DCC gave away O’Devaney Gardens without guarantees of affordable housing On the evening of 4 November 2019, Dublin City Council officials and councillors from a range a political parties (Fianna Fáil, Sinn Fein, Labour, Soc Dems, Greens and some Independents) handed over a hugely valuable piece of public land, owned by the people of Dublin […]
Fifty Years After the Birth of the modern Irish Republican Army
In Arundhati Roy’s 2011 Walking with the Comrades there is a moment where she recaps the stories of Ajitha and Laxmi, Maoist guerrillas in eastern India. They became fighters after the Salwa Judum, a state-supported militia, attacked their villages. The Judum came to Korseel, her village, and killed three people by drowning them in a […]
Development Plan for Chivers’ Factory Site, Coolock: Fine Gael backs Greed.
By Councillor John Lyons, Independent Left Interview between Pat Kenny and myself, for Newstalk, 22 October 2019. The Fine Gael pro-developer planning system in action: we on Dublin City Council rezoned the old Chivers’ factory site in Coolock from industrial to residential in October 2017 on the advice of the following assessment from DCC’s planners: […]
Irish state prefers funding middle class hockey pitches over working class sports facilities
By Councillor John Lyons, Independent Left I was in the Glin Sports Centre in Coolock on 11 August to watch the fantastic young boxer from Kilmore, Ava Henry, fight in the final of a European Championship in Georgia. Ava is an incredibly talented young person, hardworking and dedicated too. She won the silver medal although […]
Councillor John Lyons on an Independent Left Canvass in Darndale
By Councillor John Lyons, Independent Left Independent Left were canvassing in Darndale today (31 July 2019). A great community but one faced with a couple of particularly difficult issues. I’ve promised to work with people in the times ahead to ensure that the community is a safe and peaceful place for everyone living, working, struggling […]