A group of individuals from Drogheda 4 All, representatives of political parties, grass roots movements and trade unions braved the cold and rain on Thursday night to gather on North Quay across the river Boyne from the D Hotel to show their solidarity with the homeless placed in emergency accommodation at the hotel and others in poor living conditions resulting in unjust forced eviction orders of a young family.

Opening the event, a Drogheda 4 spokesperson welcomed attendees and thanked the people of Drogheda for their continued and tireless solidarity with those left homeless and unhoused in the town.

They drew particular attention to the plight of families throughout the local community who remain in emergency accommodation and also expressed their horror and revulsion that some families, having been processed and granted leave to remain in Ireland, could face eviction for daring to raise a grievance against their landlord.

Labour TD Deputy Ged Nash remarked that there were 15,000 people described as homeless in Ireland, 5000 of whom are children. He expressed grave concern regarding the housing policy of the incoming government and explained that he had been in contact with the relevant departments concerning the increasingly precarious living conditions imposed on people already suffering trauma and anxiety, who although Irish citizens, were nonetheless abandoned to languish without any clear support or assistance.

Deputy Joanna Byrne was unable to attend on the night but she sent a clear message, read out by a SF representative of solidarity with the cause of housing for all and the need to end the inhumane treatment of those unable to escape the constant threat of eviction even from substandard accommodation, and the added threat of verbal and violent abuse which had necessitated the vigil.

People Before Profit representative in Drogheda, Micheal Tuohy, spoke of the dire circumstances suffered by all due to the failure to address housing. He remarked how horrible it was on a rainy damp night in January to see so many homeless people on the streets of Drogheda

 He said that in Drogheda, we always looked after our neighbours, and that it was time for the government to do the same. He condemned the mistreatment of the marginalised by the present government and commended those attending for standing with all communities including migrants.

A representative of Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) in Louth noted that community was the backbone of good society and reiterated a pledge of support to all people who faced the indignity of subjugation to the landlord class. They reminded people that the Irish nation was born in spite of absentee landlords, extortionist rents and an indifferent ruling class that profited from the misery of the working class.

He condemned the laisser-faire neoliberal agenda of the present government and looked forward to the day when such barbarism would be consigned to history. They spoke of the horror and disgust felt by activists throughout Ireland at the mistreatment of Tenants in Ireland today, paying homage to the residents of D Hotel who were left with no option but to fight the unjust threat of eviction placed upon them.

Lastly Brian Condra  of SIPTU spoke on behalf of the Trade Union movement. He welcomed members of the many unions present, and reminded attendees that Ireland was indeed birthed in the rubble and squalor of the tenements of Dublin and other industrial cities and towns.

He spoke of the birth of the modern trade union movement in 1913, and how it had evolved to be a stalwart of diversity that understood that equality and justice are the inheritance of all which had informed the ‘Raise The Roof’ campaign which continued to advocate for a just and open social housing policy in Ireland.

He said that as a nation Ireland bore the scars of immigration, when the Irish were evicted not just from their homes, but their birth land. He questioned how anyone in Ireland could mistreat those who now needed our support, as we ourselves share this history.

Drogheda 4 All thanked everyone who came out, with only an hour’s notice, to stand in solidarity on such a miserable wet night which he said was a testament to the innate humanity of the people of Drogheda.