephen’s Green where it had been posted.
He brought the document to the garden at the back of the building where he had this photograph taken today by a local priest called Fr Sherwin.
Around 2,500 copies of the Proclamation were printed in secret at the printworks in Liberty Hall yesterday and distributed around the city.
This has been a brutal and bloody day.
As the fighting continues, this rebellion looks set to last for days – or possibly weeks.
A total of 55 people have been killed today, including 15 civilians. The total number of people who have died is:
British Armed Forces: 26
Civilians: 15
Rebels Forces: 11
Police: 3
Trains with British troops from the Curragh are now arriving in Dublin two or three times an hour, dramatically increasing the number of forces in the capital city.
As night begins to fall and bullet fire continues around Dublin city centre, we are going to take this opportunity to try to get home. We will resume this liveblog in the morning and will keep you up to date on all the happenings of this long-awaited but still unexpected Rebellion.
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Good idea. My cousin works on Grafton street and she’s threatened weekly by people sleeping in the shop front. She’s also regularly had to clean up excrement and needles from the shop front. Nobody should have to do that to start their day.
@Figo murphy: Obviously you’re a Fg voter, Disgusting opinion for your fellow man/women
@StillNotNews: as opposed to what? It’s wrong to prioritize staff and customer safety?
@StillNotNews: let’s see someone poo on your doorstep and see how happy you will be then
@Louise Tracey: And this is what’s wrong in Irish society today, blame the victims not the people who put them there, and before you say it It’s not a life choice.
@StillNotNews: your saying they didn’t choose to take drugs? Pretty sure they did.
@StillNotNews: so it’s everyone else’s fault that these people use drugs?
@StillNotNews: troll
@StillNotNews: are you saying that disney store put them there?
@StillNotNews: Obviously you’re a complete idiot
@StillNotNews: look at the thumbs up she got compared to your comment. your a clown no doubt as well
@smart cat: yeah because it’s all about the thumbs up and calling people names!
@StillNotNews: obviously never stepped foot in grafton St or surrounding area at that time of the morning. Idiot
Above you see a veritable who’s who’s of “let them eat cake” proponents. Believing all homeless people are drug addicts, I feel sorry for you all.
@StillNotNews: vast majority are and/or have mental health issues. It’s not let them eat cake at all, but you have to want to help yourself before the help of others. It’s not as simple as giving everyone a “forever” home
@StillNotNews: what type of cake?
@StillNotNews: noone said that they are all drug addicts. But some of them are unfortunately. And it is enough to pose a reasonable threat to employees. Security gate would be completely justified in this instance. Also people should stop acting like they are taking away beds from a shelter. They’re not
@Gordon Hughes: might want to remove the social justice label’s from profile, looks stupid now.
@herp: you might want to stop hiding behind a fake acc, but hey
@Gordon Hughes: social justice lol
@tooler doogan: another faceless anon acc… Zzzzz
@Gordon Hughes: don’t reply zzzzzz
@herp: troll
@Figo murphy: she should whistle while she works
@Kasia Krzyzyk: Why not ask the council to help the person in the doorway and as the business owners/rate payer they should ask the council, homeless charities, government how they maybe able to help the person have a dry, warm place to sleep. If a person is sleeping in a doorway that person needs some form of urgent help. Addiction is a terrible thing and people cut themselves off from family, and society turns a blind eye and walk past trying not to look, but look we should as it could very easily be one of us or a close family member someday. Without some kind of humanity for our most weak and vulnerable in society we are nothing! You don’t have to take drugs to become homeless, remember we have a massive mental health issue in this country and our health system has nothing to offer people in distress and with no hope in life you have nothing and can easily end up in a doorway.
@StillNotNews: Fine gael voters, Verona Murphy number 1
@StillNotNews: you go in and clean up their toilet droppings and pick up their needles so
@Louise Tracey: I’ve had to sleep rough a couple of times this week. It wasn’t a choice. I had no other option.
Well, no, I had a choice… sleep rough, or be terrified that my housemates friend, who was staying with us, was going to take the liberty of coming into my bed with me, despite my assertions it wasn’t wanted. This has happened in the past, and I’ve had to go stay elsewhere.. this time, circumstances meant I had nowhere to crash for a couple of days.
I’ve had 2 alcoholic drinks in the past 6 months, I don’t touch drugs or even smoke.. I was basically someone that had to choose between sexual assault and the streets.. a doorway is not a nice place to be, but it’s better than being assaulted in your own bed.
Oh, and this guy has my housemate convinced that I’m crazy about him and totally want all the attention.. that I invite his advances.. yeah, I’m asexual.. most sexualised stuff grosses me out.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: hope things get better for you Mirabelle. Take care of yourself.
@StillNotNews: and obviously you don’t work in one of these shops or you’d know what faces workers daily
@Figo murphy: maybe if fg gave a crap about irish people and actually built some houses then those people wouldn’t be there at all
@Thomas Maher: this is it, there has always been homeless people with addiction problems etc, and let’s not forget men who have been turfed out off their homes because their wife decided she had fallen out of love and into love with some other guy. Very biased family law in this country. Now look at the rise in homelessness in ireland under ffg governance how the numbers have risen sharply through their free market neoliberal policy’s with the amount of family being turf onto the street by greedy corporate landlords. To these people mixed up with with the addicts and abandoned fathers as a lot of people on here are doing is plain ignorance.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: why did you go out and sleep rough why not have phone on ready and ring police if your friend was really a friend she would not expect you to leave your home for someone else why not put a lock on your door sorry but you are given in to this toerag
@Figo murphy: of course you cant dare agree or you’ll be accused of actually wanting homeless dead! Forget how dangerous it might be for whoever’s opening up in the morning
@Charliegrl80: and you know they are or are not seeking help for them? Businesses are legally obliged to ensure safety of their staff. There are homeless people yes and it is getting worse. But you can hardly expect we will all stop in our tracks to observe it and do something about it. What those people need is housing and professional care. I am pretty sure disney store and other businesses do not have that in their job description. Allowing homeless people to sleep and take drugs on their doorstep is hardly fixing the problem.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: One visit to the Gardai would sort this out. If you require assistance with this seek me out. You should never have to spend another night out…
@Yorkie1892: Poo cake
@StillNotNews: I thought we shot the commies and socialists ? No one cares what you and people like you think. Many of these “homeless” are junkies ,completely self inflicted
@StillNotNews: blame the victim ? Lol . Who forced these wasters to stick needles into their arms ? It says a lot about many of them that not one single member if their family want anything to do with them. Lunatics like you need to be educated that the government is not responsible for every time you fail in life
@StillNotNews: you are a simpleton, so spare us your needless sympathy , we are not remotely sorry for your stupidity .
If we can all be completely honest here we wouldn’t want them sleeping on our doorstep either and would take measures to move them on. This is not Disney’s fault they are trying to run a business and provide employment. The blame lies elsewhere.
@2thFairy: agreed
@Shirley Hollingsworth: Seconded, and I didn’t even read the article. I went straight to the comments for the faux outrage.
@2thFairy: Yes. The measure I would take (and do) is to ardently vote against and campaign against governments who profit from homelessness and care only about themselves.
Get rid of FFFG and maybe we’d see an improvement in the situation.
@Shazam37: how does the government profit from homelessness? And you think a different government would sort homelessness??
Aviva Life & Pensions DAC as the landlord are putting up the gate on behalf of their Tennant. Who the Tennant is is irrelevant, they’ve cited their reasons for the requirement of one.
That’s it really.
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: the tenant likely has a long term lease. As per the article it is the tenant who applied for planning permission, with permission from their landlord. This is common. It is Disney who applied for for permission.
That being said I see no issue with this. It’s understandable that they don’t want people sleeping in their doorway. The homeless issues aren’t their fault.
*cough cough* Eh Disney…
Peter Pan & the Lost Boys and Mowgli are characters of yours that are homeless
Although in fairness, if staff are genuinely experiencing this then you can’t really argue with it. Disney will be made the villain here when the reality is the state has failed those people, not some shop in the Grafton “Quarter”
@Jesus Christ: incorrect.
@Jesus Christ:
Mowgli is lost in the jungle by his parents.
The lost boys are widely believed to be dead. Peter is their guardian who helps transfer them from this world to the next.
In fact if you look into the Peter Pan background, the story that we relate to today (Disney’s version) is very far removed from the original story.
Same goes for the jungle book. Totally different version to the original publication.
Very difficult for the rough sleepers and a really uncomfortable position for staff to have to try and move them on dark, freezing mornings. Both the business and the homeless are victims of the housing crisis, make sure not to misdirect your anger and blame anywhere other than the cause which is the FG government.
@Rochelle: absolutely on point. Some people who comment need reality check. I would love to see how they would feel and act if they had to deal with that in their own doorstep. Pretty sure that “empathy” would go right out the window. Acting on health and safety of your employees does not erase empathy you might have towards some unfortunate homeless people
@Rochelle:
Whatever government it is, it will always be the case. Always.
@Peter: then why had this problem
Gotten so much worse in the last decade?
@Shazam37:
You’ve problem my point since it hasn’t been the same government in the past decade
* proven
Oopsy
Such heartwarming company, no?
@Mark V: so your ok with employees being threatened and subjected to abuse? Stepping over drug paraphernalia? Of course you are
@Mark V: what you expect from a Micky Mouse Company.? But in fairness,staff have a right to go to work without being harassed.
@Louise Tracey: maybe u should consider the cause then the effect …policies of the government and previous governments has made people destitute .so you know when it’s time to vote maybe the way u vote suits u but not the things that make u sick to ur stomach.as the adage goes give a little it will help a lot
@Michael Nolan: yes of course, it’s all the governments fault for the people choosing to take drugs. Let’s blame them for it raining today as well.
@Louise Tracey: trying seeing the bigger picture Louise, broaden your mind!
@Louise Tracey: well you a thing called climate change
Hahaaja
@tooler doogan: some people’s mind can’t see beyond the screen in front of there nose ..pity ….but chickens always come home to roost
@Michael Nolan: but what if the chickens are homeless
@Mark V: Is just sad and shocking how many people agree with this. I guess a sign of the times we live in.
@Louise Tracey: That exactly the kind of person I’m talking about: devoid of empathy.
@Michael Nolan: Hens Michael!! Hens come home to roost!!!
@Louise Tracey: so… 100% of people sleeping in doorways are druggies, is that a fact?
@Mirabelle Stonegate: 100% sure my comment didn’t state that fact. I said employees shouldn’t be subjected to abuse, threatened or having to step over drug paraphernalia which the article clearly states is happening. But don’t let the truth get in the way of your outrage.
After reading all comments for the faux outrage.. The people sleeping homeless in doorways in Grafton street shooting up and defecating on the ground are not victims of a housing crisis.. they are victims of vices that led them to that dark place.. people comparing to direct provision centres etc are just incorrect. Unless you expect the government round them up and force cold turkey on them then there is very little to be done, they wont take hostel beds as drugs are not allowed.. I dont know what the answer is but you can’t blame the government for this type of homelessness or behaviour.. my opinion !
@Jon Shannow: This is a pretty uninformed view of homelessness. Not all rough sleepers are there due to vice or their own choices. Also, are you so perfect yourself that you can judge people who have fallen into hard times and addiction? Addiction is an angry beast and a monster that latches itself onto the victim and holds on as tight as possible. I have seen this monster first hand. I too blamed the victim. It destroys good folks. Learning not to judge people is a gift that was passed on to me by another, wiser person. I hope you receive that gift some day.
@Shane McGrath: I didn’t say they weren’t victims, I was just disagreeing that they were victims of a housing crisis exclusively.. did I judge them or say they should not be helped? I also never said it was their own choice.. Addiction to vices can be very powerful and some never overcome it but blaming society for letting them down as others were doing is what I disagreed with..
Why is there even an article about this? Also why is it written is such a name and shame manner?
I hope the author allows the homeless to sleep on their doorstep.
@joe: clickbait, plain and simple.
@joe:
I do feel the title of the article is an attack on Disney from TheJournal’s staff
Nobody wants to see anyone sleeping in a doorway but by unfortunate circumstances these people have no choice. Those migrants that were found in the container in Rosslare were offered immediate accommodation and some absconded. There’s now obvious vacancies. If these homeless people were to show up at this direct provision center would there be a bed for them?
@Jess Kelly: A lot of homeless don’t want beds or places to stay. They want to remain on the doorways and benches.
Obviously not all of them.
@Peter: I understand that it for some it’s the only beds they have.
@Jess Kelly:
I don’t think there would be a bed for them, which is sad really.
As music plays in shop, ” you got a friend in me”..
How about sponsoring some beds with the money instead Disney?
@Sea Graham: I think there is no reason why people who feel strongly enough should go down and each bring home 1 person..sure a couch hot shower food would be better than the street..how do ye sleep at night.going home and leaving them there.
@Sea Graham: The problem isn’t that they are homeless. The problem is their behaviour. Shooting up drugs and defacating in someones doorway is not acceptable. Children frequent the Disney store. Would you want them at risk of picking up a dirty needle? I wouldn’t.
@Shirley Hollingsworth: I work in the city centre and I regularly buy food for some of the homeless that I’ve gotten to know over the years. I won’t give any of them money to feed any habit they may have though. How about you bring home a few and let us know how that works out for you before you start preaching at others.
@Sea Graham: You think a billion dollar corporation spending some of its vast wealth to alleviate a homelessness and drugs crisis is comparable to an individual taking in a homeless drug addict for the night?
Daft.
@Sea Graham: why should they.. They are not responsible for them if countries government can’t house them why should a company who already pays rates and taxes
@Sea Graham: she’s doing a wip round for family back home posted an hour ago..
Maybe Anthony Flynn will rock up in the morning and assist staff to move on the homeless when they are trying to open in the morning??? Good man Anthony
The homeless situation is getting dire, what has this country come to when our children are sitting on a piece of cardboard in the freezing cold eating their dinner, this government needs to do something & fast!
@Colette Kearns: what can they do that they aren’t already doing?
@Colette Kearns: personal responsibility has to come into play here too
@Shane Murray: its easy to pass judgement on this, perhaps some of these people are on their own can’t find way out.
@herp: it’s also easy to say ‘the government aren’t doing anything’
@Shane Murray: not doing enough.
@Shane Murray: indeed dam those pesky children for not taking “ personal responsibility “
@Colette Kearns: I obviously meant their parents.
@Shane Murray: not all had the luck are perhaps unlucky to have had parents, parent.
@Colette Kearns: people are literally ‘going homeless’ as they believe it’s a fast track to free housing, the same as having a blast of kids as a young single mother was seen a few years ago, instead of putting in any effort the easy way is to hit rock bottom and then let the country sort them out, most of these homeless wouldn’t be homeless if they took the slightest responsibility for their own actions but of course that requires a modicum of effort and will power and they don’t do that.
@Ron Kingston: perfectly said
@Shane Murray: Utter total rubbish. There are working homeless out there – are you aware of that? Full time jobs which don’t pay enough to cover rent and feeding children – is your message to those parents “take some responsibility? Children being raised in hotel rooms.
And the government are doing enough are they? We need something 140000 social homes and in the last year built something like 2000 and you’re attitude is – yea they’re doing great in government.
If they were doing enough the numbers would have come down over the course of their TEN years in power. They’ve gone up.
The government have done nothing because it suits them to have high housing costs and high rents. Homelessness is the by product of their big business high cost of living philosophy.
@Ron Kingston: you don’t seem up to date with the homeless situation at all. People are loosing their homes due to the landlords increasing their rents by a few 100€ pm. or more. Landlords are putting tenants out on their ear in order to get more money. Then look at what’s available Jesus I’ve seen damp mouldy disgusting kips going for over 1200 pm. & that’s room only. Their even advertising Bed Sharing for god’s sake. Then what about the people that loose their jobs through no fault of their own? Or the people the fall I’ll ? I could go on & on because there’s lots of reasons people can fall on hard times & it can happen to anyone!
@Shane Murray: well their not building enough affordable houses and they are allowing vulture funds and corporate landlords run a muck with unaffordable rent levels. Are you suggesting the rise in homelessness is because there has been a huge spike in drug users. Get a grip. Blue shirt.
@Colette Kearns: those aren’t the ones sleeping in doorways I assure you.
Dublin city councillor Anthony Flynn said the company had shown a “lack of empathy and compassion” to homeless people, the Sunday Times reports
Yeah, that tends to happen when you get threatened for trying to get into work and your first chore of the day is cleaning up shit, piss,blood and puke.
Being homeless and causing havoc due to addiction is not a free pass to everybody’s empathy.
As a gesture maybe Disney donate to brother Kevin or Peter McVerry…this is a difficult one all round but what we really need to do is push this government to address the issue with more bed nights and targeted resources not trying to “cleanse” the public thoroughfares of this ‘nusiance’ and sweep it under the carpet . There will always be those who will not accept a bed (I know a chap in Galway…can’t bring his dog to the hostel so he won’t abandon his pooch)but homelessness is at epidemic levels now and gettin progressively worse. C’mon its nearly christmas….season if goodwill an all that!
@sinead foley-coleman:
How about the landlord doing the donation? I think it makes more sense.
I’m not saying that they should or shouldn’t donate at all.
@Peter: absolutely Peter…it doesn’t matter who makes the donation but maybe Disney might provide an akruistic and life lesson for their target audience, the children thats what i was aiming at but i do take ur point.
@sinead foley-coleman: altruistic even!!!
I haven’t read the article. I just went straight to the comments and I can tell you I’m outraged at whatever it was on about. Is that the correct position to adopt? I hope I’m right.
@Tom Tom:
No, no.. let me change your mind…
….
….
Did it work?
@Peter: You know what? I never thought about it like that. Thanks man. I totally get it now!
As a family we went into Eyre Square tonight to see the twinkly Christmas lights, the decorations and the amazing array of gifts with the fabulous aroma of mulled wine and lovely foods on offer. We were all feeling festive and full of the joys of the season as we turned onto shop street and the surrounding area. Door after door filled with bundles of rags, many of which contained some poor human being, a couple snuggled into a few duvets, an elderly lady wrapping her two little dogs in a blanket before wrapping herself in cardboard, a young lad of our sons age resting his head on his knees and on and on ….none of them begged or even made eye contact. We came home feeling deflated and ashamed that in this day and age such desperation still exists. Jesus people you would need a swinging brick for a heart….i acknowledge that some cauae problems and are threatening which is not on but they are human…who knows..someday it could be one of our own family….utterly depressing.
A company built on racist undertones, this doesn’t surprise me.
@Ananya Sharma: have the homeless around to your house to leave needless, threaten you and take a dump outside your door so. Sounds good?
@Ron Kingston: The homeless are not needless, they have needs,that’s why they’re homless.
@Ron Kingston: so.. you’re saying that 100% of those sleeping on the streets are druggies, is that right?
@Ananya Sharma: bloodysick of the word racist..the Irish are not racist..anything but..have given over last 50 years to every badly off country in the world.more than most-have…we are not in a position at the moment to help others..as our own sons and daughters cannot get accommodation..and if there landlord decides to sell .they are homeless..only not because of war.or drugs or drink..but because that’s the economic situation at the moment..so any Irish person who things we are racist is wrong..just looks GOOD..the situation is out of control and needs to stop..the house is full no vacancies..bloody hell.i have no home .I’ll have a hotel.which would you like..the Gresham..and as for Disney paying to house druggies.rinse your mouth out.they won’t take a bed..they give jobs..
@Shirley Hollingsworth: I said Disney was, they’re not an Irish company as far as im aware.
No one should be abused trying to enter or leave work or have to pick their way through or pick up excrement and / or drug paraphernalia.
That being said some people are homeless because of addictions others become addicts due to homelessness (fear and misery of living in the street with all its attendant threats).
While defecation in public is repugnant for all concerned unlike public urination it is not illegal, using door ways and public streets as toilets at night is an inevitable consequence of closing most of Dublin’s public toilets.
I have worked in Dublin city center on swing shifts for years and have had to navigate around people sheltering in doorways to get out but there has never been an occasion when the homeless people were abusive or threatening, they have usually nervous of being moved on, they are very vulnerable to abuse and violence.
There are no winners in this story just victims.
Let it go.They are Frozen.
A shame. Shouldn’t have to do this, but staff and customer’s safety is priority I guess. FG failing us time and time again
Of course you wouldn’t sant homeless people sleeping in your doorway. It’s uncomfortable for staff and also looks shit for customers.
Disgusting! Being homeless is no joke. If they don’t want people on the streets in front of their store, why don’t they contribute to a charity that will help these people with social housing or medical aid. It’s not like they can’t afford it…
@Jen Sandford: la la land suggestion…. very practical we’ll done
@Tony Henry: It’s a perfectly fair suggestion. That a large billion dollar corporation have a more socially responsible focused outlook.
What’s wrong with that?
@Shazam37: They are providing jobs here directly and indirect and you want them to assist with sorting the city’s homeless problem…. that’s some logic
@Jen Sandford:
Why shouldn’t the landlord do it?
Why should the landlord do it?
If there was a gate up the entire time, it wouldn’t have cost them anything in donations.
Michael Collins Would turn in his Grave What FG Corruption Party Have done this Country Homeless Children have No Homes Why Would any God Loving Person Buy from Disney after this Vile Act on Homeless People
Why is this in the news, only to try and make the occupiers and owners of the building look bad. Pathetic . Perhaps they should withdraw paying the rates to Dublin CC until they are allowed to protect their property . How on earth did that head banger get into a Council ? Not like he’s achieving anything.
They should get Mickey Mouse out to knock the b***ox out of them…
This the problem with the yanks. They want to spread their vile way of life around the world
THAY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEIR HEAVEN HANDED APPROACH AS WHEN THE Disney family had to leave their home in Carlow southern Ireland thay were glad of some where to rest and take refuge
There not affecting business are they.
Oh unless your open 24 hours
Cop on
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