Fears far-right protestors will force library closure
This Saturday Cork City Library is set to become a focal point for another protest orchestrated by the group Cork Says No, which is linked to the far-right political party Ireland First. The protestors oppose LGBTQI+ reading material which is available in the library.
During an earlier protest on 29 July, the library was forced to close with concerns that it will have to shut its doors again this week to protect the staff and public.
This comes in the wake of increased tensions as the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy was targeted by the agitators last weekend. Previously the Lord Mayor had voiced his opposition to the intimidation of library staff, calling it “horrific harassment”.
While attending the North Main Street Carnival last Saturday, he was confronted by Ross Lahive, who has been a prominent protestor at the library and other locations.
Lahive filmed the altercation and in the video, which was circulated on social media, he questions the Lord Mayor about his comments. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, the Lord Mayor’s response is to sing, firstly a rendition of 'Oh What A Beautiful Morning', followed by 'Some Enchanted Evening'. However as the Lord Mayor attempts to leave, a tussle ensues with Lahive’s phone falling on the ground.
He claimed that his phone was thrown in the air, and later took to social media to say: “Lord Mayor, I’m coming after you.”
The harassment of the Lord Mayor has been widely condemned with Cllr Dan Boyle of the Green Party saying: “The Lord Mayor has acquitted himself and the city well. We should not further tolerate the thuggishness of these agitators.” A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told The Cork Independent that they “are investigating an incident which occurred on North Main Street in Cork City on Saturday 26 August”.
With tensions rising and the library set to be the target of the agitators again this weekend, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould has called on the Minister for Local Government, Kieran O’Donnell to provide any necessary support to Cork City Council to ensure that the library can remain open to the public and safe for staff at all times.
Deputy Gould said: “We are hearing rumours that Cork City Council will again be forced to close the library on Grand Parade in the coming days. The core issue here must be staff safety and if staff do not feel safe then they cannot be expected to work.
“It is however the role of Cork City Council to provide staff with a safe working space. They are clearly failing to do this. We need clarity now on whether additional funding is needed from central government to protect staff and keep libraries open.
“If Cork City Libraries are forced to close, then there is clearly an issue with protection of staff. I am asking the minister to now meet with council officials and discuss how staff, and the general public, can be best protected without the closure of public spaces.”
The Cork Independent contacted Cork City Council who declined to comment.