CDC – Video&Leaflet

Today (9/7/12) the CDC delivered over a 100 leaflets around Tom Kelly Flats and a few bags of spuds for the residents. We got a great response, with many residents delighted with the bags of spuds they received.

CDC – Harvest Time

“The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses” – Hanna Rion

Since the beginning of February 2012 the CDC along with residents from Tom Kelly Flats, set out to create a community garden for the area. Although at the time, we were entering into the unknown scene of gardening and were operating on an experimental trial and error basis, we’re happy to announce that the initiative was a great success.

Today (8/7/12) the CDC along with residents in Tom Kelly Flats began the first harvest of the community garden. Our first main crop to be harvested was our organic potatoes, we then harvested some of our organic vegetables as well.

Throughout Dublin’s inner-cities there is an ample amount of land lying idle that could be put to better use for the surrounding communities, and to create a green space that offers us salvation from the hustle and bustle lifestyle of inner-city living, we at times are forced to lead. A green space offers us relief from stress and helps to rejuvenate some of the balance that occasionally chaos throws at us on a daily basis.

Because of the success we have had with our first produce, and the interest shown by many residents, we’re planning to expand into the vacant neighbouring gardens in the near future.

If you would like to take part in the gardening initiative and help to create a space we can call our own, we will be meeting every second Sunday at 1pm and would encourage both young and old to get involved.

Is mise le meas,

CDC – Spokesperson: Tony Nicoletti.

Email: CharloCDC@gmail.com

CDC Fundraiser Report

On the 30th of June 2012, the Citizens Defence Committee held an extremely successful fundraising event in the Dublin Supporters Bar on Parnell Street.

We got off to a great night with a fantastic performance from Irish ballad/folk music band, the Celtic Rebels, who gave it their all and graced us with a brilliant set of traditional Irish music, followed by an excellent rendition of popular Irish rebel songs. Both lads played beautifully and are to be highly recommended by the CDC!

As the night went on and we reached the interval, the long anticipated draw took place.
Among the top prizes was a pair of boxing gloves donated and signed by Anthony (The Pride) Fitzgerald, a rugby ball signed by members of the Irish rugby squad and a beautiful handcrafted bodhrán made by republican prisoners in Portlaoise Gaol. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to all of our comrades for donating the wonderful prizes!

The winners of the draw are as follows:
1st Prize (Signed Boxing Gloves): Jem Ryan c/o John Murtagh

2nd Prize (Signed Rugby Ball): Karl Fitz c/o John Murtagh

3rd Prize (Portlaoise Craft): Ronald Walsh c/o Tommy Walsh

4th Prize (Toaster): Bobby Patterson c/o John Doyle

The CDC would also like to give a special thank you to the Dublin Supporters Bar for the use of the venue and who made the night possible, the magnificent Celtic Rebels for their wonderful music, and our comrades who sold many tickets, raising much needed funds to be used for a number of CDC campaigns which will involve active pickets, protests, and our Urban Agriculture Initiative.

We would also like to send out a special thank you to all of those who showed up on what turned out to be a fantastic night and to those who have supported us along the way.

Míle buíochas le gach duine!

Dublin – CDC

Short address made on the night by representative of the CDC:

“We would like to thank the Dublin Supporters Club for providing the venue, to Anthony for donating the boxing gloves and to the Republican Socialist POWs in Portlaoise for donating the bodhran.
For years people of Ireland have turned to politicians to sort out their problems. Different political parties have claimed to be the voice of the working class.  One by one they have led peole up the hill, usually starting from just round the corner in the Garden of Remberence, up to Leinster House.  Walked them up the hill, promised action and failed to deliver.  The people of Dublin are not stupid.  They can see clearly how traditional politics has failed them.

Citizens Defence is something completely different.  We will not be asking you for your votes, we will not be making promises we cannot keep.  We are simply asking you to organise, and to be active.  Active against the attacks that are coming down the road, active against water charges, household charges, against government threats to cut people’s dole if they don’t submit to slavery, active against the illegal and sectarian partition of our country and active against a system that lines the pockets of Dublin’s elite while Dublin’s workers suffer.

Citizens Defence is doing things differently, organising communities to stand up for themselves.  We ask all of you here, if you have a problem that needs sorted, don’t go to your local councillor, or TD, look first around you, you will find neighbours, a community, comrades who can organise to defend your rights.  If you have ideas of how your community can be a better place, you can be sure that the system will not care, or help.  They do not care.  Citizens Defence is here and ready to help.  You will be surprised what can be achieve if we are organised and if we are not afraid to stand together.  If you think Citizens Defence can help you or your community, come speak to us and together we will take the fight to the enemy, and work towards building a Workers Republic!”

CDC Fundraiser

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CDC – Charlemont Street Communal Garden (4/5 week)

Today (25/3/12) the CDC in cooperation with residents in Charlemont Street continued to work on a communal garden for the area.

Spokesperson for the CDC and Charlemont Street resident Tony Nicoletti commented:

“As we entered the 4-5 week of our gardening, the fruits of our labour have finally started to materialise.”

“Our potatoes, with the help of donated horse manure, are starting to sprout from the soil and it shouldn’t be long now till we’re able to harvest them. So far we have different varieties of seeds planted, tomatoes, peas, garlic and beans just to name a few, that have also sprung forth from the soil and begun to grow.”

“We were also kindly donated a 1000 litre container, by our comrade within the CDC. This is an invaluable tool and one that will greatly enhance our gardening productivity, especially in the hot summer day’s ahead.”

“Week by week, the garden is slowly but surely taking shape. We have paint at the ready for the surrounding walls and a group of activists eager to get stuck in. It won’t be long now until the garden will be in full production mode and we are turning out some nice organic fruits and vegetables.”

ENDS.

CDC – Charlemont Street Communal Garden (third week)

Today (4/3/12) the CDC in cooperation with residents in Charlemont Street continued to work on a communal garden for the area.

Spokesperson for the CDC and Charlemont Street resident Tony Nicoletti commented:

“Today was very productive as we started off by clearing out the last of the remaining weeds and turned the rest of the soil in preparation for the planting of more seeds.”

“We’ve also laid down a small vegetable patch and constructed a germination box for the seeds which should be ready soon to plant.”

“I would like give a big thank you to all of those who have so far taking part in the gardening process and a big thank you to those who support its initiative.”

“Thankfully, the weather continues to be kind to us and hopefully it keeps up its trend as we meet again in a weeks time.”

ENDS.

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CDC – Charlemont Street Communal Garden (second week)

Today (19-2-12) the Dublin Citizens Defence Committee carried out a second weeks work on a communal garden in Charlemont Street, Tom Kelly Flats.

Spokesperson for the CDC and Charlemont Street Resident, Tony Nicoletti commented:

“We started off today by clearing out some more weeds and rubbish from the gardens and started planting potatoes. Two ridges/mounds, both 20ft in length, were dug for the potatoes to be planted in and with a bit of luck, will grow into many. The labour intensive process of turning the soil and uprooting the weeds is almost completed and should be ready soon to plant more seeds and potatoes.”

“Among other items we have organised for the garden is a brick-BBQ, which we hope to start work on shortly. We are also planning on painting the walls in the garden and hope to incorporate some murals onto it, painted by the kids from the area.”

“Things are looking up and the garden is starting to take shape, lets hope the weather continues to be kind to us when we meet again in a couple of weeks time”

ENDS.

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Charlemont Street Community Garden

Today (5/2/12), the Dublin Citizens Defence Committee (CDC) in co-operation with residents in Charlemont Street, participated in organising and carried out work on a communal garden for the area.

Spokesperson for the CDC and Charlemont Street resident Tony Nicoletti commented:

“When Charlemont Street was giving the green light for redevelopment and as part of the de-tenanting process, all ground-floor flats have been vacated and boarded-up. This left the flats complex with plenty of unused gardens that have been lying idle now for quite awhile.”

“We got off to a good start today and began cleaning out rubbish and turning the soil in some of the gardens to make way for the planting of seeds and potatoes. This was the most labour intensive process of the gardening and all that’s left now to do is set about planting seeds.”

“The idea behind the communal garden is to create a space for the residents within the flats complex so that the young and old can use the area for play, learning, meeting, and socialising, as well as gardening, and also to give them the opportunity to participate and contribute their own ideas.”

“We would encourage all parents and kids to come along to our next gardening event. This is a great opportunity, especially for the kids from the area, to get involved in and help create a space they can call their own.”

For anybody who would like to take part in the gardening we will be meeting again in a couple of weeks time (18/2/12) at 2pm to start with the planting process.

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CDC Function Report

Ar an 14iú Bealtaine chuir an CDC ócáid tiomsaithe airgid thar a bheith rathúil ar bun. Cuireadh an oíche ar bun i dteach tabhairne an Deer’s Head ar Sráid Parnell i gcroílár chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath. Príomhaidhm na hoíche ná chun tarraingt ticéid a chuir ar bun os rud é gur dhíol baill an CDC na céadta díobh sna seachtainí roimhe sin ionas airgead a chruinniú dár gníomhaíochta amach romhainn. Cuid tábhachtach eile den oíche ab ea na daoine a bhí bailithe ann a chur ar an eolas faoi obair an CDC agus na spriocanna atá againn don todhchaí chomh maith le béim a leagan ar an bhfáth go bhfuil sé criticiúil eagraíocht ar nós an CDC bheith ar bun agus an eacnamaíocht trína chéile. Sheinn Celtic Symphony ceol ar an oíche, idir meascáin balléidí, ceol traidisiúnta agus roinnt popcheoil. Ag deireadh na dála is oíche lán de craic agus spraoi a bhí ann. Chomh maith leis sin baineadh aidhmeanna na hoíche amach, bailíodh airgead don CDC agus daoine a cuireadh daoine ar an eolas faoinár dtionscnaimh agus pleananna don todhchaí.

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On the 14th of May a highly successful fund raising event was held by CDC. The night was held in the Deer’s Head Public on Parnell Street in Dublin’s city centre. The aim of the night was primarily to hold a draw for which hundreds of tickets had been sold by CDC members in order to raise monies to promote our initiatives. Another aspect of the night, however, included the CDC informing all those present at the function of our objectives and the reasons why it is imperative that an entity such as the CDC be set up in these times of harsh economic depression. Music on the night was provided by Celtic Symphony who played a mixture of ballads, traditional and more contemporary music. All in all an enjoyable night was had by those in attendance and the purpose of the function to raise both funds for the CDC, and awareness of our work and plans for the future, was realised.

~ Citizens Defence Committee Benefit Draw ~

14th MAY @10pm – Deer’s Head Public House, Parnell Street, Dublin.

*1st Prize: pair of boxing gloves signed by World Champion Anthony “The Pride” Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald talked to the CDC last Sunday and had this to say about the initiative:

”I support any community initiative that has the interests of citizens at heart where the foundation stone rebuilds the unbreakable community spirit of times gone by, where citizens and neighbours genuinely looked out for, and helped one another, something that has been sadly lacking in this era where economic survival takes precedent over community wellbeing”.

“I wish to think that in my role as a successful boxer from Inner City Dublin that I not only play my own part in rebuilding the same community spirit but also act as a role-model to the upcoming generation and show them that sport can play a healthy part in maintaining ones own health, wellbeing and discipline in a community atmosphere. This helps gain the unequivocal support of all citizens/neighbours. Those who have communities at heart should endeavour to rekindle the same community spirit of times gone by”.

– other prizes on the night include beautifully crafted handmade bodhráns, a framed Proclamation and a framed James Connolly photograph