Demolition work has started on the final block of flats in Ballymun.
Some of the former residents of Joseph Plunkett Tower as well as local children and council officials gathered beside The Reco Youth Club to watch the start of this process.
There were cheers, smiles and plenty of smart phones as the hydraulic nibbler crushed the walls of the balcony on the corner of the 15th floor.
The process was due to start yesterday but was put back as work on the surrounding site wasn’t finished.
Sharon Lawlor is a former resident, she says she’s heartbroken to say goodbye to her old home:
“Even before the railings went around the outside, I was in that block. Since I was a tiny little nipper and we grew up with all the neighbours. All the neighbours, thank God, we all got put down onto the same road so we’re all still together. But it’s not the same, it’ll never be the same as the tower. We’re all really close. It’s sad. Everyone will be heartbroken to see it go”.
Local councillor Noeleen Reilly says the landscape of the town has changed so much over the years:
“This is the last remaining one, people had so many happy memories there. Also there was alot of anti-social behaviour there, alot of drugs there. So for people, it’s nearly the end of the regeneration”.
It’ll take at least 5 weeks for the contractor to fully tear down the block before clearing the rest of the site.
Councillors will then decide what to do with the vacant lot when a local area plan is drawn up for the whole of Ballymun next year.
