Anti-bin tax protesters have made a home from home in Melrose Park - and they have plenty of support, they tell Suzanne Breen
The table beside the "liberated" bin lorry in Kinsealy, Co Dublin, is laden with everything a protesting woman could want. There are sandwiches, tea bags, coffee, a kettle, cherry cakes, chocolate buns, and a selection of magazines and newspapers. Garden umbrellas have been donated to protect the women from the sun and rain.
Their children play on the green or toss a football around the street. A tent has been erected where the anti-bin tax campaigners sleep at night.
"All I need now is my washing-machine and dishwasher and it will be a home from home," jokes Rosaleen O'Toole.
She has been on the protest in Melrose Park since the lorry was "captured, kidnapped or liberated, call it what you will" on Monday. It all started when her friend, mother of three Bernie Freeney, stood in front of the truck.
"I had to take a stand," says Freeney. "People round here can't afford more taxes. And this issue is even bigger than that. Fingal County Council wants to make money from waste collection so they can sell it off as a business. Jobs will be lost if there is privatisation."
The protest is supported by Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins and county council colleague Clare Daly.
A "We Won't Pay" placard has been tied to the front of the blue bin lorry.
In mid-afternoon, about a dozen women are on the protest. Neighbours arrive with flasks and biscuits.
"Everybody has been great," says Rose McDonald. "This is not neighbour against neighbour. Nobody here would dream of intimidating anybody who bought a bin tag. It's a free choice. There are plenty of people who have bought tags who still support us."
The protesters do shifts. "I'm on from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Then I go home and feed the kids. I come back at four o'clock and stay until after eight," says O'Toole. "The men are on the night-shift tonight. It's ladies' night tomorrow. There'll be more fun then. You know what men are like. Awful moody and not much craic sometimes. But we'll have a bit of singing and dancing. We might even have an Ann Summers party!"
There is a slight stench from the rubbish in the bin lorry so every hour the protestors douse the back of the vehicle with disinfectant. They have a sweeping brush too and keep their "camp" spotless. The community has "rallied around" the protest, O'Toole says. She points to a nearby house. "Paddy Howe lives there. At night, he let's us run our TV and video off his electricity. No blue movies though. All family viewing - Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses."
The women are generous hosts. The Irish Times is plied with buns and cappuccinos made from a sachet.
"Apart from the local paper, you're the only one who has bothered to come and talk to us," says O'Toole.
"Some people might think €5 a week isn't a lot to have your bins emptied but it is when you don't have much money," says Veronica Valente. Once it's accepted, she predicts, the charge will be raised and existing waivers for the less well-off will be abolished. "If they win on this, they'll introduce water tax too," she adds.
The protesters have "no problem" with the bin-men, who are "working-class just like us". But some are critical of the leadership of the unions involved, SIPTU and IMPACT, for not "strongly opposing" the tax. The union top brass have "lost their edge", and are "management by another name".
Anti-bin tax campaigners are passionate. Those who have paid the charges are generally more subdued.
"Initially, I bought tags. Then, when other people didn't, I stopped. But I've started again because the council say they won't empty your bin otherwise," says Pat Byrne. "I'm not hugely in favour of the charge but I accept you have to pay for the services you get."
"It's money I'd rather not hand out but I don't believe in breaking the law," says Mary McDaid.
"I don't want to end up in court. It's not worth the hassle," says Siobhan McLaughlin.
In the local bookies, Tom Kennedy is more supportive of the tax. "It will help keep the bin-men in jobs. It's a reasonable, fair charge and it will be good for the environment. It will encourage people to recycle their waste."
In the Kinsealy Inn, barman Adam O'Hara is against the tax but customer Davy Murphy is for it. "I don't think €5 is dear at all," he says.
"Life is too short to be kicking up a fuss about something this minor," says Collette Donnelly. "I wouldn't have the time or energy for protests."
Aine O'Neill says: "I'm anti-tax but there are lots of things I don't want to pay for and I have to. This is just another one."
Marie Nolan works in the local Spar shop which sells the tags. She opposes the tax but says sales have risen in recent days.
Back at the protest, three men from the council arrive and climb inside the bin lorry. The women are frightened they'll try to drive it off. Carol parks her car behind the truck, blocking it in. Rosaleen tries to chat to the employees, who won't reply.
"Sure you wouldn't know what they were up to - men!" she says.