Locals in Dublin's inner city are calling for the historic horse yards in the Liberties to be protected.
Molyneux Yard - known as "The Lane" - is located in the heart of the city, and has been the centre of Dublin's urban horse tradition for many generations.
While authorities have shut down some of those horse yards, several are still operating - with some of the owners still involved in tourism in the city.
Planning permission has been granted for a number of hotels in the area, with locals particularly concerned over the impact of one development if it goes ahead.
Dublin City Council says the development description of the planned hotel does not make reference to any horse yard - suggesting any dispute is a civil matter outside of planning regulations.
Campaigners, however, say the new hotel puts the yards at risk - and have now launched a campaign to 'Save the Lane'.
Henry McKean spoke to some of those campaigning to save Dublin's urban horse culture.
Kristin Vollset - known to locals as Norwegi - is a Norwegian filmmaker who worked on projects about horse culture in the city.
She said: "The urban horse culture goes back hundreds of years - in the Guinness factory the horses were used for transportation for over 200 years. The horses have also been used for all sorts of things - transporting coal, milk, anything really.
"It's really part of the soul and history of Dublin, and part of Ireland's national heritage. I really think these urban horse sheds should be protected by the Department of Culture and Heritage.
"There has been huge resistance from the local community against these hotels going up. This problem of gentrification of course is going on in the whole world - I think it really is time people everywhere rise up."
Christy Gaffney, meanwhile, is involved in the Save the Lane group.
He explained: "People talk about the horses, animal welfare, the image of horse ownership in the city - I think what this boils down to really is a class distinction.
"People with accents like mine... we lower the costs of property.
"The struggle with Dublin going on at the moment - with gentrification and the way the city is being torn up - [is] sort of epitomised by the attitude towards horse lovers in Dublin city, and those involved in working with horses."
He says he "absolutely" believes people who ride horses in the city are vilified - but stressed they are doing absolutely nothing illegal by owning or riding a horse in the city centre.
'A real sense of history'
Holly Ward is the owner of a crossbreed horse called Chico, and is also the first female licenced carriage driver in the history of Dublin City.
Speaking about horse culture in Dublin, Holly observed: "It's lovely to just walk down the city, and you turn your head and you look into a laneway and you see a horse standing there.
"A real sense of history is still sitting in the city... the kids come up to me - they're so delighted, and they feed the horse.
"Looking at the younger generation that might be coming up, they want to get involved in the horses - that might be taken away from them in the blink of an eye".
Temper Mental Miss Elayneous - rapper, poet, actor and NCAD student - is also involved in the campaign.
She told Henry: "Witnessing gentrification... the general feeling of unwelcome to local young men is a striking matter to me - and one I've witnessed first hand.
"I come from Dublin 11, so I'm a guest to Dublin 8. Yet I think it's important to stand in solidarity with other working class people who are fed up and being tired of being told 'your culture isn't of any value'.
"Stand in solidarity with us - don't let gentrification poison, smother and cancel out our communities."
