Newspaper Articles
Marese McDonagh, Irish Independent, Saturday May 10th, 2003.
It was a day of celebration yesterday for a community which has risen above the ravages of poverty and the evil of drugs.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was on hand to unveil a multi-million euro housing complex for residents in a Dublin city area which has seen many of its young people's lives wasted.
Although the day marked a new hopeful beginning, the horror and pain was still a poignant memory for many.
One father said his son was aged only 12 when he was first given heroin. And the man's sister lost three of her children to the deadly drug.
A lot of the older people talked of the endless procession of coffins being taken into Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street as fathers and mothers buried not just one but two, three or even four of their children.
However, yesterday marked the rebirth of this brave community. Mr. Ahern was there to officially open Killarney Court, formerly St. Joseph's Mansions, which has been through many cycles since it was first built in 1939.
Joe Dowling, one of about 200 residents in the plush new complex in the north-east inner city, recalls that when the Dublin docks were thriving the residents of "Joey's" had pride in their community.
But during the economic hard times of the 1980s, the area degenerated to a wasteland where drug dealers found easy prey.
Unfortunately, by the time residents, and particularly local mothers, fought back, 100 of the 138 flats had been boarded up.
"It was like Beirut", said Joe Dowling.
But yesterday as he surveyed the buntings and the playground, community hall and the mix of family housing, he was thankful that his grandchildren could now enjoy a safe and happy future.
Brian O'Gorman, chief executive of the Cluid Housing Association which owns and manages Killarney Court, cannot hide his admiration for those residents who convinced officialdom to help them save their community.
As the Taoiseach pointed out that €30m of State aid had been spent on public housing, Mr. O'Gorman appealed to the commercial sector to show the same faith in the area and its fine people with more jobs and services.
