Two new radical spaces in Cork

Friday July 22, 2005 17:10

by Jennifer - WSM

CAZ and Barracka Books open up

Cork has two new radical spaces in one - the Cork Autonomous Zone has found a new home that is also the home of Barracka Books, a workers' co-op that includes a radical book section

Found: CAZ and Barracka Books share premises

Finding a space for the Cork Autonomous Zone (CAZ) required an epic search. It took no less than 18 months, involved a few heart breaking setbacks, and was finally resolved by the idea of sharing a space with an upstart, Barracka Books.

The CAZ started running early in 2002. It hosted campaigning groups, facilitated art, music etc. It was formerly located in a small lane off Camden Quay before deciding to move. Noisy neighbours made the space unsuitable to continue but also the building would be knocked, making way for apartments.

The Cork Grassroots Network took on the CAZ search. Since settling into the current space, an independent committee has formed to keep the CAZ running, delegates from each group that use the CAZ are asked to participate. Most nights are booked and some Sundays with various campaigning meetings, life drawing, pagan gatherings, and workshops.

Cork Autonomous Zone Social Space
61 Barracka St.,
Cork
corkcaz@yahoo.ie

Barracka Books is a workers'co-op.

Currently four people are working together, no bosses, decisions made together and profits are shared according to time spent working. The stock is varied, anything from cookery to children's books, new and second hand. There is a strong Irish interest section and notable radical books section. It also facilitates flyers, leaflets, zines and there's a noticeboard in the corridor.

The location is 61 Barrack St, on the ground floor. The shop operates from 10am to 6.30pm,Monday to Saturday. On those days, CAZ usage begins from 7pm onwards. On Sunday it can be booked for a full day.

The two entities are separate and must liaise with one another on common decisions. Work still needs to happen on the space, making it more disability accessible and to facilitate two meetings at once, etc. New groups are welcome but should get in contact with the CAZ committee to book. See our Contacts Section for details on how to get in touch.

Barracka Books - Radical Book Store
61 Barrack Street,
Cork City
barrackabooks@yahoo.ie

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Comments (6 of 6)

Solidarity southwestwards to you from Dublin

by Paul Baynes

Fri Jul 22, 2005 20:47

This is great news. There is a group in Dublin, Seomra Spraoi, trying to get a similar project off the ground, but it is in the earlier stages.
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70829&search_text=seomra%20spraoi

It is both encouraging and draining to hear that you spent 18 months searching for a space. It is encouraging because your committment eventually bore fruit, and this should spur the Seomra Spraoi collective on if things are getting frustrating. But the prospect of such a long search is a draining one.

It is always great to hear about a similar project getting itself going. I recently came across details of a similar project in the UK which came to a successful end.

The Nursery Social Centre Collective in Birmingham took over a building for 6 months. This was a squatted building which had been left abandoned. The collective took over the space and used it as a Fair Trade cafe, as a space for showing films, and a meeting and workshop space. They also set up a community garden nearby.

They resisted three eviction attempts, and eventually voluntarily relinquished use of the space on condition that the space did not remain empty. The collective agreed to leave the space after it was arranged that it would be taken over by RITE Project, a group working with young people who are excluded from the education system.

The collective included children and homeless people, and succeeded because they were able to gain support from the local community. This shows how squatting actions can have a definite positive effect. Quite apart from the valuable use made of the squatted space, if it wasn't for the collective's use of the social centre, the building would have remained empty. It has now been made available for formal use because of this action.

More info on Birmingham squat:
http://stuffit.org/nursery/?CLmNursery_Autonomous_Social_Centre_Calender=6

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305873.html

We had an abandoned community hall where I came from

by eeekkkk

Sat Jul 23, 2005 03:57

The parents dissappeared into hard work and an economic depression (80's) but the kidz kept the hall going for months with boxing pool runing indoor soccer until one night it just turned into all out war between the big boys and the small boys and the local community groups heads came and shut it down

After that we all got into 2-Tone and partying

by eeekkkkk

Sat Jul 23, 2005 04:02

This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor

(A-la-la ...)

Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
We danced and sang as the music played in any boomtown

This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry

(A-la-la ...)

This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town

Mon Jul 25, 2005 21:23

Those were certainly Special days...

caz photos

by dunk

Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:33

fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

the CAZ got a new lick of paint but heres pictures from a few weeks back
we had a little sing song from a few of the local girls who were in the barracka bookshop, you can hear their song soon enough

barracka books

CAZ cork autonomous zone

caz singers

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Two new radical spaces in Cork

Comments (6 of 6)