Squatting in Ireland

Dublin Housing Action Committee's campaigning in the late 1960s resulted in some successes but also the Prohibition of Forcible Entry and Occupation Act of 1971, which criminalized squatting.{{cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Thomas |title=Contesting Economic and Social Rights in Ireland: Constitution, State and Society, 1848–2016 |date=18 August 2016 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-15535-0 |pages=307|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yx-nDAAAQBAJ |language=en}} Squatters can gain title to land and property by adverse possession as governed by the 1957 Statute of Limitations Act.{{cite news |last1=Donnellan |first1=Grace |title=Precarious Living: Squatters' rights in Ireland |url=https://universityobserver.ie/precarious-living-squatters-rights-in-ireland/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=University Observer |date=21 April 2019 |language=en-ie}} An occupant is entitled to apply to the Property Registration Authority for legal possession provided they are in continuous and uninterrupted occupation of the property without the permission of the owner for 12 years.{{cite news |author=Independent Woman |url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/property/squatters-rights-to-be-reviewed-1083837.html |title=Squatters' rights to be reviewed – Property, Unsorted |publisher=Independent.ie |date=19 September 2007 |access-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219192455/http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/property/squatters-rights-to-be-reviewed-1083837.html |archive-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=live }} If the land is owned by the state the period is 30 years. In 2004, a squatter who had occupied a building for 16 years was unable to gain title because the owner had been paying for insurance on the house, while in 2008 radio presenter Pat Kenny failed to gain title to land owned by his neighbour.{{cite news |last1=Finn |first1=Christina |title=Galway man denied squatters' rights after living in house for 16 years |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/squatters-rights-property-owners-1788755-Nov2014/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=The Journal |date=20 November 2014 |language=en}}

Squatting in Ireland was mentioned in letters in 1846, but by 1870 the issue was said to be in the past.{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Thomas Campbell |title=Letters on the Condition of the People of Ireland |publisher=Chapman and Hall |page=706 |date=1846 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c9A9AAAAcAAJ |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=a Close Observer of Long Local Experience, and One who Has Had Opportunities of World-wide Comparisons, Etc |page=88|title=The Irish Land Question, Impartially Considered |date=1870 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pztHRXsQpdkC |language=en}} Irish Travellers wanted houses in Ireland in the 1970s and used squatting as a tactic to gain them.{{cite book |last1=Gmelch |first1=Sharon Bohn |last2=Gmelch |first2=George |title=Irish Travellers: The Unsettled Life |date=2014 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-01461-0 |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5xJtDwAAQBAJ |language=en}} The Dublin Housing Action Committee (DHAC) was active between 1968 and 1971. It would occupy buildings to protest the housing crisis and support those who were imprisoned. Dennis Dennehy had previously squatted in Birmingham and London. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1969 after occupying 20 Mountjoy Square the previous year.{{cite news |last1=McEneaney |first1=Sinead |title=Political commemoration and housing protest in Ireland: A lesson from the 1960s |url=https://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/political-commemoration-and-housing-protest-in-ireland-a-lesson-from-the-1960s/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=History Workshop |date=14 May 2019}}

When he decided to go on hunger strike, it galvanised protests over housing. There were nightly marches to Mountjoy Prison and blockades of O'Connell Bridge. The Dublin Trades Council supported him and President Éamon de Valera was heckled.{{cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Thomas |title=Contesting Economic and Social Rights in Ireland: Constitution, State and Society, 1848–2016 |date=18 August 2016 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-15535-0 |pages=294, 305, 306 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yx-nDAAAQBAJ |language=en}} Later in 1969, three men were imprisoned after the eviction of the Carlton Hotel on Harcourt Street and five activists barricaded themselves inside a room at the Four Courts.

Many young people emigrated from Ireland in the 1980s and squatted in London.{{cite news |last1=Lalor |first1=Francesca |title=The Squat Generation: Documentary On Newstalk |url=https://www.newstalk.com/documentary-and-drama-on-newstalk/squat-generation-documentary-newstalk-852283 |access-date=14 June 2020 |work=Newstalk |date=25 April 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902005110/https://www.newstalk.com/documentary-and-drama-on-newstalk/squat-generation-documentary-newstalk-852283 |url-status=live }} In Dublin, there was a political squat on Arran Quay in 1995.

Housing activists occupied a building on Parnell Square, Dublin in July 2003 which they labelled "Disco Disco" but were evicted within 24 hours.{{cite news |last1=McDermott |first1=Fiachradh |title=The short history of squatting in Dublin: Rejecting consumerism and being 'a bit punk' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/squatting-dublin-3771031-Dec2017/ |access-date=3 October 2020 |work=The Journal |language=en |archive-date=30 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430160712/http://www.thejournal.ie/squatting-dublin-3771031-Dec2017/ |url-status=live }} From 2003 to 2004 the Magpie Squat was a residential space which housed activists on Upper Leeson Street. It had a library and a vegetable garden. Seomra Spraoi, an anarchist, rented, self-managed social center, opened its doors in 2004 and ran until 2015.{{cite web |title=Seomra Spraoi |url=http://posterfishpromotions.com/seomra-spraoi/ |website=Poster Fish Promotions |access-date=23 September 2022 |date=9 June 2019}}{{cite journal |last1=O'Callaghan |first1=Cian |last2=Lawton |first2=Thaddeus |title=Temporary solutions? Vacant space policy and strategies for re-use in Dublin |journal=Irish Geography |date=2016 |volume=48 |issue=1 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2262%2F81805 |language=en}}

In the 2010s, with the construction of ghost estates across the country there was a rise in occupations in rural areas. A man in Tullamore, County Offaly defeated a claim for possession in court when the judge saw the improvements he had made to his squat, on an empty estate.{{cite news |author=Claire O'Brien |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/squatter-told-he-can-stay-in-nama-ghost-estate-home-2907066.html |title=Squatter told he can stay in NAMA ghost estate home – National News |publisher=Independent.ie |date=15 October 2011 |access-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219193122/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/squatter-told-he-can-stay-in-nama-ghost-estate-home-2907066.html |archive-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=live }} Activists from Occupy Cork squatted a National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) building in Cork at Christmas 2011, with the intention of using it as a community resource centre.{{cite news |last1=O'Connell |first1=Brian |title=Occupy Nama: the protesters' latest strategy |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/occupy-nama-the-protesters-latest-strategy-1.441058 |access-date=4 October 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=7 January 2012 |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004203607/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/occupy-nama-the-protesters-latest-strategy-1.441058 |url-status=live }}

File:Guards arrive at Grangegorman squat.jpg arrive to carry out evictions at the Grangegorman squat]]

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Dublin hosted the 2014 International Squatter Convergence, which had previously been held in cities such as Brighton, Dijon, Berlin and Leeds. Events were hosted by Seomra Spraoi.{{cite news |last1=Creed |first1=Barry |title=Squatters from around the world gather in Dublin |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/squatters-from-around-the-world-gather-in-dublin-1.1942878 |access-date=3 October 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=26 September 2014 |language=en |archive-date=11 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811231604/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/squatters-from-around-the-world-gather-in-dublin-1.1942878 |url-status=live }} In 2013 a new squat known as "The Grangegorman squat" emerged; Its presence was not generally known until 2015 when it successfully resisted evictions for a time.{{cite news |author=Dan Griffin |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/squatter-supporters-hurt-in-grangegorman-stand-off-1.2150573 |title=Squatter Supporters hurt in Grangegorman stand off |newspaper=Irish Times |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706053002/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/squatter-supporters-hurt-in-grangegorman-stand-off-1.2150573 |archive-date=6 July 2015 |url-status=live }} The news of the successful resistance spread across social media{{cite news |author=Aoife Barry |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/grangegorman-squatters-2008487-Mar2015/ |title=Grangegorman squatters welcome "victory" as they resist eviction |publisher=The Journal |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325094127/http://www.thejournal.ie/grangegorman-squatters-2008487-Mar2015/ |archive-date=25 March 2015 |url-status=live }} and international news.{{cite news |url=http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201503231341-0024640 |title=Residents resist eviction, clash with police in Dublin suburb |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326034155/http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201503231341-0024640 |archive-date=26 March 2015 |url-status=live }} The squat was publicly supported by the Lord Mayor Christy Burke{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/lord-mayor-praises-squatters-work-31095501.html |title=Lord Mayor Praises Squatters Work |newspaper=Irish Independent |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602114911/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/lord-mayor-praises-squatters-work-31095501.html |archive-date=2 June 2015 |url-status=live }} and by Irish Times journalist Una Mullally,{{cite news |author=Una Mullally |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/poplife/2015/03/24/the-grangegorman-squat/ |title=The Grangegorman Squat |newspaper=Irish Times |access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324193412/http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/poplife/2015/03/24/the-grangegorman-squat/ |archive-date=24 March 2015 |url-status=live }} before being evicted in 2016, with the site later developed into student accommodation for those attending Dublin IT. A building which once housed Neary's Hotel on Parnell Street in Dublin's north inner city, was occupied in 2015 and renamed The Barricade Inn by the squatters.{{cite news |author=Sylvia Thompson |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/squatters-bring-life-to-old-buildings-1.2408554 |title=Squatters bring life to old buildings |newspaper=Irish Times |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=6 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030132230/http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/squatters-bring-life-to-old-buildings-1.2408554 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Sheils |first1=Conor |title=Ireland's most famous squatters are facing eviction |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-squat-2417129-Nov2015/ |access-date=3 October 2020 |work=The Journal |date=1 November 2015 |language=en |archive-date=30 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430160747/http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-squat-2417129-Nov2015/ |url-status=live }} The Inn, operated by Anarchists aligned with the Workers Solidarity Movement, housed over two dozen residents who also operated a cafe and music venue from the building. Following a court order, The Barricade Inn and its residents were evicted by court order in February 2016.

Illegal evictions also occur, such as a 2015 case in which three men were convicted of false imprisonment.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/three-men-sentenced-over-forced-eviction-for-landlord-1.2129388 |title=Three men sentenced over forced eviction for landlord |newspaper=Irish Times |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211949/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/three-men-sentenced-over-forced-eviction-for-landlord-1.2129388 |archive-date=5 July 2015 |url-status=live }}

In August 2016, a group of squatters which had been recently evicted from a nearby Grangegorman squat complex, began occupying the Debtors' Prison in Dublin's north inner city with the stated aim of converting the building into a community art space.{{cite news |title=Squatters ordered to leave derelict former Dublin prison |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/squatters-ordered-to-leave-derelict-former-dublin-prison-1.2756886 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=6 October 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Fitzgerald|first=Cormac|date=2016-08-23|title="This makes us homeless" - Tough choices lie ahead for squatters in abandoned Dublin prison|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/squat-debtors-prison-2941478-Aug2016/|access-date=2022-10-06|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Managh|first=Ray|date=2016-08-22|title=Squatters living in derelict Dublin prison face jail terms|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/squatters-living-in-derelict-dublin-prison-face-jail-terms-1.2764446|access-date=2022-10-06|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} Having occupied the building, the State announced that the squatters had to vacate, citing health and safety concerns. The occupants sought support and cooperation from the Office of Public Works, as well as the local community with their stated intention being to restore the building and open the ground floor "for exhibitions and walking tours which would highlight social injustices from the past until today". In mid-August 2016, an injunction was granted against the squatters, with an order for them to vacate the building by midnight on Sun 21 August 2016. The squatters were threatened with jail time if they did not leave the premises.

During the summer of 2015, left-wing housing activists took over a youth hostel in Dublin's North Inner City that had been deemed "not fit for purpose" by Dublin City Council three years previously and shut down. The property had sat vacant awaiting an upgrade, a status the activists deemed unconscionable due to the shortage of housing in Dublin. The activists attempted to re-activate the building, located on Bolton Street and referred to as the "Bolt Hostel", but were made to leave the premise a number of weeks later following a court order.{{cite news |last=Kavanagh |first=Cathal |date=17 August 2016 |title=What's Going on Now with the Bolt Hostel? |url=https://www.dublininquirer.com/2016/08/17/what-s-going-on-now-with-the-bolt-hostel |work=Dublin Inquirer |location= |access-date=3 January 2022}}{{cite news |last1= Murphy |first1=Damien |last2=Kapila |first2=Lois |date=8 July 2015 |title=Can City Council Team Up with Radical Housing Activists? |url=https://dublininquirer.com/2015/07/08/can-city-council-team-up-with-radical-housing-activists |work=Dublin Inquirer |location= |access-date=3 January 2022}} At the time of the court order, the Council claimed it was "ironic" that the activists felt the need to occupy the building, because the council said they had already secured planning permission to redevelop the building. However, by 2019 no such development had taken place and the possibility of the building being sold for a token amount of money to a local housing charity was being openly discussed.{{cite news |last=Kapila |first=Lois |date=13 March 2019 |title=Council Briefs: The Future of the "Bolt Hostel", and Student Housing on Parnell Street |url=https://www.dublininquirer.com/2019/03/13/council-briefs-the-future-of-the-bolt-hostel-and-student-housing-on-parnell-street |work=Dublin Inquirer |location= |access-date=3 January 2022}}

File:Apollo House occupation.jpg during its brief but high-profile occupation in December 2016]]

In December 2016 Apollo House, a 9-storey office block in Dublin City Centre, was taken over by squatters who attempted to convert it into a homeless shelter. The building, which had previously been used as office space for various companies, had fallen under the control of National Asset Management Agency by 2016 in the wake of the Post-2008 Irish economic downturn. A large group of activists working under the banner of "Home Sweet Home" occupied the building and subsequently housed over 200 homeless in the building during the Christmas period. The occupation drew considerable national attention in Ireland and drew the support of many high-profile Irish artists such as Glen Hansard, Christy Dignam, Jim Sheridan,{{cite news |title='Homeless crisis has worsened since Apollo House demonstration' - campaigners |url=https://www.independent.ie/incoming/homeless-crisis-has-worsened-since-apollo-house-demonstration-campaigners-36415717.html |work=Irish Independent |date=17 December 2017 |language=en}} Kodaline, Hozier,{{cite news |last1=Quinlan |first1=Ronald |title=Marlet set to pay over €77m an acre for Apollo House site |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/marlet-set-to-pay-over-77m-an-acre-for-apollo-house-site-37562226.html |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=Sunday Independent |date=26 November 2018 |language=en}} Damien Dempsey, John Connors and Saoirse Ronan{{cite news |last=Cullen |first=Paul |date=18 December 2016 |title=Apollo House protesters to meet owners over occupation |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/apollo-house-protesters-to-meet-owners-over-occupation-1.2910660 |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}} as well as political parties such as Sinn Féin. In January 2017 a court ordered the residents to leave the premises, which they did voluntarily on 12 January without incident.{{cite news |last=Holland |first=Kitty |date=12 January 2017 |title=Homeless and activists leave Apollo House amid emotional scenes |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/homeless-and-activists-leave-apollo-house-amid-emotional-scenes-1.2934214 |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}} In the years immediately following, Apollo House was bought and demolished by a property developer.{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |date=7 May 2020 |title=Hawkins House, one of Dublin's ugliest buildings, finally set to be demolished |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/hawkins-house-one-of-dublin-s-ugliest-buildings-finally-set-to-be-demolished-1.4247428 |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}}

In August 2017 members of the Connolly Youth Movement in Cork City began a squat in the Mardyke area, not far from University College Cork, which was later dubbed "Connolly Barracks".{{cite news |last=Malekmian |first=Shamim |date=22 January 2020 |title=Special Report: Inside Cork's Connolly Barracks |url=https://www.hotpress.com/culture/special-report-inside-corks-connolly-barracks-22801304 |work=Hot Press |location= |access-date=20 December 2021}}{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=The occupied Connolly Barracks enters its 15th month |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/occupied-connolly-barracks-enters-its-15th-month |work=Morning Star |location= |access-date=20 December 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cym.ie/connolly-barracks/ |title=Connolly Barracks |author=Connolly Youth Movement |date= 15 April 2018|website=cym.ie |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}} Alex Homits of CYM cited the occupation of Apollo House as inspiring the move.{{cite AV media |people=Rebel Matters Podcast |date= |title=Ep 36: Alex Homits Talks about Connolly Barracks, Capitalism, and The Left |type= |language= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbaXuSVzHaU&ab_channel=RebelMattersPodcast |access-date=20 December 2021 |format= |time= |location= |publisher= |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= }} In contrast to anarchist squats, the residents of Connolly Barracks tout that the building is run under an extremely strict set of rules, reflecting the Marxist–Leninist orientation of the Connolly Youth Movement. The use of the term "Barracks" was chosen to mirror this mentality. As of 2022, it is still in operation.

In August and September 2018, a group known as Take Back The City were behind a "string of protest actions occupying vacant buildings in Dublin city centre", according to the Irish Times, in order to "protest about the housing crisis".{{Cite news|last=Power|first=Jack|date=2018-09-12|title=Masked men secure Dublin property after housing activists removed |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/masked-men-secure-dublin-property-after-housing-activists-removed-1.3626087 |access-date=2025-01-17|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} The group included activists from Dublin Central Housing Action, student group Take Back Trinity, and Dublin Renters' Union.

Activists from Take Back The City began occupying 35 Summerhill Parade, a vacant property, in early August 2018, but shortly afterwards were moved on and found a new vacant building to occupy at 34 North Frederick Street. On 28 August 2018, Patricia Ní Greil, the owner of the building, secured a High Court injunction ordering the squatters to leave the building, which they defied. On 11 September 2018, several men in balaclavas entered the building, protected by members of the Garda Siochana, and removed the protestors from the building by force. Six arrests were made.

As of 12 September 2018, it was mentioned by the Irish Times that the group were still occupying a vacant property on Belvedere Court (near Mountjoy Square).

On 12 September 2021 a group began squatting a building that had laid vacant for 10 years in the Stoneybatter neighbourhood of Dublin.{{cite news |last=Young |first=Pariesa |date=29 October 2021 |title='They broke in using brute force': Irish activists protest attempted eviction from vacant building |url=https://observers.france24.com/en/europe/20211029-ireland-dublin-activists-eviction-vacant-building-prussia-street |work=France 24 |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}} The group began operating "That Social Centre" aka "Sunnyvale"; offering free services such as a cafe and a bike repair shop. Five weeks later, on the morning of 27 October, a large group of private security guards, in view of some despatched Gardaí, attempted to evict the squatters from the premises. A fracas ensued that was captured on video and then posted to social media. Although the security guards were able to enter the squat and destroy the interior, a counter-demonstration quickly mounted what almost devolved into a riot, at which point the Gardaí moved to break up the two groups and sent the security guards away.{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Mark |date=27 October 2021 |title=Protesters gather after alleged eviction in city centre |url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/live-busy-dublin-street-brought-21986123 |work=Dublin Live |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}} By that evening, the squatters re-entered the building and a large crowd gathered to support them.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=28 October 2021 |title=the property had been used as a squat by a group of activists |url=https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-lunchtime-live/the-property-had-been-used-as-a-squat-by-a-group-of-activists |work=Newstalk |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}} The incident prompted much discussion within Irish media, with many newspapers suggesting the incident was a symptom of a deepening housing crisis in Ireland and Dublin in particular.{{cite news |last=Pollak |first=Sorcha |date=3 November 2021 |title=Is Dublin city losing its cultural soul? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/is-dublin-city-losing-its-cultural-soul-1.4717992 |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=3 November 2021}} In late November 2021 a high court judge ordered the squatters to leave the property and subsequently the squat was ended.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=24 November 2021 |title=Alleged squatters ordered by High Court to leave Stoneybatter property |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/alleged-squatters-ordered-by-high-court-to-leave-stoneybatter-property-1.4737572 |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=10 May 2022}}

The group subsequently occupied a space in Phibsborough, which took on the "That Social Centre" name, distinguished from the previous "Sunnyvale" squat as "Shopfronts" due to it being composed partially of several dilapidated shopfronts in Phibsborough. The Shopfronts squat was vacated over the Christmas 2023 period as it became clear legal proceedings were rapidly reaching a similar result {{Cite web |date=2023-12-30 |title=Court orders alleged trespassers to vacate adjoining Dublin properties |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/court-orders-alleged-trespassers-to-vacate-adjoining-dublin-properties-1570206.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=BreakingNews.ie |language=en}}

As of January 2024 the group has squatted a new building, and are continuing to operate as before.

In May 2022 a socialist republican group called the Revolutionary Workers Union (RWU) seized a property on Eden Quay in Dublin and dubbed it "James Connolly House". The group claimed to refurbish the building, which they said was derelict, and were operating it as a homeless shelter amongst other uses. The Times reported that the building was owned by the Salvation Army who claimed the building was in the process of being refurbished for use by refugees from the Russo-Ukrainian War. The Salvation Army criticised the RWU for disrupting their work while the RWU claimed there was no evidence that the building was being refurbished before their arrival.{{cite news |last=O’Donoghue |first=Patrick |date=4 May 2022 |title=Activists squat in hostel meant for Ukrainian refugees |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/267024a4-cb0a-11ec-a118-514c2c06bc05?shareToken=4acdb18291d3d686ba214cb562aa0638 |work=The Times |location= |access-date=10 May 2022}}{{cite news |last=O’Donoghue |first=Patrick |date=6 May 2022 |title=Squat in hostel meant for Ukrainian refugees is 'radically wrong' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/squat-in-hostel-meant-for-ukrainian-refugees-is-radically-wrong-gl5cwjzgr |work=The Times |location= |access-date=10 May 2022}} In late May the High Court ruled that the squatters must leave{{cite news |last=McGarry |first=Patsy |date=23 May 2022 |title=Workers group occupying Eden Quay property to defy court order |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/workers-group-occupying-eden-quay-property-to-defy-court-order-1.4886101 |work=Irish Times |location= |access-date=14 June 2022}} and in early June, after the RWU said they would not abide by the order, they were evicted by the Garda Síochána.{{cite news |last=O'Faolain |first=Aodhan |date=9 June 2022 |title=Salvation Army regains building earmarked for Ukrainian refugees after Garda operation |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/salvation-army-regains-building-earmarked-for-ukrainian-refugees-after-garda-operation-1317739.html |work= |location= |access-date=14 June 2022}}

{{Main|Revolutionary Housing League}}

Following the events on Eden Quay, the Revolutionary Workers Union created a new organisation called the Revolutionary Housing League, whose primary function is to create squats as a political tactic.{{cite news |last=Dunne |first=Alex |date=26 September 2022 |title=Homeless activists arrested after gardai evict group from vacant city centre building |url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/homeless-activists-arrested-after-gardai-25106201 |work= |location= |access-date=21 September 2023 |quote=The League, itself an offshoot of the Revolutionary Workers Union, have previously occupied a number of vacant buildings, including the Iveagh Markets, a derelict building on Eden Quay, and Dublin 8 apartments that were being redeveloped for elderly people.}} Since June 2022, the organisation has created several squats, primarily in Dublin, although these are usually short-lived, as their tactic of publicising their actions often results in a rapid response from An Garda Siochana.

From 28 July 2024,{{cite news |last1=McNally |first1=Frank |title=House Private – Frank McNally on the apparent occupation of 15 Usher's Island |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irish-diary/2025/01/10/house-private-frank-mcnally-on-the-apparent-occupation-of-15-ushers-island/ |access-date=2025-04-02|work=The Irish Times |date=2025-01-10 |language=en}} a group naming itself 'Independent Minds', began squatting number 15 Usher's Island on the Dublin quays, an eighteenth-century building{{cite news|last=Burke |first=Sarah |title=Why turning Joyce's 'House of the Dead' into apartments may cause uproar |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/why-turning-joyces-house-of-the-dead-into-apartments-may-cause-uproar/a1115555210.html |access-date=2025-04-02|work=The Irish Independent |date=2024-07-20 |language=en}} made famous by being the setting for the events in James Joyce's short story

The Dead from Dubliners (1914).{{cite news|last=Libreri |first=Samantha |title=Joyce house owner offers to sell to State amid occupation |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0330/1504808-james-joyce-house/ |access-date=2025-04-02|work=RTE News |date=2025-03-31 |language=en}}

The activists stated aim was to highlight the issue of homelessness in Dublin, corruption in the Irish housing market, and to call for the building to be restored and created into a museum to Joyce and 'The Dead'. Poet Paula Meehan opined that the building was "tailor-made" to serve as a place "to house visiting writers and artists internationally". The building was still being occupied as of March 2025.

• Homelessness in Ireland

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• [http://struggle.ws/wsm/housing.html Housing activism in Ireland]

{{Ireland topics}}

{{Squatting}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Architecture in Ireland

Category:Society of Ireland

Ireland

Category:Homelessness in Ireland