University makes relocation a vehicle for social change
Once a Viking stronghold, the area encompassing Dublin 7 and Dublin 1 in the northwest inner city of the Irish capital has pockets of gentrification and even a growing collection of hipster food joints in Stoneybatter.
But much of this historically working-class part of the city suffers from high levels of homelessness and poverty.
âFifteen years ago it was a no-go area, but now hipsters are buying houses and itâs trendy in parts,â says Pascal Derrien, who runs SPADE Enterprise Centre in Dublin 7. âBut it is still dodgy â the Garda (police) station is still one of the busiest in the country.â
Creativity and imagination were central themes at last week s Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting.
Michael Cronin delivered an absorbing account of an original agent provocateur , the socialite Luisa Casati. Creator not an imitator described Luisa s unerring talent to make an impact. She was the original Lady Gaga, flamboyant, eccentric and outrageous.
Her decadent house parties in the 1920 s Europe were spectacular. Eye catching costumes which were like art installations were augmented by her grand entrances with her pet cheetahs on a leash. Pablo Picasso and Ezra Pound were enthralled by her exhibitionism.
Modern fashion designers like Alexander McQueen were influenced by her ground breaking coiture.
Several local politicians have greeted the news that a multi-million-Euro extension comprising of a 48-bed block is on its way.
The positive reaction has been echoed by a local group which has campaigned for many years for the further development of North Cork s most significant medical facility.
Noel O Connor of the Friends of Mallow Hospital said the announcement that there would be an extension to the facility prompted a delighted reaction from the group, which has raised more than €300,000 for the hospital since 2008, when services were hard-hit due to the banking crisis. In fact, the proposal to build a 48-bed new block on the hospital campus is music to the ears of the committee members, he said. It will facilitate an increase in the number of elective surgical procedures in the hospital.