Dublin City Council give green light to demolish Apollo House

Reports this morning confirm that Dublin City council has granted permission to demolish Apollo House.

According to The Irish Times, plans for the redevelopment of Apollo House along with its neighbour Hawkins House were lodged last June with the council. The decision comes following a notice from the building owners stating that they are concerned for the safety of those who currently reside in the premises. The legal team representing the interests of the receiver company said at the weekend that those currently occupying Apollo House were “trespassing” and they want to meet them “as soon as possible with a view to agreeing an immediate and orderly vacation of the property in the interests of the health a safety of those who are unlawfully trespassing on the property.”

The Owners of Apollo House are "worried about the health and safety of those staying in Apollo House"' pic.twitter.com/3OQSHqhiY0

— Glen Hansard (@Glen_Hansard) December 20, 2016

As Home Sweet Home amasses volunteers, Apollo House has been transformed into a make shift hostel. Beds have been supplied by Mattress Mick and volunteers have travelled from all over the country. Glen Hansard remains at the frontline and has invited everyone to a sing-song today to raise more funds.

We'll sing a few songs at lunchtime tomorrow our side the Apollo mission! Poolbeg st, 1-2pm tea and a welcome.. Come along! Sing a song.. — Glen Hansard (@Glen_Hansard) December 19, 2016

Speaking on Friday’s Late Late Show Hansard said: “We are involved in an act of civil disobedience. I call upon the very spirit of the Irish people to look at this, it is an illegal act.” “We have taken a building that essentially belongs to the people of Ireland and that has been lying empty,” Hansard added. “The Government will shelter 200 people this Christmas and there’s 260 people between the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal in Dublin. Now this is not only a Dublin issue but between the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal there are 260 people tonight homeless. What we would like to do is bridge the gap… we’ll be asking people to volunteer, we’ll be asking people to get behind the idea. It is a radical idea.” Asked what the response would be if the group are told by the authorities to vacate the building, Hansard said: “You appeal to the better nature of the Government and NAMA. This is a NAMA-owned building. If everybody pays tax in this audience, if anyone knows their stuff they know that that is essentially our building. We are just going to take it for a few months.”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS-Bi1C-9fc&feature=youtu.be