The Bantry Solidarity Lodge.
cork |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report
Tuesday July 04, 2006 01:03
by Niall Harnett - Bantry Solidarity Camp & Lodge / Gluaiseacht.
Remember these times, and remember they are possible between men.
In the last few days and weeks, a number of volunteers who met to discuss this issue at the recent Rossport Solidarity Camp Anniversary Gathering (http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=738), have been travelling to Bantry, Co Cork, meeting with the Bantry Concerned Action Group, supporting their blockade of the ESB pylon project and setting up the Bantry Solidarity Camp & Lodge.
The Bantry Solidarity Camp & Lodge is ready now to receive visitors who wish to support the Bantry Concerned Action Group in their fight against the ESB (Electricity Supply Board) who are attempting to bully their way without permission onto their lands, woods and farms to construct pylons, poles and overhead power lines in order to facilitate the private development, Glanta Windfarm, on behalf of developers Murnane & O'Shea, who by all accounts have gotten their way in Bantry, Co Cork, for far too long now.
I phoned Bob Murnane of Murnane & O’Shea on Friday for a comment/drink/meeting/interview, but he declined. Maybe we can meet another time Bob or perhaps you’d like to add a comment on to this article.
BURY THE POWERLINES, NOT THE CHILDREN!
Bantry Solidarity Lodge …
The 'Rossport Model of Resistance' has inspired and empowered many other 'communities in struggle', both nationally and internationally, including the BCAG - Bantry Concerned Action Group . It has also given their supporters - social, environmental & political activists - invaluable experience in being able to respond quickly and effectively in support of such communities, in terms of physical support on the ground.
Friends, neighbours and members of the BCAG have offered generous support and the use of the ‘lodge in the woods’ and the surrounding woods of Drombroe, to those who are willing to visit, to camp and/or to stay for a while in support of their fight against the ESB.
Drombroe Lodge is an old stone cottage which was empty and in need of cleaning and kitting out when we were offered the keys. A bit of work and some building materials, oil lamps, cooking equipment, kitchen stuff, furniture and bedding donated by our new friends in Bantry and the lodge is a home from home.
The lodge is without water or electricity so we have had to adapt with some simple off-suite washing and compost toilet facilities. Water is carried in from neighbours in big containers, cooking is over gas and oil lamps and candles are used for light. Eco-biodegradable products are used for washing and cleaning. Waste is recycled and composted.
- For those wanting to come to the camp & lodge - bring your tent and camping gear as the house cannot sleep many people.
- Agreed Camp Guidelines are fairly simple for the moment:
- NO DOGS, NO DRUGS, BE COOL!
- Be prepared to rough it slightly and bring only eco-biodegradable soaps, shampoos and toothpastes etc which you can get in the health shops etc and use to wash or swim in the river and lake.
- Camp contact: Róisín 086 1296344.
… Drombroe, Bantry, Co Cork.
Róisín and Rob …
… heading for the lake with Leah.
Our friend in Drombroe - Tim Henry.
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14All pics are COPYLEFT!
Working on the lodge.
Róisín, John & Rob discuss refurbishment issues!
Preparing a welcome.
John strimming and gardening
Caton working on the off-suite facilities.
.
Chimney sweeping …
… Bantry style! A big thanks to Denis Cronin for all his help!
Ready for visitors …
Jocelyn, Patrick and Tania …
Danielle Burke and her dad Joe.
.
New staircase and new floors above for bedrooms.
The Hallway!
Improvised Kitchen.
Living room.
Info point.
.
Dinner at Tim’s. ‘Remember these times’ …
… ‘and remember they are possible between men.’
Drombroe …
… just a shout and a short walk away from Joe Burke’s farm across the Mealagh river valley.
good luck with the great work
Kathy submitted this written question December 19th 2005 :-
"Currently, plans are being made to establish a wind farm in Bantry, Ireland. While the citizens of Bantry welcome green energy and approve of the wind farm, they have great concerns about the resulting power line that will be put up. Above-ground power lines can be a great threat to health, and close proximity with power lines has been linked to childhood leukaemia. Despite these risks, the Electricity Supply Board in Ireland has ignored the pleas of the citizens and refuses to even consider putting the power lines underground despite the fact that doing so would be safer for the people and more beneficial to the environment.
1. The power line will have nine steel pylons and a large number of double wooden poles dipped in creosote, which is now banned for farm use under EU Directives 2001/90/EEC(1) — because of carcinogenic potential — and 76/769/EEC(2). As the power line will be built on agricultural land, does this use of creosote fall under these directives?
2. Does an environmental impact assessment — which has thus far only been carried out for the wind farm itself — need to be done for the power line?
3. Does the Commission agree that underground cables should be used? What reasons can the Commission give for ignoring or aiding the Bantry citizen's attempt to have the power line put underground?"
It would be nice to see it discussed in the Dail.
Or are they all just thinking about ice cream on Kildare Street?
People are starting to arrive at the Bantry Solidarity Lodge in numbers now. More welcome to support the campaign.
Unfortunately the lodge is not big enough to sleep people in numbers. There are only two small bedrooms, both of which are occupied by people who are living here full time now including a couple and their young daughter.
PLEASE BRING TENTS and camp in the extensive woodlands with it's river clearings around the lodge.
The lodge is our base and your base too, for cooking and eating, meeting and organising. But please bring tents for sleeping.
The Bantry Solidarity Lodge & Camp functions as part of the Bantry Concerned Action Group's campaign and is a working camp, not a place just to hang out. To ensure the smooth running of the camp we have guidelines now which we expect people to respect.
CAMP GUIDELINES.
The camp is organised non-hierarchically with regular meetings where decisions are made collectively.
We are committed to the policy of Non-Violent Direct Action blockading of the ESB. Do not to be drawn into any aggression or provocation from the ESB or their contractors. Never work alone, always have AT LEAST one partner/witness. Call the Gardaí if you’re assaulted - defend yourself if you must.
NO DRUGS. (No Alcohol in the lodge, please drink alcohol in moderation at the camp, alcohol policy constantly under discussion/review).
No Dogs.
TENTS ARE ESSENTIAL, please bring them and use them, the lodge is too small to accommodate numbers.
Police are not allowed into the lodge or on to the camp without a warrant. These woods and this road are private property.
Aggressive behaviour including sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
Everyone at the camp is accountable to the camp - we don’t carry out individualist actions.
We want to leave as light an ecological footprint as possible.
- This includes recycling and composting our waste.
- Use eco-biodegradable soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and washing detergents only.
- Take personal responsibility for keeping the lodge and camp clean and tidy.
Compost toilet: Urine should be kept to a minimum in the compost toilet to keep it dry for effective composting.
- Men: Urinate in the woods on the other side of the road to the lodge. Use the compost toilet for full business!
- Women: Use the compost toilet for dual action if you’re not comfortable peeing in woods.
MEDIA: Mainstream Media are not allowed on the camp. Media should be given a copy of our ‘Press Statement’ and politely asked to leave the camp. Nobody at the camp speaks to the media on behalf of the camp.
Belle & PJ - New Zealand in Solidarity with Bantry.
power to the people,refeshing ----people power-comminty---up and on--music and fun-Slan and all the best D.
"Unfortunately the lodge is not big enough to sleep people in numbers. There are only two small bedrooms, both of which are occupied by people who are living here full time now including a couple and their young daughter."
Why not rotate?
I am so very pleased to see that Drombroe is being used as a base for activism! Moreso I am thrilled to learn that Tim is well and still there. He hosted me in 1999 and I have thought of him often since. He is a gentle, generous, brave heart and I'm sure that you all have brought a good deal of brightness to him and his piece of paradise. I hope that many of you will stay on after the powerlines are buried in order to resurrect Drombroe House and the gardens in the light of the new generation.
Please, if possible, will someone pass on to Tim that I send him my very best wishes? Good luck to you all!
Rebecca Sweet
Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Hi Rebecca, as you may know Tim is not currently online but he is happy for me to relate his thoughts to you, as transcribed by me from a telephone call.
"Wow ... now that was a lady! God, I do think of her often, one of those bionoc all-amrican babes ... lovely lady, beautiful, beautiful soul.
Please write on snail mail Rebecca, thinking of you often, come back and finish the massage!
love Tim."
The Bantry Solidarity Camp & Lodge is now closed ... until further notice.
The lodge has been cleaned and cleared out and the key has been returned.
'Further notice' will be posted should the ESB / Murnane & O'Shea unwisely wish to come in the same way they went out ... for a repeat performance.
Special thanks to Raif and Tim, our kind hosts.
Bantry Solidarity Lodge closed till Further Notice.
Tim, My mother (Sarah Willkinson's daughter and also daughter to John Miller/Millar) visited with you in the summer of 1994. You gratiously took us on a tour of the property and told us that several issues were threatening your gardens.
We would like to revisit sometime in the future and help in any way we can.
How do the gardens and the revival stand at this point?
Sincerely, Jim Thompson, 22 Sycamore Rd, Wayland, MA (USA) 01778 (508) 653-5454
Hello anyone that is reading this post. If you are in contact with Tim Henry. Please tell him David Stokes from way back when say's "hello" and I hope he is doing well. If he is so inclined to email me at dbstokes@gmail.com.
Thanks,
David