Cork City’s derelict buildings reveal true cost of housing inequality

Dereliction crisis exposes deep-rooted inequality — but a growing movement is showing how community action can drive change

Dereliction has become widespread in Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Ireland has an inequality problem that’s visualised through the disgraceful amount of vacant and derelict buildings in every village, town, and city in the country. 

This drains value from the community by creating private wealth for a few and public squalor for everyone else. It keeps properties off the market, driving up prices and rents, and leaves many without a home.