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FROM THE OUTSIDE the Barricade Inn is an unassuming building on a similarly nondescript part of the capital’s Parnell Street.
Surrounded by a mixture of traditional Dublin pubs and modern Asian eateries, the stretch provides an unlikely home for Ireland’s best known Anarchist social centre.
But inside, the disused space which occupies the site of the former Neary’s hotel, is used to house people, fundraising events, educational classes and even a bike repair workshop.
But the future is uncertain for the Barricade Inn collective after the owners of the building, which has been vacated for over a decade, decided to seek a High Court injunction in a bid to put the young activists out on the street.
The High Court case against the group was adjourned last week but the legal battle continues in front of a judge on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the Barricade Inn collective Ferdia O’Brien has branded the decision to evict the group a ‘disgrace’.
“People are extremely frustrated by this decision,” he told TheJournal.ie.
“Aside from acting as a social centre, the building provides a home to anything from 10 to 20 people who now will have nowhere to go.
“Given the fact that the city is already facing a homeless crisis, this is extremely upsetting.”
Aside from providing a safe place for some of the city’s homeless, the centre also plays host to a vegan cafe and holds regular educational classes for a donation fee.
“When we found the building it had fallen into disrepair but we fixed it up and made it useful for people again.
As a group we put a huge amount of effort, time and money into improving the space and now looks like we are going to lose it.All we want to do is put this disused space to good use and make the city a better place.
As the legal row rumbles on the Barricade collective have released an official statement outlining the the group’s objectives and concerns:
“As well as a social centre, the Barricade is many people’s home, people who are threatened with homelessness if this injunction is granted,” it reads.
“But we want more than just a roof above our heads, we want homes for everybody. We want an end to rent hikes and property speculation, and a truly free public space in the city for people to gather.
“We want a society based on freedom and solidarity, and will keep fighting for that no matter what.”
So far the building’s owners have refused to specify what a post-Barricade future would mean for the premises.
But O’Brien is suspicious about what the property owners are willing to provide for the city centre community.
“The building lay untouched for the past 13 years and ultimately fell into a state of disrepair,” he said.
There are rumours that the owners may wish to sell it but it seems odd that they would sell it now despite hanging onto the premises throughout the property boom.
In court the owners claim that they want us out for our own safety but that is complete nonsense as we’ve improved the standards of the building since we moved in.
The Barricade Inn is just one of a growing number of squatted premises in the capital, with similar setups existing in other cities such as Galway and Cork.
There is currently no specific law criminalising squatting in Ireland but squatters are sometimes brought before the court on other charges including trespassing.
Activists claim that the spaces are necessary to tackle the country’s growing housing shortage and provide a preferred alternative to vacant and derelict buildings.
Homeless
Latest figures from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) show that there are over 607 families in homeless accommodation in Dublin – more than double the same time last year.
Meanwhile charities estimate than there are more than 100 people sleeping rough on Dublin’s streets on any given night.
Despite the bleak outlook for the Barricade Inn, O’Brien believes that the squatting scene in Dublin is beginning to flourish.
“We’ve had people coming here from abroad to visit Dublin because they have heard that the squatting scene is starting to grow here.
I think what is most important is that we introduce squatting to a broader range of people. Thankfully the word is starting to get out and people are starting to take notice. Right now we have a situation where there are thousands of people without proper housing and yet we have thousands of empty properties. Squatting is a practical solution to tackle the country’s housing crisis.
Earlier this year, activists took over the site of the disused Bolton House homeless hostel which closed in 2011.
The group, which aimed to use the building to house those in need, were evicted by Dublin City Council just weeks later.
Meanwhile 30 squatting activists were also evicted from a site at Dublin’s Grangegorman this summer.
The group had used the site as a living space and social centre for more than a year before being evicted.
As for the future of the Barricade Inn?
“If we are evicted on Wednesday, there is no doubt that squatting in Dublin will continue and in one form or another – The Barricade Inn will be back.” O’Brien added.
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Of all EU countries, Ireland will feel negative impact of Brexit the most – Probably true
Of all EU countries, Ireland will feel positive impact of Brexit the most – Also, arguably true
And arguably the positive effects of Brexit for Ireland will be greater than any short term negative effects, provided we build the required office space and homes. It will also be very healthy for our exporters to try to diversify and quit the ridiculous over-reliance on the UK, especially for agriculture.
I really can’t wait for Enda to reveal all the preparations they’ve been making. Firstly he tells the UK to do nothing and take their time before starting the exit process. 10 days later he’s demanding they go as soon as possible. Go figure Ladies and Gentlemen.
Whatever preparations Angela tells him to
2 years preparing my hole
And 6 months ago when he was asked about Irish contingencies in the event of brexit he said we don’t envisage that happening
Clearly none of you understand contingency planning
@David thomas: Merkel was very supportive of Ireland last week after Enda spoke to her. Fact if you care to look beyond your prejudice.
Fred Johnson for Taoiseach!!
He obviously knows more than the rest of us.
Oh wait, Build build build, now where have I heard that before?
Ah to hell with it if we don’t build we might as well go and commit suicide!!
Oh wait where have I heard that before?
Fred……………………..are you a soldier of destiny?
The UK is already feeling the heat from China over the Hinckley power station deal. If the UK pulls out they can kiss goodbye to any trade deals with China for a very long time.
My heart bleeds for Irish industry – Puttin on the poor face as usual – lowering wage increase expectation – They should be looking on the positives.
Ireland.
The donkeys of the EU.
Hope we have a Taoiseach with a backbone by the time negotiations begin..would anyone really trust bellenda to put the people first?
The Germans, the country most heavily invested in continuing the EU project, think leaving the EU will have negative consequences?
There’s a surprise.
Whinger
FG say they have prepared… Joke…
Such negativity of Irish media doesn’t help at all. Stop complaining and try to be more positive by proposing alternatives!!! World is not going to end as BREXIT happens!
A lot of the negativity is coming from the Irish people
German think thank eh?.
OH FOR GOD SAKE. can we move on please???
for cods hake!!
Totally agree Steve. .Kenny has been charging around like a headless chicken since the UK vote. He’s waffling on about the UK being our biggest export market .In fact the US is our largest export market and has been for several years. The UK actually slipped to third briefly just before Christmas as Belgium temporarily became our second largest market due to a high level of pharmaceutical exports just before Christmas.
Point being, If our Largest export market is outside the EU and always has been , whats the problem with the UK being outside the EU, Obviously the Stg collapse makes exports to the UK a little more expensive .However that’s the same for all competitors exporting to the UK. Unfortunately Kenny is living in the seventies when the UK accounted for around 75% of our exports. Somebody please tell him that’s not the case now and stop panicking.
I’d say Michael noonans delighted. Sure just tax us more and do whatever Germany say. In fact don’t even mention it to them, and if they ask just say we’re grand.
Yeah the only reason we shouldnt see the benefits is cos the state is ran like a 1% appeasing cesspit, also we cant seem to put the money into the right office space. People are waking up to how we were all shafted. I’ll say it again ‘Lisbon for jobs’ now all together now…
Enda will do anything like taking europes 42% banking debt to please his master merkel. Irish political class are eurofiles that sold out Irish fishing oil and gas to europe. UK exit shows up the Irish political class are clueless and need people like David McWilliams to lead the discussions on brexit.
We export 85% poultry products; 65% dairy; 50% beef – to the UK.
Because the UK has no EU benefit from buying from us, they are seeking other sources – the Commonwealth etc.
First thing we must do is replace them – and find new end users, as this future market (our biggest) is now extremely uncertain.
Enda and his team have that all covered. Didn’t you read the article? They’ve been preparing for two years!!
A lot of exports and imports are overblown. If we increase processing in Ireland there is a lot more profit with reduced exports and imports. The EU will likely subsidise such changes as part of the exit plan if borders are closed.
I can’t believe we’re still talking about Brexit. That was like ages ago. Me and my fellow progressives are now about to raise the important issue of sexy Halloween costumes and how they’re problematic.
Beach – you just going as your miserable self again?
No one more miserable than yourself
What are you – hot in a bank?
Please stop the fear mongering Propaganda.
The eu should, despite comments they would not, make special case of Ireland -so directly affected. They should have sorted out some issues and ensured some funding and border details immediately.
I think at minimum, we should demand that one of the two EU agencies based in the UK (European Medicines Agency & European Banking Authority) be relocated to Ireland. Simon Harris has at least been making the right noises about the European Medicines Agency, although perhaps not forcefully enough.
If we could bring in some well-paid jobs, it would at least offset some of the negative impact and while only some of the staff would be Irish, they would still be spending in the local economy, and visitors would be occupying hotel rooms and eating in restaurants etc.
A German think tank of psychics who have been proven to have the ability to see the future?
Enda will sort it out,we will be OK.now where did I put my passport,bye.
We moan and grown about the EU. Yet we asked to join it – knowing the club rules, and our role in it’s operations/governance – and even were happy to go on a waiting list with other applying members…
Ireland should leave the EU and claim back our gas and fishing rights but thr obvious roadblock of course would be irish politicians who have shafted the Irish people going back to De Valera’s time
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