Two Clondalkin resident’s concerns
about the housing crisis lead them to forming “Clondalkin and Lucan Housing
Action Network”
Seán Phelan from Ashfield and Darren Corrigan
from Dunawley, were so angered by the increasing numbers of people sleeping
homeless in their area, they decided to do something about it.
Both have been active in the “Clondalkin Helping Homeless Campaign”, which seeks to provide hot food and essentials such as sleeping bags to those living rough in the area.
While both commended the actions of the homeless campaign, they told me it is akin to “sticking a plaster on a leaking pipe”, and a short term cure.
Both felt something needed to be done to tackle the causes of homelessness, and prevent it happening to others in the future.
Both have been active in the “Clondalkin Helping Homeless Campaign”, which seeks to provide hot food and essentials such as sleeping bags to those living rough in the area.
While both commended the actions of the homeless campaign, they told me it is akin to “sticking a plaster on a leaking pipe”, and a short term cure.
Both felt something needed to be done to tackle the causes of homelessness, and prevent it happening to others in the future.
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| Photo (c) Seán Heffernan |
Seán Phelan explained the catalyst for setting up the campaign - “After hearing of the tragic death of
Jonathan Corrie just yards from the Dail, and the horrific tragedy at the
halting site in Carrickmines, we felt enough was enough, and sought about doing
what we could on the issue of homelessness, direct provision and traveller
accommodation”.
The
interview took place shortly after the first action of the campaign, a protest
they co-organised outside the Council offices in Clondalkin Village.
Both were delighted at the turnout, and view it as a great springboard that they hope will lead to the campaign gaining in numbers and strength in the future.
Both were delighted at the turnout, and view it as a great springboard that they hope will lead to the campaign gaining in numbers and strength in the future.
I asked
Darren Corrigan as to how we felt the protest went.
“I was delighted with the turnout, especially seeing so many ordinary non- political people present.
While we welcome and thank Eoin o’ Brien TD, and Councillors Ruth Nolan, Madeline Johansson and Francis Timmons for supporting us, we wish for the Housing Action Campaign to be a grassroots led initiative, the people of Clondalkin and Lucan fighting for the homeless in Clondalkin and Lucan”.
“I was delighted with the turnout, especially seeing so many ordinary non- political people present.
While we welcome and thank Eoin o’ Brien TD, and Councillors Ruth Nolan, Madeline Johansson and Francis Timmons for supporting us, we wish for the Housing Action Campaign to be a grassroots led initiative, the people of Clondalkin and Lucan fighting for the homeless in Clondalkin and Lucan”.
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| Photo (c) Seán Heffernan |
They also
raised concerns as to how the people in the Direct Provision Centre in
Clondalkin where being treated, which to their minds was “akin to a prison
camp.”
As for where
they go from here Mr Phelan replied:
“We will be having a discussion with others who have joined the campaign as to what we will do in the future, but at the very least I can see us holding information stalls at various shopping centres, and getting leaflets into peoples doors on the issue of the housing crisis in the Dublin Mid-West area.”
“We will be having a discussion with others who have joined the campaign as to what we will do in the future, but at the very least I can see us holding information stalls at various shopping centres, and getting leaflets into peoples doors on the issue of the housing crisis in the Dublin Mid-West area.”
Last but not
least Mr Corrigan expressed “a strong hope that people from elsewhere will see
what is happening in Clondalkin, and as a result similar campaigns might spring
up all over the place be it Coolock, Clonmel or Crossmalina”.
