ON FRIDAY, A group of activists including singers Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey took over a house on Dublin’s Tara Street to convert it into housing for the homeless.
The group, called Home Sweet Home, say they’ve received ‘overwhelming’ support from the public, with hundreds of offers of donations and volunteers.
As a thank you, Hansard hosted a singalong outside the building this lunchtime, leading the assembled crowd in a huge chorus of The Auld Triangle.
He was joined by a band of musicians including Hozier, the Booka Brass Band, Kodaline, and Christy Dignam from Aslan, who sang a rousing rendition of Crazy World.
Among the other attendees were film director Jim Sheridan and Mattress Mick, who donated 30 mattresses for the homeless people currently staying in the building.
The crowd grew so large that the musicians moved on to the roof for the rest of the gig:
Earlier today, permission was granted to demolish Apollo House, which was previously used by the Department of Social Protection before being taken over by NAMA.
The receivers have called on the activists to “immediately end occupation” of the building.
