This weekend will see the last of the high rise Ballymun Towers, Joseph Plunkett Tower. being demolished.
Despite harsh budgets the State has spent €1Billion on the regeneration of Ballymun but has it changed for the better? Newstalk’s Henry McKean went to Ballymun to find out.
In 2013, Henry made The Lifts Are Broken Again- Henry McKean’s Ballymun Journey a Newstalk 106-108fm Radio Documentary. You can also see a photo essay (above image by Kevin Fox for Newstalk) documenting his report as part of the Newstalk Magazine for iPad available here: publish.newstalk.ie
Here is a clip from the documentary about a child drug dealer:
Henry went back last week and met Teresa Freeman who has since moved out of the top floor. When Henry met Teresa he thought that she had the best view in Dublin. From where they stood, Henry said that you can see Dun Laoghaire harbour, the Aviva, Dublin Airport... so close to the planes you can see into the cockpit.
Tersea (pictured above) moved from her flat on Monday after 20 years. She told Henry what she would miss:
Katherine McCormock talked to Henry about the camaraderie, she has lived in Joseph Plunkett for 10 years, she also talks about the stigma of being from Ballymun:
Many people have fond memories of the old flats and wish they had them back and don't like their new houses, which they find small and are not used to the ESB bills or how they don't have constant running hot water:
Henry's own thoughts on the flats:
Ballymun was supposed to be the solution to the slum problem of 1960s Dublin but gradually became a byword for drugs and deprivation. Now with over a billion euro spent, has the regeneration of the north Dublin suburb worked?
The Irish government in the 1960s built 7 towers called after the 1916 heroes who were all executed. The only one which still stands is Joseph Plunkett tower, 15 stories high with 90 flats, home to generations of inner city Dublin families. By the 1980s some of these once shiny new blocks with central heating and running hot water had become drug-ridden, frequently with lifts soaked in urine.
In recent years the government has spent €1 Billion re-housing up to 20,000 residents but are they happy with their new homes? Do they miss the old flats with spacious rooms, community spirit and breath taking views over Dublin?
My attitude to Ballymun has been turned on its head. What I found was some of the wittiest, nicest people I have ever met. There are huge positives in Ballymun and some amazing people but just a small minority bringing the reputation of Ballymun down.
I went into a cafe and asked for sparkling water and was told "we only have one type of water, its not Ballygowen its Ballymun water and it's great", and it was.
‘The Lifts Are Broken Again’ will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Saturday 26th September at 7am, and repeated at 10pm.
Listen to the full podcast here:
