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Updated at 4pm
A MURAL READING ‘Repeal the 8th’ has been removed from the front wall of the Project Arts Centre in Dublin this afternoon.
The artwork, by street artist Maser, was commissioned by The Hunreal Issues, a new website set up to promote women’s issues.
It has proven controversial since its unveiling almost three weeks ago – attracting some 50 complaints. The centre has also received more than 200 messages of support, and a spokesperson said this morning that there had been an increase in the number of support messages regarding the display in recent days.
According to a statement from the Project Arts Centre:
We have taken the decision to remove the mural artwork by celebrated street artist, Maser, painted on the front of our building, after receiving a warning notice from Dublin City Council Planning Department that the work is in violation of the Planning & Development Acts (2000-2015).
Project Arts Centre Artistic Director Cian O’Brien said in the statement that the centre had had “an astonishing response” to the artwork.
“I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the conversation around this important topic,” O’Brien said.
I in no way wish to censor or silence an artist; I respect the legal position that the DCC Planning Office is in and the parameters within which they are working.
He said it was the first time the centre had been presented with a planning notice for a painted artwork on the front of its building on East Essex Street in Temple Bar.
He added:
Project Arts Centre is complying with the planning notice and has removed this artwork. We look forward to working through official channels with Maser and The HunReal Issues to explore the possibility of re-installing this work as soon as possible.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said that class 12 of schedule two in part one of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 “exempts the painting of the external part of any building or other structure from requiring planning permission”.
The exemption does not necessarily apply to any structure included on the council’s record of protected structures.
However, the painting may not be for the purposes of creating a mural and the legislation applies to buildings in private ownership.
They added that: “Murals and other artistic designs require planning permission when applied to the external part of any structure.”
An online petition set up by The HunReal Issues on www.change.org to support the mural has been signed by over 3,000 people.
Opposition
Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said in a statement that the right decision had been taken, and described the mural as “highly political”.
It had, she said, “everything to do with campaigning and nothing to do with art”.
“The claims by some that its removal represents censorship are laughable,” Sherlock said.
“The Project Arts Centre should belong to everyone and not have such a close-minded attitude on what constitutes freedom of expression.
“In its current make up, there is not the slightest chance that it would have allowed, for example, a mural being placed on its building giving voice to women’s feelings of abortion regret.
It is issues like this that deserve proper attention given the absurd and unacceptable way the Project Arts Centre has behaved in recent weeks.
The mural was removed before lunchtime today. However, since then, a display reading ‘Repeal 8th’ has appeared in a window in a building right across from its former site.
8th Amendment
The 8th Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1983 was effected after a referendum that year which asked Irish people to vote on the State’s abortion laws.
It acknowledges the right to life of the unborn, equating it with the mother’s right to life.
The Cabinet last month approved plans for a Citizens’ Assembly to address abortion and other issues, with the 100 member group due to hold its first meeting in November.
It’s a NO from me!
“STRIVE TO SUPPORT”
” DURABLE RELATIONSHIP”
Apart from the legal eagles that must love this vague nonsense ( lime a €€ jackpot )there’s nothing in there to say me to the yes side.
A BIG NO/NO from me
@Ken Mc Carthy: ‘sway’ me!!! even
@Ken Mc Carthy: How about ‘lime a €€ jackpot’? Some kind of code?
@Brendan O’Brien: hey hey…. I was waiting on the ‘dyslexia’ mocking— 4 minutes!!! U getting slow
@Ken Mc Carthy: You’re saying you have dyslexia?
@Brendan O’Brien: it doesn’t bother me one iota/ never hindered my career or life— its other small minded idiots that seem to have the problem with it!
@Ken Mc Carthy: I’ll stick to mocking your hero-worship of Trump and such things in future.
What qualifies as durable?
@George Vladisavljevic: no idea but you have to ‘strive to support’ it
@George Vladisavljevic: Well, you could have a durable relationship with your doctor, dog, grocer or your local handyman!
@George Vladisavljevic: Thomas Byrne FF on upfront with Katie Hannon Monday night was asked this in a debate with peader Tobin of Aontu, he hadn’t got a jot and tried bluffing his way through the answer, Tobin ran rings around him.
@Seanie: I was watching that……like seriously……Thomas byrne was the best they could put ‘out to bat’?? Tobin didn’t even have to try very hard…….. byrne scored plenty of own goals
@George Vladisavljevic: the durable bunny
(Vote NO) to this lieing government they have gone rogue deliberately trying to feed misinformation to the Irish people to get a yes vote it NO .and if they try to get it passed a second time it will be NO again.
I think this referendum will very well display that the loud, vocal, right wing commentary as seen in the comments section of the journal are not at all representative of the views of the general population. It’s all, no/no on here but this referendum will easily pass.
Empty can makes most noise!
@Soundy Sound: if it does easily pass I would be very worried for the critical thinking of the nation.
I don’t see it passing but it depends on the profile of the turnout. Unfortunatly we have ppl who will just vote for whatever the govt say without looking at what being asked to vote for.
Your constitution is the last protection against government overreach. Unless you are 100% certain of what the change will cause it should always be a no vote.
When you can’t define durable it opens potential legal chaos for absolutly no reason at all.
Senator Michael McDowell have all spoken very well on this as an ex min for justice and AG he is very well placed to do so. An honest man in my view.
I would urge anyone unsure to look at his 8 page document on it and why it should be No/No.
@Soundy Sound: were you not watching the news last night? no side zero coverage, obviously a governmental ploy.
@Soundy Sound: more likely than not this referendum will pass as its got all government parties pushing it, a quango set up & paid to push it ( electoral commission), media fully behind the government mantra of a ‘yes’ vote & the ( not even) subtle dictat that if we don’t bring in the correct result we’ll have to go again. The legal profession see this as a goldmine for sure but you’re wild accusation of labeling anyone who opposes this being rammed through as the ‘far right’ just once again shows how that term ( far right) has become so diluted & misused as to make it a worthless insult
@R B: I just do with what the govt demand us to do!
@Éanna o Sca: I just do the opposite of what gov demand us to do*
@Ken Mc Carthy: A Trump supporter balking at the term ‘far right’ – LOL etc.
@R B: what critical thinking, a nation of sheep it is.
@Brendan O’Brien: hi Kevin….adults are talking here…. give mommy back her phone
@Soundy Sound: if it does pass don’t bother with the mother’s day card after voting the only mention of her out of the constitution a big NO/NO from me
@R B: Senator McDowell on YouTube also. He’s excellent
Voting no to both
Sinn fein will re run it if they get into government if the Yes vote fails to go through….They reckon they can reword it to sway a Yes vote
@Mark Rooney: well, there’s something to be said for that approach….. the vague makey uppy present wording is wide open to different interpretations & legal challenges. A bit of clarity would go a long way to swaying me over to the government mantra (a ‘yes’ vote)
@Mark Rooney: Sinn Féin are doing their best to not be in government. They are the worst opposition party I have ever seen.
What if your relationship on durex?
have your say