Coolock NIMBY Issue
My Local Area's Contemporary "NIMBY" Issue: Coolock's Asylum Seeker Protests.
Figure 1. Map of Present day Coolock. (Area of discourse is highlighted.) 2024 (GeoHive Map Viewer) Available at: https://webapps.geohive.ie/mapviewer/index.html
Coolock is a relatively youthful, residential area in the North of Dublin situated primarily around the Malahide Road. According to Samuel Lewis's topographical dictionary from 1837, the area was home to just 914 people, with 190 of these people living in Coolock villages across only 26 houses! While the population was smaller and more compact, it highlights the residential nature of the community is something etched into its own history. Today, Coolock is also home to several protected structures. St. Johns church on Tonlegee road, which connects to the Malahide road which acts almost as a transportation hub for all Coolock surroundings. St. John's is protected due to obviously its religious significance as a place of worship, but also due to its visual appeal (see fig. 2) and proximity to schools and a nursing home. Another example of a protected structure is the Cadbury factory which sits on the Malahide Road beside an intersection with the aforementioned Tonlegee road. The factory is of course crucial to the area given the size of the brand and number of jobs it creates, however Olivia Kelly (2021) detailed another intriguing fact as to why the factory is considered a protected structure. "good example of contemporary architecture tailored to meet the specific needs of the client [...] The office was originally clad in limestone which, in a twist of irony, began to warp under the damp Irish climate and it was subsequently refaced with metal." The structure is of architectural heritage interest, while simultaneously being economically beneficial to the area and indeed the country as a whole.
Figure 2. St. John's Church Tonlegee Road. 2014 Available at: https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50030058/st-john-the-evangelist-church-of-ireland-church-tonlegee-road-ayrfield-tonlegee-co-by-dublin-5-dublin
Another large factory, Crown Paints, is located just beside the protected Cadbury factory, and is the setting for this blog's controversy. In May 2018, this factory submitted an application for permission to demolish the existing structure and then construct a mixed-use development containing the likes of apartments and a creche (NPAD, 2024). This application was rejected in June of the same year and now there are suggestions the space be used to accommodate asylum seekers looking for shelter coming from abroad. A suggestion that has been met with fierce opposition by some of Coolock's residents.
Figure 3. Map of Electoral Division containing Crown Paints 2024 Available at: https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2016&boundary=C03736V04484
The Electoral division pictured above in figure 3 contains the building which is the setting for this controversy, and the population dynamics of this division is of particular interest. Of the 2,642 people living here according to census 2022, 89% of them were Irish, with United Kingdom, Poland and India having 80, 21 and 14 people respectively (CSO, 2022). Therefore, an influx of some 500 (White, J. 2024) asylum seekers would certainly be a massive change in the current split of the area's population. However, why is the accommodation of foreign people a concern for the people of Coolock, who were marching in the hundreds around Coolock to protest this development?
Well, it can't be helped but assume that the actions of the protesters are racially motivated, particularly when looking at the quotes and chants the group have been using regarding the situation, with statements like "Finglas says no to mass immigration" and "Whose streets? Our streets." being echoed, while "Malachy Steenson, a prominent campaigner who led anti-immigration protests in East Wall in late 2022, also addressed the assembled demonstrators. Several other well-known anti-immigration activists were in attendance." (Gallagher, F. 2024) Following speeches around the crown paints factory, some of the protesters even moved towards Coolock Garda Station. While the people participating in these protests fear the possibility of foreign born people immigrating to their local area, fleeing countries that are unsafe to live in and looking to the Irish for a helping hand, they don't appear to have looked at the people that are leading these protests, and also those participating.
Figure 4. Picture of one of the Coolock protest leaders, 2024 (Irish Times)
The Gardaí have been particularly firm on the nature of the protests, and believe there are deeper factors at play than the surface level speeches and marches the groups have been displaying. On the afternoon of March 25th a policing board meeting heard that the protests against the use of accommodation for asylum seekers have criminal elements embedded. In the same time, Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan revealed that one of the leaders of the protests, presumably one of the individuals parading around Coolock on horseback (see fig. 4), or one of those leading the march on foot, is a convicted drug dealer who, in the past, has bragged about "flooding Ireland with drugs." This same individual has past "political pedigree through involvement wit the extremist British National Party (BNP) (The Journal, 2024) This political party is a far right fascist political party adhering to an ideology of ethnic nationalism, lending to the idea that the reasons for these protests are largely motivated by racism.
The protests are led by a former member of a nationalist party, however while his current actions are aimed at disrupting the possibility of immigrants joining Coolock's community, the protests are directly interfering with the lives of Irish people already living in the area, as noted again by Daithí Doolan, who the Irish Independent quotes as saying, "These people feel as if they can hold communities at ransom, divert buses like they did at 11.15pm when people were coming home. One of my colleagues had to guide the bus driver away from the blockage, through housing estates to get to their destination. That’s no way to run a city. It’s preventing children from coming home from sporting events, preventing people from going about their lives,” The dangerous actions of the protestors has not just been limited to travel disruptions however, as Muireann Duffy writes for the site breakingnews.ie, a man in his 50s was injured and taken to hospital as a result of a brick being thrown through a window during the protests. The man was taken to Beaumont hospital however, thankfully his injuries were not life threatening.
Figure 5. Crown Paints Factory closed off by protestors, 2024
Ultimately, I believe that the development of the former crown paints factory into accommodation for asylum seekers should go ahead, these people are applying for international protection, fleeing from countries facing hardships that the people taking part in these disgusting protests cannot even begin to imagine. All while they continue to protest foreign immigrants coming to their area, they are the ones disrupting people's lives and even causing physical damage to an innocent bystander in one instance. Taking in the asylum seekers would of course provide them with a more stable place to live, but would also diversify the overwhelmingly white Irish population of the area, something the fascist leader of the protests is adamant to see unchanged. Priority should be given to the wellbeing of the people, regardless of their skin colour, religion or cultural background. Thank you for taking the time to read about an issue so close to my home that I feel very passionately about, this concludes my blog.
Bibliography
Lewis, S. (1837), A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Available at: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, by Samuel Lewis, 1837 (libraryireland.com)
Accessed: 08/04/24
Kelly, O. (2021) Met Office and Cadbury’s factory recommended for protection. Irish Times Available at: Met Office and Cadbury’s factory recommended for protection – The Irish Times Accessed: 08/04/24
NPAD (2024) Available at: National Planning Application Map Viewer - My Plan Accessed: 08/04/24
CSO, 2022. Census Mapping. Available at: Census Local Statistics interactive mapping app | CSO Ireland Accessed: 08/04/24
White, J. (2024) Coolock warehouse could be used to house asylum seekers, department says, following week of protests. Available at: Coolock warehouse could be used to house asylum seekers, department says, following week of protests – The Irish Times Accessed: 08/04/24
Gallagher, F. (2024) More than 1,000 protest against housing of asylum seekers at Coolock factory. Available at: More than 1,000 protest against housing of asylum seekers at Coolock factory – The Irish Times Accessed: 08/04/24
The Journal, (2024) 'Criminal element embedded' in Coolock protest against asylum seekers, DCC meeting told. Available at: 'Criminal element embedded' in Coolock protest against asylum seekers, DCC meeting told (thejournal.ie)
Accessed: 08/04/24
Duffy, M. (2024) Gardaí investigating after man injured following Coolock protest. Available at: 'Criminal element embedded' in Coolock protest against asylum seekers, DCC meeting told (thejournal.ie) Accessed: 08/04/24
Coolock's Asylum Seeker Protests.
Figure 1. Map of Present day Coolock. (Area of discourse is highlighted.) 2024 (GeoHive Map Viewer) Available at: https://webapps.geohive.ie/mapviewer/index.html
Coolock is a relatively youthful, residential area in the North of Dublin situated primarily around the Malahide Road. According to Samuel Lewis's topographical dictionary from 1837, the area was home to just 914 people, with 190 of these people living in Coolock villages across only 26 houses! While the population was smaller and more compact, it highlights the residential nature of the community is something etched into its own history. Today, Coolock is also home to several protected structures. St. Johns church on Tonlegee road, which connects to the Malahide road which acts almost as a transportation hub for all Coolock surroundings. St. John's is protected due to obviously its religious significance as a place of worship, but also due to its visual appeal (see fig. 2) and proximity to schools and a nursing home. Another example of a protected structure is the Cadbury factory which sits on the Malahide Road beside an intersection with the aforementioned Tonlegee road. The factory is of course crucial to the area given the size of the brand and number of jobs it creates, however Olivia Kelly (2021) detailed another intriguing fact as to why the factory is considered a protected structure. "good example of contemporary architecture tailored to meet the specific needs of the client [...] The office was originally clad in limestone which, in a twist of irony, began to warp under the damp Irish climate and it was subsequently refaced with metal." The structure is of architectural heritage interest, while simultaneously being economically beneficial to the area and indeed the country as a whole.
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| Figure 2. St. John's Church Tonlegee Road. 2014 Available at: https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50030058/st-john-the-evangelist-church-of-ireland-church-tonlegee-road-ayrfield-tonlegee-co-by-dublin-5-dublin |
Another large factory, Crown Paints, is located just beside the protected Cadbury factory, and is the setting for this blog's controversy. In May 2018, this factory submitted an application for permission to demolish the existing structure and then construct a mixed-use development containing the likes of apartments and a creche (NPAD, 2024). This application was rejected in June of the same year and now there are suggestions the space be used to accommodate asylum seekers looking for shelter coming from abroad. A suggestion that has been met with fierce opposition by some of Coolock's residents.
Figure 3. Map of Electoral Division containing Crown Paints 2024 Available at: https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2016&boundary=C03736V04484
The Electoral division pictured above in figure 3 contains the building which is the setting for this controversy, and the population dynamics of this division is of particular interest. Of the 2,642 people living here according to census 2022, 89% of them were Irish, with United Kingdom, Poland and India having 80, 21 and 14 people respectively (CSO, 2022). Therefore, an influx of some 500 (White, J. 2024) asylum seekers would certainly be a massive change in the current split of the area's population. However, why is the accommodation of foreign people a concern for the people of Coolock, who were marching in the hundreds around Coolock to protest this development?
Well, it can't be helped but assume that the actions of the protesters are racially motivated, particularly when looking at the quotes and chants the group have been using regarding the situation, with statements like "Finglas says no to mass immigration" and "Whose streets? Our streets." being echoed, while "Malachy Steenson, a prominent campaigner who led anti-immigration protests in East Wall in late 2022, also addressed the assembled demonstrators. Several other well-known anti-immigration activists were in attendance." (Gallagher, F. 2024) Following speeches around the crown paints factory, some of the protesters even moved towards Coolock Garda Station. While the people participating in these protests fear the possibility of foreign born people immigrating to their local area, fleeing countries that are unsafe to live in and looking to the Irish for a helping hand, they don't appear to have looked at the people that are leading these protests, and also those participating.
Figure 4. Picture of one of the Coolock protest leaders, 2024 (Irish Times)
The Gardaí have been particularly firm on the nature of the protests, and believe there are deeper factors at play than the surface level speeches and marches the groups have been displaying. On the afternoon of March 25th a policing board meeting heard that the protests against the use of accommodation for asylum seekers have criminal elements embedded. In the same time, Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan revealed that one of the leaders of the protests, presumably one of the individuals parading around Coolock on horseback (see fig. 4), or one of those leading the march on foot, is a convicted drug dealer who, in the past, has bragged about "flooding Ireland with drugs." This same individual has past "political pedigree through involvement wit the extremist British National Party (BNP) (The Journal, 2024) This political party is a far right fascist political party adhering to an ideology of ethnic nationalism, lending to the idea that the reasons for these protests are largely motivated by racism.
The protests are led by a former member of a nationalist party, however while his current actions are aimed at disrupting the possibility of immigrants joining Coolock's community, the protests are directly interfering with the lives of Irish people already living in the area, as noted again by Daithí Doolan, who the Irish Independent quotes as saying, "These people feel as if they can hold communities at ransom, divert buses like they did at 11.15pm when people were coming home. One of my colleagues had to guide the bus driver away from the blockage, through housing estates to get to their destination. That’s no way to run a city. It’s preventing children from coming home from sporting events, preventing people from going about their lives,” The dangerous actions of the protestors has not just been limited to travel disruptions however, as Muireann Duffy writes for the site breakingnews.ie, a man in his 50s was injured and taken to hospital as a result of a brick being thrown through a window during the protests. The man was taken to Beaumont hospital however, thankfully his injuries were not life threatening.
Figure 5. Crown Paints Factory closed off by protestors, 2024
Ultimately, I believe that the development of the former crown paints factory into accommodation for asylum seekers should go ahead, these people are applying for international protection, fleeing from countries facing hardships that the people taking part in these disgusting protests cannot even begin to imagine. All while they continue to protest foreign immigrants coming to their area, they are the ones disrupting people's lives and even causing physical damage to an innocent bystander in one instance. Taking in the asylum seekers would of course provide them with a more stable place to live, but would also diversify the overwhelmingly white Irish population of the area, something the fascist leader of the protests is adamant to see unchanged. Priority should be given to the wellbeing of the people, regardless of their skin colour, religion or cultural background. Thank you for taking the time to read about an issue so close to my home that I feel very passionately about, this concludes my blog.
Bibliography
Lewis, S. (1837), A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Available at: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, by Samuel Lewis, 1837 (libraryireland.com)
Accessed: 08/04/24Kelly, O. (2021) Met Office and Cadbury’s factory recommended for protection. Irish Times Available at: Met Office and Cadbury’s factory recommended for protection – The Irish Times Accessed: 08/04/24
NPAD (2024) Available at: National Planning Application Map Viewer - My Plan Accessed: 08/04/24
CSO, 2022. Census Mapping. Available at: Census Local Statistics interactive mapping app | CSO Ireland Accessed: 08/04/24
White, J. (2024) Coolock warehouse could be used to house asylum seekers, department says, following week of protests. Available at: Coolock warehouse could be used to house asylum seekers, department says, following week of protests – The Irish Times Accessed: 08/04/24
Gallagher, F. (2024) More than 1,000 protest against housing of asylum seekers at Coolock factory. Available at: More than 1,000 protest against housing of asylum seekers at Coolock factory – The Irish Times Accessed: 08/04/24
The Journal, (2024) 'Criminal element embedded' in Coolock protest against asylum seekers, DCC meeting told. Available at: 'Criminal element embedded' in Coolock protest against asylum seekers, DCC meeting told (thejournal.ie)
Accessed: 08/04/24Duffy, M. (2024) Gardaí investigating after man injured following Coolock protest. Available at: 'Criminal element embedded' in Coolock protest against asylum seekers, DCC meeting told (thejournal.ie) Accessed: 08/04/24
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