We spent Wednesday morning shopping for the family in and around Jervis Street and Henry Street. The stores were a curious mix of “total rip off” and genuine “bargains”, particuarly in sportswear and books.
Yet again my overall impression was of people “outside” Society. Retail jobs….like Catering and Hotels are low paid, even to the point of employing vulnerable people, especially migrants with questionable status…exploiting people who wont complain. And I have to say there was a certain rudeness in stores. It has often been the case that Irish “service” has been taken as “servility” but there too often seemed an unwelcoming look in peoples eyes. Is it a change of attitude or is it just generational? Or is it my imagination?
Either way, I asked a question in a shop but had difficulty making myself understood. And the manager barked at me to “talk properly”…….which as we left the store amused us and shocked us in fairly equal measure.
I dont think that the Four Courts actually handles “criminal cases” but on the journey into town, a guy got on the LUAS tram at the Four Courts platform and shamelessly smoked. Of course people merely shuffled their feet and looked away as he did not look the kinda guy who would take it well if someone pointed out the “no smoking” sign. And as we got off the tram I heard another passenger remark that the guy was smoking a “joint”. I think thats the thing about Ireland…….people are either law-abiding or just dont give a damn and treat any court appearance for not paying a TV Licence or not having Car Insurance as an occupational hazard.
On the return journey, at the Jervis LUAS Platform….passengers were hassled by three apparent drunks/junkies. A girl who was trying to appeal to the sympathy vote (she didnt get any) and two guys (one with a black eye) who were perhaps more intimidating.
Again……that has always been the case…..certainly since the 1970s…….and would happen in Paris, New York and London. But these three people in their early 20s have been placed…..or put themselves outside Society’s norms.
Keeping An Eye On the Czar of Russia 
FJH, hope you enjoyed your holidays.
Jervis St Luas stop is one of the sketchiest places in Dublin, a lot of heroin sold around there and trouble outside of the Spar. My cousin lives in an apartment about 20m away, halfway from the stop towards the Liffey and we’ve watched the crazies there.
This is not remotely scientific, just observational, but the sketchy Dubs always seemed somewhat scarier than the Belfast versions. The reason; heroin. The Dubs don’t even know what they’re going to do next which is what mak them pretty menacing.
Mr Fitz, you have just discovered why we “Southsiders” seldom venture north of the Liffey. Distinctly different atsmosphere. As the big Magners ad on Butt Bridge (The railway bridge beside the Custom House) says,
“North Cider or South Cider?”