Revolutionary Housing League Occupies Dublin Pub, Renames it «Anne Devlin Community Centre»

The Revolutionary Housing League occupied the former Ardee House pub in Dublin’s Liberties, renaming it the «Anne Devlin Community Centre». This action, which the High Court restrained last Wednesday, highlights a trend of direct action in response to Dublin’s housing and amenity crisis, particularly in areas like Newmarket Square experiencing extensive, expensive development.

Squatting has become less common in Dublin since the recession, but recent actions like this are sporadic. The Liberties SOS group called the pub occupation an «important intervention». There are 4,082 vacant and derelict properties in Dublin city centre as of 2025, half commercial, despite a severe lack of community amenities. Ardee House, closed in 2010, was bought by Black Sheep Investments in 2017. An Taisce highlighted its vacancy in 2025.

Black Sheep Investments recently submitted a planning application to partially demolish the building and construct a six-storey apartment building, after an initial application was deemed invalid. This occurs as a community centre on Donore Avenue, damaged by fire five years ago, remains unrepaired. A Trinity College report by Barra Roantree details the southwest inner city’s issues: one public playing pitch per 22,427 people, a crime rate double the national average, and half of all deprived inner-city residents living there. These conditions contribute to radical direct action.