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  • Comedian Vittorio Angelone kicks off Irish leg of extended tour with Vicar Street gig 

    Comedian Vittorio Angelone kicks off Irish leg of extended tour with Vicar Street gig 

    By Gary Petrov

    Stand-up comedian Vittorio Angelone is kicking off the Irish leg of his extended sell-out tour with a gig in Dublin’s Vicar Street on November 3.

    Vittorio Angelone during one of his stand-up shows. Photo: @vittorioangelone and @nicomedyofficial 

    The sell-out ‘Who Do You Think You Are? I am!’ tour saw the Irish-Italian comedian bring his humour to UK and Irish cities with 68 gigs between January and May 2024. 

    Angelone announced on Instagram earlier this year that he was extending his tour into the Autumn with “loads of new places” and “loads of old favourites” across the UK and Ireland. 

    His upcoming Irish leg of the extended tour commencing in Dublin on November 3 will mark his second solo gig this year in the Irish capital’s Thomas Street comedy house – as he hosted one of his tour’s original 68 gigs here on March 22, this year. 

    Angelone also hosted a fundraiser show ‘Gig For Palestine’ in Vicar Street with fellow comedian Mike Rice on September 1, this year, for NGO Medical Aid for Palestinians. 

    The Dublin stop is one of 13 in Ireland for his extended tour’s dates. 

    The City reached out to Vittorio Angelone for a comment regarding the 13 Irish dates for his extended tour in which he said, “Ireland isn’t full but my tour shows will be. Get your tickets now!” 

    November stops on the tour in Ireland after his Dublin gig include – Cork on November 4 (The Everyman), Ballymena on November 8 (The Braid), Coleraine on November 9 (Riverside Theatre), Belfast on November 11 (Ulster Hall), Derry on November 12 (Millennium Forum), Bangor on November 15 (Court House), Killarney on November 16 (INEC Club), and Sligo on November 17 (Hawk’s Well). 

    Running into December, his Irish stops conclude with Westport on December 7 (Town Hall), Galway on December 8 (Kings Head), Dundalk on December 12 (Spirit Store) and Kilkenny on December 14 (Watergate Theatre). 

    The City spoke to avid fan of Angelone, Terri-Ann McNally, who said, “I used to see clips of him on social media all the time, so I ended up going to see him earlier this year, which he was truly unreal!”

    “I’m going to one of his shows again now in November. I mean, he’s just gas with what he comes out with. It’s going to be a great laugh,” she said. 

    Growing up in Belfast, the comedian, both of Irish and Italian heritage moved to London to train as a classical musician before diverting towards a career as a funny man. 

    Angelone has made several TV appearances since his career in stand-up began and has also supported several huge names including Russell Howard, Jason Manford, Adam Rowe, Shane Todd, and Dan Nightingale. 

    In 2022, his debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was a sell-out and earned him the award for Best Newcomer at the Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. 

    Vittorio Angelone at the Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2022. Photo: @vittorioangelone 

    In 2023, Angelone toured his solo-show ‘Translations’ after his 2022 debut during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and released the full special on YouTube in September of the same year. 

    English stand-up comedian Adam Rowe, who Angelone has been a supporting act for, called Angelone “so much better than he has any right to be at this stage of his career.” 

    “If you’ve already seen Translations don’t worry, I’m touring a brand new hour of great and funny stuff very soon,” Angelone said on his website of his debut tour and what’s to come. 

    Angelone is one half of the podcast ‘Mike and Vittorio’s Guide to Parenting’ with regular collaborator and comedian Mike Rice – and their podcast is available to listen to on YouTube and streaming platforms. 

    You can keep up with everything Vittorio Angelone by visiting his website, here. 

    Tickets prices for ‘Who Do You Think You Are? I Am!’ range from €20-€30 depending on the venue and additional ticket vendor booking fees apply. 

  • TU Dublin feeling the rise in violence happening in Dublin. 

    TU Dublin feeling the rise in violence happening in Dublin. 

    By Mia Waterhouse

    In recent months the violence in Dublin City Centre has been top of the news agenda and it seems that violence has reached the university TU Dublin’s campus.  

    TU Dublin president, Professor David Fitzpatrick, wrote directly to the minister for justice Helen McEntee, appealing for more security around the campus for the safety of all students and staff.  

    In the letter earlier this year to then minister for justice Simon Harris, Fitzpatrick wrote to report about the anti-social behaviour and the lack of safety for students, “we have received reports that the response is slow and are also constrained by the fact that the University’s Estates and Security team cannot respond to off-campus incidents.” 

    The incidents have not been one-off attacks but have been regularly happening at the Broadstone Luas stop just outside campus.

    Luas tram in Dublin City Centre. Image: Louis Hansel/Unsplash.com

    “The Union has received increasing reports of anti-social behaviour in the Broadstone Plaza, right beside the Broadstone Luas stop, as well as the ‘main entrance’ to our Grangegorman Campus. Students do not feel safe entering and leaving the campus, particularly in the evening time,” said Brian Jordan, president of TU Dublin Students’ Union.

    The attacks have also appeared to not be random students from the college as there has been a racial element. While it appears that ‘nobody is safe’, there appears to be a distinct racial element to many of the incidents. It’s also very possible from what I’ve heard and seen that these students are targeted specifically because of their race and/or ethnicity. Several victims of attacks here have reported that racial slurs were thrown at them during the incidents for example,” Jordan added.

    With this still going on and no sign of any measures being taken by the college itself, the TU Dublin Students’ Union took matters into their own hands and held a demonstration at the Luas stop.

    TU Dublin Student Union members held a demonstration to send a message to the Government. Source: @tudublinsu

    The union said the reason they held the demonstration was to ‘show solidarity with the students who consistently feel let down by the government’ and the second reason was to apply more pressure on the government and McEntee to coordinate a far better response between the Gardaí, Transport for Ireland (TFI), and TU Dublin.’ 

    “There were several speakers, including myself on behalf of the SU, Nekesa who is our VP for Welfare & Equality, who also happened to be a mature and international student in TU Dublin, several local ‘opposition’ politicians, as well as current students within the University who felt more needs to be done. 

    We received very little communication from the University about steps being taken (an unfortunately common trend). However, after a particularly ‘viral’ incident last semester, media reported that the President of TU Dublin wrote to the then-Justice Minister requesting more policing in the area,” said Jordan.  

    The previous attacks saw some students getting pelted with eggs and racially abused and another getting her hair pulled. This all happened at busy times in the evening when students were waiting at the Luas stop. Witnesses described the offenders as all boys aged around 15 years.  

    When asked what the desired outcome Jordan said, “We want Justice Minister McEntee to provide adequate governmental support to improve the safety of the Broadstone Plaza. This means improving resourcing to policing in that area like more of a garda presence, as well as a collective response from TFI and TU Dublin. It should not be the role of the Union to constantly try to coordinate these stakeholders when we have an incredibly well-paid Government whose role that is.”

  • Focus on peace: Ireland’s pro-Palestine demonstrations  

    Focus on peace: Ireland’s pro-Palestine demonstrations  

    By Leon Thompson

    Ireland’s support during the Gaza crisis has extended following the announcement of €13 million in aid being sent to Palestine.

    Tánaiste Micheál Martin announced the aid in Dáil Éireann as an acknowledgement of the escalated violence in the Middle East. 

    Mr Martin hopes “a lasting and sustainable peace” can be achieved following Israel’s declaration of war on Hamas when Israeli citizens were attacked two weeks ago. Mr Martin has also said the Irish government unequivocally condemns the attacks made by Hamas and expresses their deepest condolences for the Israeli people affected.  

    The Ireland-Palestine Support Campaign (IPSC) is supporting demonstrations nationwide, while the national demonstration to end the slaughters in Gaza will take place in Dublin tomorrow afternoon. 

    Cork, Cavan, Clare, Kerry and Belfast will also see demonstrations tomorrow. 

    The Garden of Remembrance in Dublin 1 should expect demonstrators at 1pm on the 21st of October following IPSC’s announcement saying, “As Apartheid Israel continues pounding the captive and besieged people of Gaza with indiscriminate bombing and gets ready for a full-scale invasion, all with the blessing of Western powers, we ask you to join us at an emergency solidarity rally in support of the Palestinian people.” 

    Crowds are expected to attend while TD Mr Paul Murphy has announced his support and attendance saying, “When does Palestine get the right to defend itself? 75 years of ethnic cleansing and apartheid…17 years of a brutal siege on Gaza…10,000 Palestinians killed in the last 15 years. Stop the slaughter!”

    Demonstrators at a protest. Image: unsplash.ie

    Other counties such as Tipperary and Antrim saw protests yesterday, October 19th while counties such as Louth, Longford, Cork, Down and Armagh will hold more demonstrations throughout the month of October. 

    The last demonstration supported by the IPSC is anticipated for Co.Mayo on the 25th of October. 

    Campaigners were outside of the Dáil on October 18th with Diarmuid Breatnach in attendance calling it “a duty and a pleasure” as he anticipated the outcome of the debate happening inside.  

    In Cork, one demonstrator Patrick Hobbart said: “…it’s deeply distressing to witness the enduring hardships faced by the Palestinian people who have carried the heavy burden of apartheid and colonialism for generations. It’s imperative to acknowledge that Hamas doesn’t speak for all Palestinians. The Israeli government must heed this plea and halt their relentless assault on innocent civilians. In this conflict, there are no victors…the international community must unite to demand an immediate ceasefire.” 

    Kevin Callinan, General Secretary of Fórsa Trade Union echoed Mr Martin’s sentiments, “The killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza by the Israeli government will do nothing to end the occupation and bring about peace,” he said. 

    President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen’s statement declaring “Europe stands with Israel” has led to a lot of pushback from members of the European Parliament (MEP) especially  

    MEP Clare Daly commended protesters that occupied the European Commission’s Office in Dublin saying: “So proud of friends and comrades…currently occupying the European Commission offices in Dublin as we here in Strasbourg go in to vote on a shameful Parliament motion that fails to condemn Israel for its ongoing crimes against humanity in Gaza.”

    Protesters outside of Dublin’s European Commission’s Office. Image: X

    The office was occupied by concerned citizens organised into a group called Dublin for Gaza, with one member Lamia Tadjine saying: “Let us be clear—blood is on the hands, not just of the Israeli military and leadership, but on the hands of those states and institutions who have provided cover for these atrocities, such as the European Union.”

  • “Five percent for the future of Ireland”: Students rally for affordable living 

    “Five percent for the future of Ireland”: Students rally for affordable living 

    By Leonardo Parada Borda

    University students took part in a national demonstration, organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) last Wednesday, where they protested the €65 billion budget surplus the Government is said to accumulate over the next three years. Students nationwide were outraged to hear the surplus would be used for a ‘rainy-day’ fund instead of the cost-of-living crisis. 

    The protest began at the Garden of Remembrance and made its way down to the Dáil with students chanting and singing about the issues they face while studying in higher education. 

    The student-led demonstration was organised to highlight the issues surrounding third-level education and to offer the Government solutions to fix these problems. 

    Brian Jordan, president of the Technological University Dublin’s Student Union said, “This is a national demonstration organised by USI […] The reason we’re protesting is because we’ve seen a lack of student accommodation. The Government has failed to give [students] capital investments, even though that is a clear solution.” 

    “We have a huge amount of private rented accommodation all over Grangegorman. Students are paying up to €1,100 [monthly], and that’s because the university hasn’t built their own accommodation,” he added.

     

    Brian Jordan and the TU Dublin SU at the Garden of Remembrance. Image: @theusi/X

    Environmental science student, Megan Tynan described how stressful it was to find accommodation closer to college. 

    “For my second year, I was commuting an hour and a half from college. By the time you get home, you’re wrecked,” she said. 

    “I was staying at a hostel for a few days during exams because my landlord decided to sell [the accommodation].” 

    “I was staying in a room with nine people, who were all strangers. It affected me negatively because it’s embarrassing to admit that you are struggling to find a place,” she added.

    “It didn’t just fall out of the sky; it did not just happen. It was caused by Government policy.” 

    Dr Rory Hearne, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at Maynooth

    According to the Pre-Budget Submission for the Budget 2024, submitted by USI, 33% of the total student population says they are experiencing serious financial issues. In 2019, that percentage sat at 26%. 

    President of Maynooth University Student Union, Alex Balfe said that “hundreds of students”, many of whom come from Donegal and Cork, are struggling to find accommodation on campus which is not “sustainable” for students. 

    “Students are waking up at five o’clock in the morning for their commute and they’re not getting home until very late in the evening,” Balfe said. 

    “There’s absolutely no accommodation in Maynooth, considering we’re a university town with more students than residents at the moment,” she added. 

    Third-level students march to the Dáil in protest of the accommodation crisis. Image: @rosspjboyd/X

    The latest figures on Funding the Future — a document released by the Government in August 2023, mentioned that full-time student numbers are increasing and are expected to “peak” at 233,000 in 2030. It is also mentioned that there are currently 29,773 “oversubscribed” students who will not get accommodation in the 2023/2024 academic year. 

    The document mentioned that Minister Simon Harris confirmed “Government approval” for a new policy to be introduced that will provide “state assistance” to the “development of new and additional student accommodation for higher education institutions”. 

    The Government also “approved €62 million in additional funding” for 1,072 additional beds in universities like the University of Limerick (UL), Maynooth University (MU), University of Galway (UG), and Dublin City University (DCU). Assessment is still ongoing for all five Technological Universities (TUs). 

    Dr Rory Hearne, an assistant social policy professor at Maynooth said, “The housing crisis is forcing students to drop out of college, forcing them to pay unaffordable rents and to live in hidden homelessness. College days are supposed to be the best days of your life, but now, it’s a nightmare for many students.” 

    “It didn’t just fall out of the sky; it did not just happen. It was caused by Government policy.” 

    “Rents have increased by 100% since 2011, and 60% since 2020. Here’s a radical idea, in Berlin, in 2020, they reduced rents and put a five-year rent freeze in place. Why doesn’t the Government reduce all rents by 20%, back to the level they were in 2020?” Hearne said. 

    In 2021, Berlin’s Mietendeckle — a rent control law in Berlin, was declared ‘unconstitutional’ and was replaced with Mietpreisbremse — a new rent control law that limits how much rent the landlord can ask for. It is also possible to claim money that was overpaid for rent.

    https://videopress.com/v/OmZGtLWU?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
    Video: Elio Bonelli

    President of USI, Chris Clifford said, “How far away from reality is our Taoiseach when students and graduates are leaving the country by the plane load, when students have to decide between food and printing, and when a student’s room is the front seat of their car? That is the reality that this country has created for students.” 

    “We’re looking for the Government to fund the future of this country […] There’s a ‘rainy day’ fund of €65 billion and we’re asking for five percent of that. That five percent reduces waiting lists in hospitals, that five percent means that there’s enough childcare practitioners in this country, and it also means that there are enough civil engineers out there to get these houses, that not only students, but the public are crying out for.” 

    “Five percent for the future of Ireland,” Clifford added.

    https://twitter.com/Farrell_Mairead/status/1709618682211541224
    https://twitter.com/RoryHearneGaffs/status/1709575819440394746
    https://twitter.com/MickBarryTD/status/1709561502011683188
  • Office for Public Works extends consultation period on gigs at the Iveagh Gardens 

    Office for Public Works extends consultation period on gigs at the Iveagh Gardens 

    By Elio Bonelli

    Irish comedians and musicians are speaking out at the prospect of commercial events at the Iveagh Gardens being shut down. 

    According to event organisers and locals in Dublin, a small group of people are campaigning against events being held in The Iveagh Gardens, which is already having a negative effect on the use of this space. There were no clear reasons as to why they were campaigning against them. 

    The Office for Public Works (OPW) is running a consultation into these events happening and will run until Friday, 6 October, having been extended from its original date of 29 September. 

    In the deadline set by the OPW, words of support must be sent to them by this date. 

    Source: Office for Public Works

    Stuart Clark is the Deputy Editor of Hot Press, and he took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his opinion.

    Sharon Mannion is a comedian, actor and improviser and she echoed the same sentiments. 

    “We will definitely miss the events at this venue. It would be such a shame if one of Dublin’s best gigs were to go. The festival here is a highlight for the community and a highlight for comedy.” 

    “It would be a loss for the comedy scene in Ireland if gigs stopped here and what would that mean for us?” she concluded. 

    “I will miss coming here if the gigs are cancelled, especially with how easy it is to get to.”

    Nellie O’Neill, Social care worker

    Nellie O’Neill is a social care worker and has attended events at the Iveagh Gardens at least once a year over the last decade.  

    He said, “The gigs have become part of my summer with a lovely venue in the city centre of Dublin. There is great public transport with great access to the heart of the city.” 

    “The thoughts of that venue not being allowed to run just because some small group of people had other ideas of what this park should be used for, worries me. Stephen’s Green is just over the road and there are no problems there!”

    “I will miss coming here if the gigs are cancelled especially with how easy it is to get to,” he added. 

    In a statement, the Office for Public Works (OPW) said: 

    “A public consultation about how the Iveagh Gardens accommodates all visitors is taking place. This consultation has been extended to Friday, 6 October.”

    “This consultation is inviting all visitors to share their experiences of the gardens and their views on how the gardens are used. We are seeking to gather a wide range of views on how visitors enjoy the Iveagh Gardens to balance the needs of all visitors.” 

    “This is to ensure that all visitors can share their views on our events. The views received will help inform the role this wonderful historic garden plays in Dublin in the coming years,” the statement concluded. 

  • From likes to learning: Irish university launches new social media ‘influencing’ course 

    From likes to learning: Irish university launches new social media ‘influencing’ course 

    By Leonardo Parada Borda

    A new university course in content creation and social media was introduced last week by the South East Technological University (SETU) for people looking to become ‘influencers’.

    The programme (bachelor of arts content creation and social media) will begin in Carlow next September, with applications opening in November this year. 

    Although courses in social media and content creation already exist in Ireland, this course is slightly different. It is the first full-time bachelor’s degree (NFQ Level 7) course in Ireland, with a course duration of three years. 

    Other courses, like the social media marketing courses at University College Dublin (UCD) or the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), offer part-time courses in which you receive a diploma (not on the NFQ) or a certificate (NFQ Level 6) and runs for a duration of three months. 

    So, what makes it different to other courses like social media marketing or journalism? 

    Dr Eleanor O’Leary, the programme director of the course, said that the programme focuses a lot more on practical skills like creative writing, creative video and audio skills, journalism, and crisis management.  

    “The bachelor in content creation and social media is designed to provide students with a broad education to work in front of and behind the camera in digital environments,” she said. 

    Dr O’Leary mentions that the course intends to develop “students’ creativity and individual aesthetic”. 

    “We are also very focused on preparing students for working online and understanding the risks and challenges of operating in this space and the impact on mental health and wellbeing,” she added. 

    “Influencing has grown, and I think it will continue to grow as a form of marketing.”

    Alan Kelly, Social Media Marketing Coordinator at ATU

    With its ever-changing nature, social media poses another obstacle. Influencers must learn how to adapt to the latest trends within the industry to succeed. It’s a way for them to maintain authenticity and address cultural and societal issues. 

    “We stay up to date by working with industry experts, supporting and undertaking research, co-creating our educational offerings with students and industry leaders and reviewing what we offer every year,” Dr O’Leary said.

    Photo by: Carlos Muza/ unsplash.com

    “Having worked in media education for over a decade, you are attuned to the aspects of media industries that change and those that stay the same. Core skills are often consistent over time, and it’s about paying attention to how audiences respond to, utilise, and communicate through new media technologies,” she added. 

    Mr Alan Kelly, the course coordinator for social media marketing at ATU, mentioned that the new course integrates all aspects of marketing, business, and technology into the programme. 

    “I think the degree itself isn’t focused only on influencing, so I think it’s sustainable because it has many aspects,” Kelly said. 

    “Fair play to them. They’re trying to be seen, and by including the words ‘influencer’, they’ve managed to market the programme really well based on that.” 

    “Influencing has grown, and I think it will continue to grow as a form of marketing,” he added. 

    Kelly said the course has a promising future and will ‘continue to evolve and grow’ if there is more emphasis on marketing and business rather than influencing. 

    “I don’t think there will be that many sustainable jobs, I think a lot of people are already there, but I think the course itself offers a lot more than influencing, which I do think is really important.” 

    “You can go out there and be an influencer without doing a course. If you have some decent technical skills, you can look up a YouTube video, but people don’t know enough about the ethical issues and the legal aspects that come with it.” 

    Kelly mentioned that Meta and the virtual world will also help social media influencers stay active and have an additional platform to market themselves. 

    “It will evolve. New platforms have come out. We can look at Meta and the virtual world as an example. Marketing will migrate there, and so will influencers,” he said. 

    “I think there is still that ethical and legal minefield out there […] There will also be people who want to fight with you on social media, and the way they communicate that with you can be terrible. There are going to be problems going forward.”

  • “A cowardly choice” – Motion to accelerate Eviction Ban Bill fails in Dáil  

    “A cowardly choice” – Motion to accelerate Eviction Ban Bill fails in Dáil  

    By Jake Mc Laughlin

    A motion to accelerate the progress of the People Before Profit (PBP) Solidarity Eviction Ban Bill 2022 has failed to pass in the Dáil following a vote on Wednesday evening.  

    The votes were counted at 52-69 against the motion.   

    The bill moved to the committee stage of the Dáil back in February but has not progressed since, prompting PBP to claim that the Government had purposely delayed the bill by not conducting an examination through the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  

    The committee stage involves a section-by-section examination of the bill where amendments may be made by both Government and opposition members. 

    Had the motion passed, the bill would have been automatically moved past the committee stage, bringing it a step closer to becoming state law.  

    The bill seeks to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 by reinstating a ban on no-fault evictions for an “emergency period” of 12 months.  

    Debating the motion on Wednesday morning, PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett said that since the Government lifted the previous temporary eviction ban in March, there has been a large increase in termination notices for tenancies, with 5,735 notices of termination issued from April to June 21, 21% higher than the 4,753 notices of termination in the first quarter of 2023.  

    Mr Boyd Barrett said that current statistics indicated that a large increase in the number of homeless people is likely in the coming winter months, necessitating the urgent reintroduction of an emergency ban.  

    “There is no doubt the Government’s decision to lift the eviction ban has made the situation worse and it is Orwellian that the Government claims this is not the case.” 

    Dáil chart outlining the results of the vote. Source: oireachtas.ie  

    In the same debate, Junior Housing Minister Kieran O’Donnell said that the temporary ban “did not have the desired impact in reducing homelessness numbers”.

    “Any merit in introducing an eviction ban in the short term would be countered in the medium to long term by a significantly reduced housing supply for rent. Landlords would continue to exit the market and the signal would be to avoid any further investment in the sector,” he said.  

    “At the crux of everything we do is the need to increase the supply of housing. Introducing an eviction ban would not do that,” he added. 

    Mr Boyd Barrett said that although people continued to enter homelessness during the temporary ban, “the vast majority of those did so because they had received notice to quit prior to the introduction of the temporary ban”.

    He added that despite Government arguments suggesting an eviction ban would encourage landlords to leave the market, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) had recorded a seven percent increase in privately rented homes between April 2016 and April 2022.  

    CSO statistics were noted to conflict with numbers put forward by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) which stated that tenancies registered from 2017 to 2021 fell by almost 12 percent. 

    The RTB has said that differences in data collection methods are a primary reason behind the contrasting statistics, with the CSO adding that census data is generally completed by tenants, whereas RTB registrations are made by the landlord. 

    Considering the conflicting data, Mr Boyd Barrett said that the differing figures are a result of institutional investors and landlords failing to register with the RTB.  

    After the vote, Mr Boyd Barrett took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to protest the result describing it as “A cowardly choice” made by the Government.  

    Source: @RBoydBarrett on X

    As of June 2023, 12,600 individuals were recorded accessing emergency accommodation. Almost 4,000 of those were under the age of 18, according to a report issued by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage.  

    Data table supplied by Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage   

    Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin claims that current homelessness figures fail to include individuals in domestic violence refuges, direct provision or those sleeping in hostels funded by religious orders.  

    “It does not even begin to contemplate the unknown number of people who are hidden homeless and are forced to sofa surf or sleep in overcrowded, cramped or unsuitable conditions with family and friends,” he said.  

    “Even if you take those initial categories, the real level of adults and children in emergency accommodation tonight is somewhere closer to 18,000.”

  • Lost and Left Behind: The Ongoing Struggle with Homelessness in Ireland

    Lost and Left Behind: The Ongoing Struggle with Homelessness in Ireland

    by Alla Pavlutska

    Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

    Homelessness is an issue that has been plaguing many countries around the world, and Ireland is no exception. Despite efforts by various organisations, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the country has continued to rise. In March 2023, a new report was released that shed light on the current state of homelessness in Ireland. TheCity will explore the key findings of the report, the factors contributing to the issue, and the measures being taken to address it. It will also delve into the lived experiences of those affected by homelessness and the impact it has on their lives.

    According to the latest report from the Department of Housing, the number of people accessing emergency accommodation in the country decreased slightly in February to 11,742 – a drop of 12 individuals compared to the previous month. However, it was a 23% increase over a year – from 9,492 in February 2022. 

    A total of 8,369 adults and 3,373 children were living in emergency accommodation during the week of 20 to 26 February. There were 1,599 families, of which 876 (55 per cent) were headed by single parents.

    The figure includes 5,057 Irish citizens, 1,862 European Economic Area / UK citizens and 1,450 non-EEA citizens. 

    “In Dublin, where over 70% of the homeless population reside, the number of people in emergency accommodation actually increased in February 2023,” says Caoimhe O’Connell, spokesperson for the Dublin Simon Community.

    She explains that the reason for this is a lack of supply. As people continue to fall into homelessness, fewer and fewer are exiting, causing a blockade in the emergency accommodation system.

    “People are spending longer than ever before stuck in emergency accommodation due to the chronic lack of social and affordable housing, which is robbing people of their futures as sustained periods in emergency accommodation negatively impact the physical and mental health,” she says.

    Kenny Eivers, a Secret Street Tours guide who spent a decade living on the streets of Dublin, is convinced that the statistics are inaccurate and that the number of homeless people is higher than reported.

    “The government is not doing much [to solve this problem],” he claims. “They’re building new hotels and offices, but they’re not building apartments that people can afford. You won’t be able to pay three and a half grand a month to rent a two-bedroom apartment. It’s crazy.

    “I think we need to look at Norway and Finland. These countries have a lot better [fight homelessness] strategy. Whereas over here, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.”

    Housing for All

    Despite Mr Eivers’ criticism, the Housing for All plan launched in September 2021 reveals that measures have been put in place to deal with the homelessness crisis. The plan aims to ensure that everyone in Ireland has access to a secure and affordable home and has set a target of delivering 300,000 new homes by 2030.

    The latest report shows that over 20,000 new social houses were built for the first three quarters of 2022. Furthermore, the building commenced on almost 21,000 between January and September last year.

    Eviction ban

    An eviction ban was in place during the winter emergency period from 30 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. It had been introduced as a temporary measure to provide relief for renters and homeless services. However, a bill aimed at extending this ban until 31 January 2024 was rejected by the Government.  

    One Man’s Journey to Overcoming Adversity

    Kenny Eivers told TheCity that he had been struggling with addiction for a long time.

    “I started off with alcohol at the age of 11,” he says. “I couldn’t stop, no matter what. If I took drugs, I just took more than everybody else. In my late teens, I found heroin. Eventually, when you’re on heroin, you either end up in homeless services or in prison.”

    Subsequently, the latter happened to him. However, he is sure that it saved his life.

    “If I hadn’t ended up in prison, I would have been dead. That’s how some of us survive. It’s crazy because you don’t really do drugs there. You just eat healthily and go to the gym.”

    There are people, though, who “did not make it to prison”. This is what Mr Eivers remembers about the worst day of his life.

    “It happened around 14 years ago. I was in a hostel. My friend and I bought heroin and used it. Then I woke up, and he didn’t. He overdosed.”

    However, serving time in prison had an unfortunate consequence. Upon his release, Mr Eivers found himself without a place to call home, effectively rendering him homeless.

    “I kept on overdosing all the time, purposely trying to kill myself, and then I kept on being found by paramedics. The last time it happened, I woke up in Beaumont Hospital. There was a guy in the bed next to me, who was dying of cancer. He had a breathing machine. I was left lying there for about six hours. Basically, I was listening to his last breaths, and something inside my head just clicked and said I couldn’t go on like this. It was my rock bottom. I decided there that I would change.”

    It was a long journey for Mr Eivers. He had to recover, put in a lot of effort to improve himself, and practice before he eventually became a guide. Currently, he provides tours, using his own past experiences of being homeless to bring attention to the issue.

    Root Causes of Homelessness

    There are various reasons why people have nowhere to live. According to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, the most popular are:

    • Shortage of housing supply
    • Low income
    • Unemployment
    • Mental health problems
    • Addiction

    Words You Should Never Say

    “I’ve experienced when people asked me, ‘Why don’t you go out and steal?’” says Mr Eivers. “I’ve spent years robbing and stealing, and I don’t want to go back to prison again.”

    You don’t look homeless

    “I was begging, and a guy came up to me and went, ‘Why are you doing that? You have a pair of €250 runners [Nike Air Max].’ I said these runners were given to me. I didn’t avoid them, and they’re actually fake.”

    Why don’t you stay in a shelter?

    “Sometimes it’s safer on the streets than in a hostel. You can have ten people in a room. Then, you wake up, and your stuff is gone. You get robbed or even beaten up.”  

    Get a job

    “People think we’re all the same. But they don’t know that some people who are homeless were abused as kids and have childhood trauma, addiction, or mental health issues. You can’t just get a job if you have mental health issues. You need to work on yourself. It’s not straightforward.”

    How to Interact with People Experiencing Homelessness

    There are a lot of stereotypes about people affected by homelessness. However, Kenny Eivers says they can be the nicest people you’ve ever met. “Some are very good artists, musicians, painters, rappers,” he says. “You can offer to buy them coffee, tea or cigarettes. If you don’t have money, just be polite. You don’t even have to say words, only acknowledge and smile. A smile makes someone’s day.”

  • Rory’s Stories talks mental health

    Rory O’ Connor, author of the bestselling book Rory’s Story, delivered a seminar on Monday aimed at tackling mental health stigma to TU Dublin students.

    Known as Rory’s Stories on social media, Mr O’Connor is a prominent advocate for mental health in Ireland today, serving as brand ambassador for the Construction Industry Federation.

    During his talk at Blanchardstown Campus, he shared details about his own struggles and experiences to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

    “When I was a young fella my cousin took his own life completely out of the blue, had everything going for him from the outside world but obviously he didn’t feel that internally. 

    “This is why mental health and suicide prevention is so important and trying to find ways to combat it.

    Speaking about a particularly low point in his life, Mr O’Connor said “In 2013, I hit rock bottom. The club I adored playing for were knocked out of the championship, when we were favourites to win.

    “I took that to heart, the next day I went into Dublin and spent all day in the bookies and pubs, running away from my problems.

    “I put my last 200€ on a roulette table in a casino and lost it in minutes. I should have really said to my friends I was going to go off gambling, but that’s the thing with addiction, you never want to admit it.”

    Since then, Rory has built a career doing what he loves, producing comedic skits and performing stand-up routines, while doing more to improve his mental health.

    “I met with Gerry Cooney from the Rutland Centre, he told me how my addictive personality could be used on a positive platform like some of the most successful people in the world.

    “I made a Rory’s Stories Facebook account in 2014, where I started to do sketches of the GAA and these started to go viral very quickly. That’s where Rory’s Stories came from.”.

    “I can’t emphasise how important exercise is for your mental health, along with talking about the good days and bad days.”

  • Vacancy reports lack correct ‘classification and consistency’ says TU Dublin Planning professor

    A planning professor has called for a consistent definition of vacancy and dereliction across all stakeholders as “fit for purpose data has not been achieved”.

    The Residential Buildings Report by GeoDirectory found that the number of vacant properties in Q4 of 2021 represented 4.4% of the national housing stock.

    In comparison, the Census Vacancy report shows 166,000 vacant properties in Ireland, with 48,000 dwellings recorded as vacant since 2016, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

    Helen Murray O’Connor of the School of Transport Engineering, Environment & Planning at TU Dublin has called for ‘stronger definition and classification’ when preparing reports on dereliction and vacancy. 

    “These reports are authoritative and statutory sources of data, but we need to look at what definitions they are using,” she said. 

    GeoDirectory says their database distinguishes between a ‘dwelling’ which is a single residential unit as opposed to a ‘building’ which can comprise one or more dwellings”, the Residential Building Report predominantly focused on individual ‘dwellings’.

    In comparison, the CSO, who deems a vacant dwelling as “classed as vacant by census enumerators if it is unoccupied on Census night, is not used as a holiday home and is not usually inhabited by occupants who are temporarily absent at the time of the census”.

    The Census definition of a vacant dwelling is a point-in-time indicator taken on Census night as to whether the property was inhabited or not on Sunday 03 April 2022.

    The GeoDirectory report contained a range of variables on residential dwellings such as address point for each dwelling and building type, dwellings by building type (detached, semi-detached, terraced, duplexes, bungalows, temporary), there was no separate classification for apartments, but GeoDirectory defines an apartment as a dwelling which exists in a building of 5 or more dwelling and buildings under construction. 

    “Although both the Census and GeoDirectory’s databases are thorough and useful data, I do not think there’s consistency in it as we don’t know what they are measuring and what they are counting,”

    “There needs to be a consistent definition between vacancy and dereliction across all researchers, publishers, county councils, and government departments to achieve truly fit-for-purpose data”, O’Connor said. 

    Reports findings 

    According to the report, the counties with the highest rates of vacant properties were Leitrim (13.3%), Mayo (11.9%) and Roscommon (11.6%). Dublin had the lowest vacancy rate with 1.4%, followed by Kildare (2.1%), Waterford, and Louth (both 2.8%).

    In addition, the report said there were 22,096 residences classed as derelict, a 7.3% decrease since 2016. 

    Annette Hughes, director of EY Economic Advisory, said “based on our analysis for this report, the 90,158 vacant residential properties and the 22,096 derelict residential properties across Ireland should be investigated to ascertain if they can be returned to the housing stock, a move which would also support our retrofitting targets.”

    Kevin Duff, Planning Officer for An Taisce believes stakeholders do not have the resources or the correct understanding of the vacancy and dereliction issue in Ireland. 

    “We need to look at how councils and agencies are differentiating between a dwelling or a building, while also ensuring the stakeholders have defined the difference between a vacancy and a derelict building”, he said.

    Duff believes the regeneration or redevelopment of derelict buildings can help aid the current housing crisis, whilst also maintaining the heritage and history of the city. 

    The redevelopment of formerly derelict buildings at 71-75 Aungier Street is a perfect example of this he says. Truncated buildings were retained and reconstructed adding additional stories, with individual shop units developed below. 

    Speaking of the redevelopment, Duff said “This is a great example of inner-city regeneration, where 

    derelict buildings were maintained and reconstructed with a new student housing development behind,”

    “It goes to show how derelict buildings can provide a good mix of uses that add to a city.”