Close to 200 teens and young people collected outside among Temple Bar’s most popular bars for a 2nd demonstration on Saturday following a supposed attack on 2 teens previously today.
The protesters, the majority of whom were bring skateboards which they banged on the cobblestones while shouting “come out and say sorry”, booed clients who went into the Temple Bar club on the corner of Temple Lane South.
On Monday, video footage appeared on the Temple Bar live web cam appearing to reveal 2 teens, aged 13 and 16, associated with a run-in with security personnel outside the Temple Bar club. The occurrence is now being examined by gardaí.
Another demonstration had actually occurred on Thursday night.
On Saturday night, a little number of gardaí based on the edges of the crowd, which continued to shout, whistle and clap for approximately an hour along the primary strip of Temple Bar.
Evan Fogarty, who arranged the demonstrations on Thursday and Saturday, informed The Irish Times: “We’re all still a bit shook after the entire thing.
“We simply desire them to come out and apologise, to describe themselves.
“Skateboarders have actually gone through enough. They’re not into sports so they use up skating to take their minds off psychological health problems, to manage their unfavorable energy.
“But public spaces are not appreciated in this country. They put stoppers at the bottom of ledges to stop us from skateboarding. They build skateparks that have no lights or roofs.”
Addressing the crowd
Mr Fogarty likewise attended to the crowd in Temple Bar and led chants for the club owner to apologise.
“These kids don’t cause any trouble,” he yelled. “All they want to do is get something positive to do. We get no light shed on skateboarding in this country, that’s why we’re standing here. None of us are scumbags.”
“We’re just a movement of kids,” he included.
When asked whether the Temple Bar club supervisor might talk about the demonstration, a security personnel at the door stated the reaction was “no comment”.
Imogen “Mo” Nicholson stated she was heartened by the turnout at both demonstrations and hoped the general public was taking notice of their needs.
“It’s honestly so lovely seeing everyone here. We’re telling them yeah, you’re older than us, you’re adults, but we’re telling you this is not right and we’re gonna call you out on it.”
The 16-year-old from Lucan stated she was fortunate to have access to an enclosed skatepark in her area however that the majority of skaters in the capital need to practice on the streets. The absence of facilities for skaters in Dublin is “atrocious”, she included. “I know lads who would rather skate than anything else but they end up turning to drugs because they want that serotonin they get when they skate but there’s nowhere to do it in their area.”