Monday, May 31, 2010

Great community demo against uncertain future for Seán McDermott Street swimming pool

There was a fantastic atmosphere at this evening's community demonstration against the proposed closure of the Seán McDermott Street swimming pool. The kids were out in force and gave the chants great welly. Dublin City Council have said they will keep the pool (along with the pools in Crumlin and Coolock) open for the summer which is goods news but its not good enough. Families need a long term commitment that this valuable resource to the inner city will remain open. The local turnout for this evening's protest is a testament to the value and well being the pool brings to the community.

What really ticks me off is that the least well off in Irish society continue to pay the harshest price for the financial mismanagement of the public purse by Fianna Fáil and of course it's ridiculous commitment to throwing good money after bad into Anglo Irish Bank. Dublin City Council must not add to this wrong by penny pinching in all the wrong places. Good on the community for tonight's demo. Onwards and upwards, and we'll keep our pools open.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

McDonald welcomes new Ballybough Community Centre

The new Ballybough Community Centre has opened and is named after the late Tony Gregory TD. Yesterday's opening was a really terrific event and evidence, as if evidence is needed, of why we need to continue investing in local communities. Government cut backs to funding for centres and services such as the one here in Ballybough are short sighted and counter productive. The new centre and indeed the spirit of the of the north inner city community is a tribute to Tony's memory and all he achieved. Ádh mór Ballybough.