Household Charge Protest Meeting Old Ground Hotel 06.02.12

[Social Conscience]

I attended a meeting in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis yesterday evening which was chaired by Shannon man Chris Quinn and attended by TD’s Joan Collins and Joe Higgins and approximately 300 residents of the county. It proved to me once again that apathy is alive and well in Clare as I was very disappointed with the overall turnout. Not been ageist but the average age of people there was 55+ and it got me to wonder where the hell are the young people who are house owners as they all haven’t emigrated?

The media presence wasn’t huge but Clare FM, Clare Champion and the Clare People all had representatives there.

No matter what people feel on this issue there is huge opposition to paying this tax and the latest figures I heard is that only 6% having registered to pay thus far which equates to somewhere in the region of 90K home owners.

Even with just under two months to go to the deadline at the end of March it looks that the government are going to get a huge 2 fingers from a majority of Joe Public – one can only hope that finally the Irish attitude to lying down and taking everything that is thrown at them is been chipped away.

Only time will tell I guess.

[Crazy horse 6]

Irish people mostly just cave in at the end of the day, it's why they keep kicking us.

[Clanrickard]

I attended a meeting in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis yesterday evening which was chaired by Shannon man Chris Quinn and attended by TD’s Joan Collins and Joe Higgins and approximately 300 residents of the county. It proved to me once again that apathy is alive and well in Clare as I was very disappointed with the overall turnout. Not been ageist but the average age of people there was 55+ and it got me to wonder where the hell are the young people who are house owners as they all haven’t emigrated?

The media presence wasn’t huge but Clare FM, Clare Champion and the Clare People all had representatives there.

No matter what people feel on this issue there is huge opposition to paying this tax and the latest figures I heard is that only 6% having registered to pay thus far which equates to somewhere in the region of 90K home owners.

Even with just under two months to go to the deadline at the end of March it looks that the government are going to get a huge 2 fingers from a majority of Joe Public – one can only hope that finally the Irish attitude to lying down and taking everything that is thrown at them is been chipped away.

Only time will tell I guess.

The loony left are not wanted in Clare. Glad to see that people are going to pay their lawful taxes.

[ShoutingIsLeadership]

A report on RTE Radio 1 at about 8.15 am had a very vocal/angry crowd from some such meeting last night. I don't know where it was, because I'm tired of all this now. I've made up my mind about what I'm doing (not registering for the charge) but I don't need to hear the usual calls for bankers to be jailed before people will pay this charge.

Let's have some quiet, pots and pans dignified protest, if we are going to protest. Let's maintain some dignity, no matter how angry some of us are.

[Social Conscience]

The loony left are not wanted in Clare. Glad to see that people are going to pay their lawful taxes.

I have no time for the loony left, centre or right - the whole problem with this campaign is that it’s become political which may seem like a ridiculous statement. However my point is this – the people need to stand up for what they believe in and stop looking at the political classes for leadership which no matter what persuasion they are, are nonexistent in my opinion.

P.S. Clanrickard - I was hoping to see my buddy Timmy there last night but sadly he wasn't.

[statsman]

I attended a meeting in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis yesterday evening which was chaired by Shannon man Chris Quinn and attended by TD’s Joan Collins and Joe Higgins and approximately 300 residents of the county. It proved to me once again that apathy is alive and well in Clare as I was very disappointed with the overall turnout. Not been ageist but the average age of people there was 55+ and it got me to wonder where the hell are the young people who are house owners as they all haven’t emigrated?

The media presence wasn’t huge but Clare FM, Clare Champion and the Clare People all had representatives there.

No matter what people feel on this issue there is huge opposition to paying this tax and the latest figures I heard is that only 6% having registered to pay thus far which equates to somewhere in the region of 90K home owners.

Even with just under two months to go to the deadline at the end of March it looks that the government are going to get a huge 2 fingers from a majority of Joe Public – one can only hope that finally the Irish attitude to lying down and taking everything that is thrown at them is been chipped away.

Only time will tell I guess.

Can't you see that there is something deeply lacking in social conscience in the attitude that people who don't agree with your position are suffering from apathy? And that there is no logical connection between the first two paragraphs in your OP and the rest of it?

[Social Conscience]

A report on RTE Radio 1 at about 8.15 am had a very vocal/angry crowd from some such meeting last night. I don't know where it was, because I'm tired of all this now. I've made up my mind about what I'm doing (not registering for the charge) but I don't need to hear the usual calls for bankers to be jailed before people will pay this charge.

Let's have some quiet, pots and pans dignified protest, if we are going to protest. Let's maintain some dignity, no matter how angry some of us are.

I'm guessing that report could have been from Ennis last night but i didn't see anyone from RTE there. I agree with you as regards people going off on one about bankers etc and last night was no different. People are so very angry so just end up venting but won't take to the street but that is another story. I admire your decision as I will be doing the very same and maintaining some dignity in all this is very much needed.

[statsman]

I have no time for the loony left, centre or right - the whole problem with this campaign is that it’s become political which may seem like a ridiculous statement. However my point is this – the people need to stand up for what they believe in and stop looking at the political classes for leadership which no matter what persuasion they are, are nonexistent in my opinion.

P.S. Clanrickard - I was hoping to see my buddy Timmy there last night but sadly he wasn't.

Maybe by not attending the meeting people were standing up for what they believe in, but it just wasn't what you believe in.

[Tombo]

Call me the cynic, but this movement promoted by the Left will be bought out by a new formula that stipulates that more than 50% of all households will be exempt, another large prportion to pay some cursory amount and fewer than 10% of the population ("the rich" - booooo) will pay a very large amount (out of the paltry 50% of earning that isn't aklready taken at source from that cohort)

Higgins and co. will be well satisfied with that result.

[ShoutingIsLeadership]

I'm guessing that report could have been from Ennis last night but i didn't see anyone from RTE there. I agree with you as regards people going off on one about bankers etc and last night was no different. People are so very angry so just end up venting but won't take to the street but that is another story. I admire your decision as I will be doing the very same and maintaining some dignity in all this is very much needed.

Hopefully slopping out in Mountjoy won't scar me!