Dublin Housing Action Committee

The Dublin Housing Action Committee was a 1960s protest against housing shortages in Ireland's capital city.

It arose from a serious shortage of affordable housing, combined with a large number of properties standing empty. It also functioned as a way for a broad range of left-wingers in the Republic of Ireland to address themselves to a wider audience. This was at a time when nothing much was happening in Northern Ireland and a renewed IRA campaign would have seemed very unlikely.

The Secretary of the committee was Dennis Dennehy (then a member of the Irish Communist Organisation). He had been imprisoned for squatting and also went on hunger strike. After a big protest, he was released and helped support an extensive program of squatting in private-owner properties. Other prominent members were Sean MacStiofain and Seán Ó Cionnaith of Sinn Féin (both later took opposing sides in the 1970 split), Michael O'Riordan ^[1], Proinsias De Rossa, Mairin de Burca, Sam Nolan, ^[2] , Margaret Gaj ^[3] and Fr Austin Flannery.^[4]

The DHAC called for a housing emergency to be declared, a prohibition on demolishing sound living accommodation, and an immediate halt to the building of prestige office blocks. ^[2]

The DHAC also inspired similar campaigns, such as the Derry Housing Action Committee and the Cork Housing Action Committee. The latter organisation protested during a banquet held by the Taoiseach Jack Lynch, calling for Dennehy's release.^[5]

The Committee was accused of being an 'IRA offshoot', but this seems very unlikely although many Sinn Féin members were involved in the campaign.^{[citation needed]} Those involved took different and often critical attitudes towards the IRA when their campaign started.^{[citation needed]}

Notes

1. ^ Communism in Modern Ireland: The Pursuit of the Workers' Republic since 1916,by Mike Milotte, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 1984 (p.241, 250-1).
2. ^ ^{a b} Sam Nolan: A Long March on the Left by Brian Kenny. Personal History Publishing, Dublin, 2010. ISBN 978-0-9551258-3-6 pp. 58-60
3. ^ "She [Gaj] supported the Dublin Housing Action Committee, an alliance of left-wing groups and concerned citizens which highlighted the need to address the capital city’s housing crisis." "Restaurant owner and left-wing campaigner" (Obituary of Margaret Gaj).Irish Times, July 2nd, 2011. Retrieved 6th July 2011.
4. ^ http://www.independent.ie/obituaries/fr-austin-flannery-1517410.html
5. ^ Irish Times, 20 Jan. 1969 pg. 5

External links

• Comment by a founder member
• [1] Role of Michael O'Riordan
• [2] A history of communism in Ireland
• [3] Irish Times comment on the alleged IRA link
• [4] Obituary of Sean O Cionnaith