Sir, – Davidn O'Dwyer asks, "Do we really need strict rules on busking?" in reference to draft street performance bye-laws published by Dublin City Council (November 1st).
To Temple Bar’s 2,300 residents, who over the past few years have witnessed the traditional busker being supplanted by a new breed of street performer using full drum kits, amplifiers and in some cases portable generators to dominate areas, the answer is an unequivocal “Yes”.
Busking has been integral to the spirit of the city for decades. It is lamentable that this new generation of performers has created a situation where regulation is required to deal with the excesses of a few.
While stopping short of supporting an outright ban on buskers in the Temple Bar area, Temple Bar Residents welcome movement by Dublin City Council to address this issue. The traditional acoustic busker is a vital part of Dublin’s cultural tapestry.
We would hope any new regulations will help preserve this while at the same time addressing issues of excessive noise and anti-social behaviour.
Davin O’Dwyer mentions Mic Christopher and Glen Hansard as examples of buskers who are now celebrated performers. It’s worth pointing out that they didn’t use amps when busking, relying instead on talent and stagecraft to win their audience. You would wonder how they would fare if they had to compete with the amped-up street performers of today. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN O’BRIEN,
Secretary,
Temple Bar Residents,
Dublin 2.