http___www.universitytimes.ie_2018_09_mic-leinn-na-trionoide-chun-tosaigh-san-fheachtas-tithiochta__1.xml
1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.1 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 6.1 6.2
For months now, housing activists have been working consistently to try draw attention to a severe and unrelenting crisis. This past week, something snapped. Twitter buzzed as details and videos emerged of the heavy-handed eviction of a property that had been occupied by protestors for 25 days. Pictures of the balaclava-clad men hired to eject the protesters from the building were splashed across papers all over the country. Depictions of the aggressive clashes between protesters and private security guards – with Gardaí watching on – struck a chord with previously ambivalent observers, and although some may have downplayed its significance or sympathised with the property owners, it’s clear that more and more of the public has been converted. Indeed, among students, the shift was noticeable. Despite their commitment to marching as part of the National Coalition for Housing and Homelessness, students’ unions had carefully distanced themselves from the protests. But after this week’s incident, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) released statements supporting the movement and strongly condemning the actions of the Gardaí and of the private security guards. Students have been central to the campaign, and though their passion is just as needed elsewhere, their commitment has to be commended. Prominent Trinity activist Conchúir Ó Raidaigh was arrested and suffered injuries in defence of the cause, putting a heroic face onto an occupation that needs, more than anything, to win over the centre ground. And indeed, it seems the only backlash the protestors have suffered has been from those on the acute right of society – Trinity’s own Burkean Journal, a publication with an inauspicious reputation, was among the only media outlets that seemed to place the blame on Ó Raidaigh and his fellow protestors. It’s up to activists now to win over those uncertain of their position and to ride the wave of public opinion as people’s sense of solidarity swells. The vigour behind this movement is undeniably impressive. The housing crisis will inevitably be remembered as one of the biggest struggles of this decade – and this week’s events could end up being the turning point.
1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 6.1 6.2
Le cúpla mí anuas, tá na gníomhaithe tithíochta de shíor ag obair chun aird a dhíriú ar ghéarchéim throm atá gan stanaodh. An tseachtain seo caite, tháinig an crú ar an tairne. Bhí Twitter ar tinneall agus na sonraí agus na físeáin ag teacht amach ar dhíbirt gharbh an lucht agóide ón teach a bhí faoi fhorghabháil acu le 25 lá. Bhí grianghraif d’fhir le balaclávaí orthu, ag díbirt na n-agóideoirí ón fhoirgneamh, le feiceáil sna nuachtáin ar fad ar fud na tíre. Chuaigh an scliúchas trodach idir agóideoirí agus gardaí slándála príobháideacha – agus na Gardaí Síochána ag faire – i bhfeidhm go mór ar bhreathnóirí a bhí neamhpháirteach go dtí sin. Cé go bhfuil daoine áirithe ag déanamh beag den eachtra, agus daoine eile ag tabhairt tacaíochta do na tiarnaí talún, is léir go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó den phobal iompaithe. Tá an t-athrú seo le feiceáil go mór i measc na mac léinn. In aineoinn a ngealltanas chun mairseáil mar chuid den Chomhghuaillíocht Náisiúnta ar son Tithíochta agus Daoine Gan Dídean, bhí na haontas mac léinn cúramach scartha ó na hagóidí. Ach i ndiaidh eachtra na seachtaine seo, chuir Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (USI) agus Aontas na Mac Léinn Choláiste na Tríonóide (TCDSU) ráitis amach ag tacú leis an ghluaiseacht agus ag cáineadh gníomh na nGardaí agus na ngardaí slándála go trom. Tá mic léinn lárnach san fheachtas, agus tá a dtiomantas agus dúthracht le moladh. Gabhadh gníomhaí iomráiteach na Tríonóide, Conchúir Ó Raidigh, agus gortaíodh é i gcosaint na cúise – chuir sé crógacht leis an chúis, a bhfuil tacaíocht de dhíth air ó lucht an láir. Is cosúil nár cáineadh na hagóideoirí ach ón eite fíordheis – bhí Burkean Journal na Tríonóide, irisleabhar le rud beag droch-chlú air, mar cheann de na foilseacháin amháin a chuir an locht ar Ó Raidaigh agus a chomhagóideoirí. Caithfidh na gníomhaithe anois tacaíocht an luchta míchinnte a bhaint, agus leas a bhaint as tacaíocht an phobail agus é anois ag fás. Caithfear láidreacht na gluaiseachta anois a mholadh. Cuimhneofar cinnte an ghéarchéim tithíochta mar cheann de chúiseanna móra an ré seo – agus chuir an tseachtain seo cor ina cinniúint.