Dubliners and visitors show their resilience as city recovers from night of riots
It was a night of unbridled chaos, as rioters looted, burned, and vandalised Dublin city centre.
But by Friday morning, the recovery had already begun as Dublin showed its resilience.
At 6am, street cleaners, gardaí, and maintenance workers were already tending to the targeted areas, getting the city get back on its feet.
On a crisp and bright morning, the people who are the heart of the city every day, were on their way back to work and setting up their Christmas stalls.
By lunchtime, the burnt-out vehicles, as well as the smashed-in windows and damaged properties that had been beamed around the world, were mostly cleared or being repaired.
Some shops delayed opening their doors until midday, including the GPO, Arnott’s, and Penneys.
Hard-working shop assistants could be seen in store windows on O’Connell Street, restacking shelves with clothes and shoes after thousands of goods were stolen.
By 11am the well-loved historical walking tours were underway, as groups of tourists gathered around their guide opposite the GPO
While people were clearly reeling from the horrific events of the night before, decent hard workers were trying to bring a sense of normality back to the city.
A statement by Dublin Town, the city centre business lobby group, which represents 2,500 members, said: “The city centre remains open for business today."
CEO Richard Guiney said: “Dublin City centre will not allow itself be cowed by the events of November 23."
He added that the group has been liaising and will continue to liaise with all relevant state agencies and local and national stakeholders around the events of Thursday on behalf of its members.
“We need now to see the best of Dublin and Dubliners as businesses deal with the consequences of these events at what is a critical time for retail and hospitality,” Mr Guiney added.
“Business will play their role in returning the city centre to normal, and we urge the people of Dublin and beyond to support Dublin City centre at this time.
“Our city has always been resilient and will remain so. I am grateful to An Garda Siochána, Dublin City Council and the other state and semi-state agencies involved for their continuing efforts."
Street trader Veronica Daly told the : “I’m not afraid to come out today, you can’t let bullies win."
The north inner city local said her children were past pupils of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square off O’Connell Street where the stabbing incident took place and resulted in a night of riots.
“My own kids went there; the kids are all traumatised,” she said. “The school is where children are supposed to be safe. The children are afraid.
“I actually went up to that school after the stabbing, because I’ve lots of friends in that school. When I went up and saw what I was seeing I knew I had to get out of there. It is disgraceful."
Agniszka Marzec who lives locally, and her mother Ewa said they came out to do their Christmas shopping “to show some strength” against the rioters.
“It was stressful,” she said. “It happened two rows from our home.
“I am Polish, and I live here 16 years, I feel it is getting worse. I never had this experience here, before now. I have a baby now, so you worry more."
However, Ms Marzec said she decided to take her child for a walk in the pram with her mother and to do some Christmas shopping.
“I look out and I see people coming out,” she said. “It is a strong response, all the people come out today.
“We are all going together so I joined them. It went too far on Thursday. I never saw that.
“Everything is clean and sorted now. The police are everywhere. But I would like to see more, and they need to have more support to support themselves. We have to support the gardaí. They do not have all the support they need."
Two tourists from London — Hannah Callaghan and Charlie Virgo who are here to celebrate Charlie's 30th birthday — said the riots would not put them off enjoying their weekend in Dublin.
“It is really sad,” said Ms Callaghan. “I’ve been here many times, my mum is Irish, she is from Mullingar. We arrived this morning [Friday] and we saw this on the way over.
“We are from south London. We were very disappointed; the images are shocking but it is like the London riots. There is a heavy presence though of the gardaí and people are out and about.
“We are staying out of the main city, where there has been no violence so far. I think we’ll be ok. It won’t ruin our holiday anyway”.
Shop worker John Vowaoshai from South Africa said he felt “uneasy” going into work, but that he wanted to join the “show of solidarity”.
“I’m uneasy today,” he said. “I’m not Irish, so I’m probably not in the safest place, a man from South Africa on the same street where the violence happened.
“We are open today in a show of strength with others, you have to show some resilience to some degree.
“There is a deep-rooted issue here. What happened Thursday grew from a history that has been ignored. I am here over a year. To be fair, it is not a reflection of this society but there is a significant, sizeable portion of the population who believe that someone like me should not be here.
“I am here legally and with a visa. It is being allowed to happen; the system is letting it happen. There is a lack of information and education and lack of community measures.
“I don’t feel safe today, but I am here like everyone else and will do my best."
