Nightlife protest
I usually steer clear of politics on this site, but anyone who lives in Dublin (or, time permitting, elsewhere in Ireland) should really go to the Give Us The Night demonstration outside the Dail (Irish parliament) today (Wednesday) at 1pm. We are protesting about the Irish government's plan to push through a new Bill governing the sale of alcohol. Part of this new Bill, should it become law, will make nightclubs close even earlier than they do at present (usually around 3am). It never ceases to amaze me that Ireland has the youngest population in Europe and punches well above its weight in terms of DJs ad live acts who perform here, yet the scene is stymied by the most draconian licensing laws in the EU, and by ultra-conservative politicians with kneejerk responses to social problems (eg binge drinking, which, no one denies, is something that needs to be tackled - but not by prohibitive measures). Anyway, get down on your lunch break and make some noise to register your disgust with the powers that be...
yea, and bring a brolly. blimming lashing again.
Posted by: lerosa | July 02, 2008 at 02:52 AM
Make some noise for us lot, they'd have less of a problem if everything didn't close at the same time and as for shutting earlier than 3am, where have they been for the last 20 years!!!! Fight Fight Fight
Posted by: Martin Dust | July 02, 2008 at 03:53 AM
here's some quick pics from my mobile:
http://www.photobox.ie/album/8161028
Posted by: lerosa | July 02, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Well done for getting out there Leo :)
Posted by: Martin Dust | July 02, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Couldn't make it down (in D15) but great work, got good coverage on the news last night...
Posted by: Dave A | July 03, 2008 at 01:53 AM
yeah the coverage was good, i was worried that they would show the guy dancing around like a mad thing, to undermine it. Pity there wasn't a better turn out, but it was far from bad for a wednesday afternoon.
Posted by: kenny | July 03, 2008 at 11:21 AM
It brought about the biggest media coverage Irish nightclubs have ever got here. Still compiling the news articles, as they are coming in thick and fast (even The Star's editorial tomorrow is urging the government to reconsider their position), but for now, here is the 6 One news clip from the other day:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0702/6news_av.html?2394380,null,230
The Late News actually showed Dermot Ahern commenting on it, and different footage with me, I'm gonna try to track that down too if I can.
Posted by: Sunil | July 06, 2008 at 05:37 PM
It brought about the biggest media coverage Irish nightclubs have ever got here. Still compiling the news articles, as they are coming in thick and fast (even The Star's editorial tomorrow is urging the government to reconsider their position), but for now, here is the 6 One news clip from the other day:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0702/6news_av.html?2394380,null,230
The Late News actually showed Dermot Ahern commenting on it, and different footage with me, I'm gonna try to track that down too if I can.
Posted by: Sunil | July 06, 2008 at 05:38 PM
Interesting... seems our govs have been on the phone to one another...
http://www.theage.com.au/national/experts-call-lockout-a-failure-20080708-3bvx.html?page=-1
...try telling them that binge drinking among Irish and Australians alike pre dates megalithic times...
Posted by: PC/dysconnect | July 08, 2008 at 04:29 PM