Obama event planning 'shambolic'

COLLEGE GREEN:SPECTATORS HAVE complained of chaotic organisation in the queues to see President Obama on Monday.

Tens of thousands of people lined up to get into College Green to hear the president’s speech and thousands more were disappointed when they could not gain access. There was only one entrance point to College Green via a security barrier opposite City Hall, and all spectators had to queue on Lord Edward Street and around the corner to Christ Church.

Several people have written to The Irish Times complaining about the event’s organisation.

Vivienne Parry, who queued with her 10-year-old son, said the crowds were able to pour in from every direction, particularly from Wood Quay via Winetavern Street. She accused the organisers of “utterly shambolic crowd control” and said those who had queued patiently at Christ Church found themselves being displaced by those who came after them.

Ailbhe Nic Cába from Meath spent six hours queuing and made it past the security marquee where US Secret Service agents vetted and frisked the public. However, she and others were turned back by gardaí at another barrier because they believed they had not been vetted. She said the pushing got really bad when President Obama started to speak, and several people left the queue.

“It is a great pity that the Irish authorities must once again learn from their follies before getting things right. It seems that ‘No, we can’t’,” she said, inverting Mr Obama’s famed campaign motto.

Mairéad Gallagher of Co Cork, who brought her three children aged from three to 10, was unable to access the event despite queuing for 3½ hours. The lack of communication was “really drastic” and there was a complete absence of stewards. “There was no advice or guidance about what to do.”

She said a lack of public toilets, food or drink despite the presence of young children was worrying.

Peter James from Baldoyle said the crush got so bad that small children were left fighting for air.

Monday’s speech and the president’s departure again saw heavy security in central Dublin. As with the Queen’s visit, the city was split when gardaí closed off bridges over the Liffey.