Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

'Comely maidens dancing at the crossroads'

category dublin | anti-war / imperialism | feature author Thursday May 04, 2006 04:13author by Elaine

Mayday Ladieez

'Comely maidens dancing at the crossroads' was what started it. DeValera's dismissive comment regarding women's roles in his vision of a new Ireland. Misquoted, of course, the actual word he used was 'happy'. So there we were, a bunch of women activists with nothing to do on Mayday (No RTS, aaaahhh) but be happy.

What better place than at the crossroads beside Herbert Park and the US embassy, right in front of DeValera's monument. Throw in a bit of dancing, a picnic with free food for all, send out a few invites, and see what happens...

Other articles about The Unmanageables:

Mayday! Mayday!
Mayday! Mayday!

Checking On The Banners
Checking On The Banners

RAR Swing By For A Cuppa
RAR Swing By For A Cuppa

Chris Entertains The Kids
Chris Entertains The Kids

Sing Something We All Know
Sing Something We All Know

Comments (14 of 14)

Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
author by chris - the unmanageablespublication date Mon May 01, 2006 21:53author email dotliath at gmail dot comauthor address n/aauthor phone 087-7765-289

The very respectable garda, on duty came over to have a polite word in our ear about removing the steaming pile of horseshit from in front of the American Embassy. apparently it is not illegal to drop a banner saying
'US Assurances on rendition flights' and cover it in s****, but it is illegal to leave it there and walk away, (under littering laws). thus a sub-committee had to be formed to remove the smelly substance and bring it to the tulip beds at the crossroads.The flashing was unintentional, but I've never seen a leer like that on a Garda's face. The kids had great fun, thanks everyone!!!!!
I hope to see more images up on the site and in other places over the next few days.
More photos please.

author by Elainepublication date Mon May 01, 2006 22:06author address author phone

After the initial 'meet and greet', we strung some of the banners in front of Dev's cross and held the others for the amusement of passing motorists. Food was laid out and the kids were six deep at the box of chocolate biscuits. (None for me so).
The 'Walls of Limerick' was performed along with some unrecognisable dances and a lot of freestyle jumping around. No injuries to report so I'd call it a success.

"I've got a bag of horse shite in me car," is not a normal greeting. But one of our resourceful (and highly Unmanageable) women made good on that claim and even suggested a use for it...

Settling Down For A Picnic
Settling Down For A Picnic

Dancing At The Crossroads ...
Dancing At The Crossroads ...

And At The Embassy
And At The Embassy

Horse Shite - Glad That's Not My Banner!
Horse Shite - Glad That's Not My Banner!

author by Elainepublication date Mon May 01, 2006 22:25author address author phone

... at the US embassy, it was back to the picnic for those who had the stomach for it. Passing Dev's cross on the way back we noticed its bare base! The Unmanageable ladieezz were shocked at such a public display of nudity - none of us wishing to gaze at Dev's bare plinth, glinting at us in the sunlight with a lascivious gleam. For the sake of modesty and public decency (Dev was big into those) a skirt was procured and wrapped around the offending member. Order restored, we posed happily. Then returned once again to our guests from Revolt video (who had found the balloons) ... and our sandwiches with the crusts cut off ... and our peppermint tea on the lawn...
As one does...

At The DeValera Monument
At The DeValera Monument

We Skirted The Monument
We Skirted The Monument

Not Having A Red Petticoat - Dunk Wore Sunburned Legs
Not Having A Red Petticoat - Dunk Wore Sunburned Legs

Balloon Wisdom
Balloon Wisdom

Balloon Block
Balloon Block

author by RGpublication date Mon May 01, 2006 23:19author address author phone

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/nyregion/27cnd-grand....=eta1

Related Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/nyregion/27cnd-grand.html?ex=1146888000&en=d3bcd4e302681df2&ei=507
author by Moipublication date Tue May 02, 2006 00:14author address author phone

Looks like a great day! Wish I could have made it along,
I was there in spirit.

author by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Irelandpublication date Tue May 02, 2006 00:35author address author phone

A really creative and eyecatching event! Should be more of this. The horseshit should certainly be used more often. Well done all!!

author by Madam K - THe Unmaneageablespublication date Tue May 02, 2006 10:47author address author phone

I was very disappointed that we had to remove the 'shite' from its rightful place on the doorstep of the US Embassy. Like many others I believe it should have remained.

Guards approched us on the Green about an hour later and told us we would be charged under the Litter Act. We asked if he felt the US Government would consider removing their depleted Uranium from Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. We were told this was Irish soil, so we then enquired that being so as a neutral country, why the US were landing their Warplanes in Shannon and Baldonnel. He had no answer and walked off.

Some of those amongst felt the flowers were more worthy of this gift. The Litter Act... Posters banned in Dublin, What next? Will they be fining the horses on Stephens Green or even the Guards... Come to think of it Stephen's Green is nice and close to Kildare Street.....

Revolt Video of the day coming soon.....

Cheers to all present. A great day was had by all...

author by Leilapublication date Tue May 02, 2006 13:34author address author phone

A childs picnic after handling a mound of shit? Sounds dreadfully unhygienic to me.

author by ann manageablepublication date Tue May 02, 2006 15:00author address author phone


You sound like a dreadfully boring cop to me....

author by chris murray - the unmanageablespublication date Tue May 02, 2006 20:11author email dotliath at gmail dot comauthor address author phone 087-7765-289

The picnic occured before the horseshit.
the horseshit was the icing on the cherry-cake.
The dancing occured during the horseshit (and after)

all those stinky hands......

(another two actions coming soon..........)

author by Statin' the Obviouspublication date Tue May 02, 2006 23:33author address author phone

Now that's been sorted for you Leila. If hygene is your real concern and not comfy first world cynicism maybe you coul start addressing the tactic of U.S. Naval & Air Force bombardment over Iraq.

Harvard University claims that the U.S. Navy & Air Force purposely targetted water treatment and sewage treament works knowing by bombing them, they would unleash plagues of gaestro, cholera & typhoid.

Sounds like germ warfare to me!

author by Anthonypublication date Wed May 03, 2006 21:09author address author phone

Resposting this pic as it was deleted from the database (and this article) by the tech gremlins

ladieez.jpg

author by cathiepublication date Wed May 03, 2006 22:02author address author phone

actually moving the shite over to the flowers ourselves worked better in the end; the very distinct aroma of shit that usually emminates from the offices of the powerful elite was met with the somewhat sweeter natural 100% organic flower fertilising version. and the tulips were delighted. if we'd left it it would've been mindlessly landfilled no doubt.

Anyone remember the motion in Killarney to have the horses wear nappies as they ferry the tourists around? the day may come...
nothing is too ludicrous for the office monkeys.

It was a really positive, inspiring, energetic day. More women and children the better I reckon!
Looking forward to more unmanagability.

author by Patty Peppercornpublication date Tue May 09, 2006 06:52author address author phone

As a liberal, female American citizen who is VERY pro irish, (and hoping to become an Irish citizen in the next few years), I would like to ecstatically applaud your steaming pile of horse shite in front of the US embassy. I fear it might have gone to better use on President Shrub's desk, however, I imagine it might be tough to get through customs. Well done ladies!


http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75786

Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.