Gardaí arrested four people over the weekend.
Earlier this morning, The Irish Times reported that Gardaí are considering implementing measures to prevent crowds from gathering in Dublin City Centre.
Street closures may involve fencing off certain areas and increasing Garda presence. Earlier this month, authorities sealed off a public square in Portobello to deter crowds.
The reports of potential street closures emerge after large crowds gathered throughout town over the weekend. Gardaí arrested four people, but stressed that the majority of the public were “well behaved” and moved on when asked.
Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan took to Twitter to warn against gatherings.
Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great George’s St, Exchequer St, South William St area. Enormous crowds- like a major open air party. This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress.
— Dr Tony Holohan (@DrTonyHolohan) May 29, 2021
Yesterday, Dublin City Council issued a statement on Twitter, saying that staff had to deal with a “significant amount of waste left behind overnight.”
They wrote that large gatherings are “contrary to current public health regulations” and encouraged citizens to “act in a responsible manner and adhere to public health regulations.”
Dublin’s Lord Mayor Hazel Chu addressed the issue on Morning Ireland earlier today.
Increase more public spaces, increase more bins, increase more garda presence. And if you think I haven't asked for this many many times you're sadly mistaken.
Oh and stop blaming young people. Sure I had a 50 year old piss outside the house the other night.
— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) May 30, 2021
She noted that after campaigning for an “outdoor summer”, gatherings in public spaces are to be expected.
“We’ve been advertising an outdoor summer for quite a while,” she said. “We’ve been telling people, ‘listen, you’re going to be able to enjoy your summer, you’re going to be able to go outside. And for a lot of people, they don’t have front or back gardens to be outside in. They can’t invite their friends over when they don’t have that space, and we need to provide that space.”
Across Twitter, public opinion was split. Many felt the large gatherings and subsequent litter was unacceptable. On the other hand, many noted that the lack of public spaces, bins and toilets made concentrated gatherings of people inevitable.
