‘I felt like there was enough negativity about the working class’ – a look inside Dublin’s council flats
Growing up in Dublin 8, Richie Power was surrounded by people who “live and breathe” The Liberties.
Through his series Chats in The Flats, he tries to capture that love for your neighbourhood and what life is like for the working class living across Dublin’s council flats today.
“I always knew this area was special and I loved the people and their energy. But it wasn’t until I ventured outside of the area that I started to realise how special it actually was and how interesting its people were,” said Mr Power.
“I feel like there’s enough negativity about areas like this. Not just about The Liberties, but about working class communities in general. I wanted to break down that barrier.
"I wanted to show how much of a tight knit community it is and show people online that there’s more to it than the headlines we’re reading. The best people in the world come from these areas.”
Through the series, Mr Power features people who live or used to live in council homes taking an honest look back at the experience. The camera slowly zooms out as they speak about themes like childhood, nostalgia, addiction, money and everyday life.
“I grew up in The Liberties and still live here now. Throughout school, all my best friends and family were from here,” according to Mr Power.
"I ended up playing music in a band and travelled around the UK and Europe – I always mixed well with diverse people from all different walks of life – it helped me see how similar we are.
“I’ve had this woman reply to one of the videos saying it was the best series she’s seen in years – she was in her sixties and from Cork – I want people from all backgrounds to see what we all share in common.
“Where I grew up, there was always a sense of community and everyone was always looking out for each other. We might not be blood related but if someone has an issue, the community bands together.
“People only see the bad things that happen, they don’t see what happens after when people go out of their way for each other.”
A lot of Mr Power’s work has been attempting to respond to that negativity that people who he grew up around felt from the public eye.
“When I became aware of this negativity, I had thick enough skin. It was not something that I’ve allowed to affect me,” he said.
“Some people would look at being working class as a set back, and it definitely is in many ways. There are obstacles that you have to overcome that upper class or middle class people wouldn’t have to
“But we all have our struggles – for me, it’s better to focus on what is positive about that situation – and those are these places full of authenticity, poetry, creativity and soul. There are decent people here and I needed to make sure it was known.”
With The Liberties and places like it changing over the last few years, Mr Power feels like it’s important to look at its history.
"The Liberties have been gentrified. There’s pros and cons to that for me – as a creative, I like that this it is bringing in colleges in arts and music, I like the diversity and mix of people,” he said.
“What I don’t like is how families and family homes are being torn apart, people are having to move to the suburbs because people with more money want to come and take over these spaces.
“If you put your human cap on, you’ll see that it’s not just someone’s home that you’re tearing apart – it’s where someone’s first step was, where they met the love of thier life, where their family grew up and where all of their firsts have happened.
“It’s more than just a place to rest your head at night, it’s the whole history of your family that people are just pushing you out of.”
Chats in the Flats looks back at people’s memories of where they grew up to try and preserve that history.
“There were a lot of things that were unique to my childhood that I only find out when I’d be talking to people outside the area,” said Mr Power.
“Collecting wood for Halloween is a classic one for me, I thought everyone just made bonfires. And it makes sense – there are some parts of Ireland that are way more rural where you don’t have the numbers or the manpower. So you just have your own ways.”
On May 7, Chats in the Flats will be screened at Donore Credit Union – who has funded the project – as part of Culture Date with Dublin 8, an initiative celebrating the area.