‘I wish to advise you that your application has been refused. This decision has been taken on the basis that no postering applications for events between 15th and 25th May are being granted in the interest of promoting a clean environment for Dublin City during forthcoming State visits.’
-An email sent by Dublin City Council to various groups who applied for for permission to erect posters ahead of the royal visit to Ireland.
Regardless of what one thinks of the visit, this is remarkable. Even during the visits of George W. Bush and other controversial state figureheads, postering has been permitted. It’s worrying to see the council refuse the right to poster on political grounds.
Depressing level of censorship.
Bloody arselicking disgrace.
Who’d want to post a fly anyway..
I wouldnt be surprised that the consensus from the state and the elite would filter down to civil society and council level. Its part of the hegemonic domination around the whole issue. The whole affair is based on paranoia and not giving any space for critical debate on the issue. This is a test by the economic elites for the irish people to ensure that they are fully tamed. We are whores and open for business to everyone, eu, imf, the state are tryin to portray we are so stable that we can even invite their colonial masters over. and they’ll take it. In a way its a big turning point, in my eyes anyway but saying that it mighnt play out that way. The clean environment excuse is given to remove (overtly) political graffiti too although in many cases they leave random messy squiggles up. (I personaly dont mind any grafiti but trying to see it from their perspective).
This is interesting and it raises an eyebrow, but calling it a disgrace or “hegemonic domination… by the economic elites” is ridiculous overkill.
The Council is run by elected representatives, with universal franchise and a very democratic STV system.
I’m pretty certain they’re not stopping you from protesting. (Please tell me if they are.) They’re just not letting you put up a bunch of posters in areas they regulate. If you get 1000 people at a protest, I guarantee you will get international media coverage. 1000 people protesting says a lot more than two lads with a catchy slogan and a €50 voucher for Reads.
With any sort of historical of geographical perspective, this is one of the tamest restrictions on free speech/protesting that exists. Ireland is an extremely open, democratic country. Calling this “depressing levels of censorship” or a “bloody disgrace” or “a big turning point” or whatever is taking what we have for granted.
No one is being stoped from protesting but it is constantly being insinuated in the media that protesting equals bad,with all kinds of felon setting and it has been getting worse and the council banning posters isnt helping that image. i understand i might of went overboard there and im not saying that the state is repressive constantly but thats not to say they dont pick their issues and i feel this one is an issue that the state and all their spin are pulling out all the stops for. ‘Ridiculous Overkill’ is the expenditure on the whole visits security and spin operation
On two mornings this week Gardai removed posters from around Liffey street and a few other spots, that presumably were put up overnight. Both sets of posters were anti-queens visit. In the city rumours are flying; the latests story today (unconfirmed) concerns apartments near the Phoenix Park. Officially empty (since they failed to sell) police checked them to find a number occupied. One of the occupants (the rumour goes) was a former IRA sniper. If it’s true it wouldn’t sound very reassuring if you were a rich pensioner with enough mad stalkers to fill a pub in Fairview.
Another unconfirmed rumour is….that the Union Jack will be flown on the GPO. This one is being treated as everything from “hush hush” to “Ha Ha that’s mad” depending on who you talk to. Remember this is a STATE visit. The Queen will be making her way up O’Connell St (on the West side from the North quays it seems) to the Garden of Remembrance (look out there for action on Sunday coming. The backwards balaclava crowd supposedly will try to get in and camp there.)
The route for the Queen seems pretty obvious if you follow the Gardai. All along the north Quays the shores are checked daily and marked. A Garda then patrols up and down each section. Arrangements along O’Connell street, especially the GPO, would indicate there will be Gardai camping on top of lamp posts and living in tents on rooftops for a couple of days. They’ll even have snipers.
It’s being put about that anyone working around O’Connell st wont’ get near the job without proper ID on the day of the visit to Parnell Square.
All Garda leave has been cancelled and the overtime bill is rising like the living standards of a retiring TD. Gardai are doing 16 hour shifts.
So if you’re planning a criminal escapade such as a bank job or even an oul mugging, the word is wait. Hold off ’till Obama and the Queen have gone home. With all the money and days off the Gardai will have built up they’ll be thin on the ground in the weeks after.