Read on Twitter
So this is only one part of the story. I've had a front row seat before the development, during and after. As some one who believes this space was overdue and something positive, I've been disheartened by the last few weeks. https://twitter.com/dublincycling/status/1295270779974832128
The only Garda presence has been two cycling through the route together on the first day. My workspace faces the park and I've seen no other patrols since. I saw two Gards stop and search two kids who were about 8 years old on the bridge at North Stand but they didn't go further
Generally everyday is quiet from morning to midday. Then we usually get an adult on a child's quad. Beeping at everyone he gets near to get out of his way. He'll sometimes go up and down with a kid on his lap too.
By mid-afternoon we start seeing the odd group. A horse and cart doing laps and a mini scrambler going back and forth to the group developing under the train bridge.
It's around 2-4 we start hearing the first fireworks and bangs. They get more persistent into the evening and then on into the night. They throw fireworks on the ground and run away before finding out which direction it's going. Quite often when people are passing by.
The groups develop in size, I've seen groups of 20 or so young kids and then an older group of teenagers and adults that can range between 10 and 40 or so people. They play music loud and make a lot of noise from early evening to well into the early hours.
I see people being intimidated, harassed and hassled. It's enraging. But what can you do. You just witness it and have to sit with that knowing it will continue.
Recently some residents have lost patience with the noise and disturbance and shouted over. The response was to shout racist insults back, fireworks aimed at the building and louder noise. Very upsetting for many, including my family.
A lot of people are now forced to work from home, such as myself. I'm finding myself apologising for fireworks and shouting from across the canal on more and more calls. And sleeping well at night isn't guaranteed.
The truth is, this greenspace is half developed. There are no bins on the route. The grass areas are a mess. There are cameras, but it seems they may be more of a "hopefully this is a deterrent" measure. There has been no planning for how people are to enjoy this space safely.
@Paschald, @EamonRyan, @hazechu and Anne Graham were all happy to put their faces to the opening of this without any thought as how people are supposed to safely enjoy these areas. It took a woman being pushed in the canal for anyone to pay any mind.
Even with that, if they bother, you'd wonder what half measure they'll come up with this time.
