Up to 4,000 people attended a march and concert in Dún Laoghaire yesterday, in protest at plans to develop the local derelict baths.
Residents from around the county and the Save Our Seafront (SOS) organisation were joined by musicians including Christy Moore, Ronnie Drew and Mike Hanrahan, of Stockton's Wing, to highlight their opposition to the council's plans to develop Dún Laoghaire baths on Queen's Road.
The €140 million proposal was designed by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council architects. It includes an eight-storey building with 180 apartments over retail units and restaurants, an indoor swimming and leisure complex, and a maritime park on five acres of infilled seashore.
Marchers walked from the gates of the People's Park, through the town and back along the coast to Scotsman's Bay, where the concert was held.
The protest is the third organised by SOS and has added to pressure on councillors, who are expected to make a decision on progressing the baths plan at the next council meeting in October.
Locals fear that the proposed development will destroy the view and privatise what they believe should be a public amenity. The council argues that the only way the regeneration of the baths can be financed is through including a residential element in the development.
Speakers at the event included Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of SOS, Nicola Serrate, the organisation's secretary, Maireád Meegan of An Taisce, Gene Heifer of Combined Residents to Save Open Spaces, Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe and John Elliot of the Sandycove and Glasthule Residents' Association. Some local councillors also attended. Other acts included Red Kid, Claustra, and the Dalkey Gospel Choir.
Speaking before going on stage, Ronnie Drew said he decided to support the protest because he was "sick and tired of developers getting handed over things that belong to us".
"It is all very patronising, those in power telling us what's good for us, we know what's good for us and it's not this," he said.
Christy Moore said the baths should be available to all people and not just the wealthy few.
"There are too many luxury apartments in the area already," he said. "Historically and traditionally everyone who so desired could paddle and fish, swim and enjoy their day at the seaside."
Richard Boyd Barrett said that SOS is calling on councillors to shelve the plan at their next meeting.
"We have shown clearly that the majority of people in the area are utterly opposed to this outrageous plan," he said. "We want firm commitments from the council and central Government to provide the money for a fully public swimming amenity. If they had the money to run the baths in the past when this country was a lot poorer, they certainly can afford to run them in the era of the Celtic Tiger."