Occupy camp ‘here to stay’ as Cork group plans gift fair

WHILE Occupy camps around the globe are being broken up and moved on, the message from the Cork settlement is clear — they are here to stay.

“We are going nowhere,” said one of group’s organisers Liam Mullaney. “Whether we stay on this exact spot or not remains to be seen but the movement is not going anywhere.”

Located by the river on Cork’s Grand Parade, there are currently about 20 tents on site, but Mr Mullaney maintains it’s about much more than simply coming out and camping.

“We have been here for five weeks now and people are camping out overnight, but that’s not what it is about. We are providing a space for people to come to. We have an outreach team and want to forge links with communities in the area.”

Mr Mullaney said the Cork movement was thinking locally and working to build up a network which will benefit people.

“For us it about the local area. Some authorities are using opportunities to evict people, but I do not think we are under threat of eviction and we are concentrating on what we can do for the community.”

Two representatives from Cork travelled to the London Occupy site over the weekend, while on Saturday the first all-Ireland assembly of the Occupy movement is being held in Dublin with representatives from all the country gathering to discuss progress and the future.

A range of events are being planned by the Cork group in the coming weeks. On December 3, a march for “all colours and creeds” will bring arts and music together in what promises to be a colourful and theatrical production.

The following weekend, on December 11, a “pop-up” Christmas market will take place. “We want people to come and buy second-hand gifts for Christmas or from market traders. It will be a great way for people to save money.”

The event will include a car boot sale, stalls, a healing tent, street food, face painting, a visit from Santa and street music.

According to organisers, the event is growing in momentum and other Occupy cities around the world are thinking of following suit on the same day as the Cork market.

* www.occupycork.org.