Fury over Bronx slur

LOCALS in Ballymun are furious after the area was described as the

‘Bronx’ of Dublin in the Italian version of hugely popular lifestyle magazine, Marie Claire.

There’s uproar in the Northside community over how it has been portrayed in the international publication, which has sales of over 155,000 copies per month.

Ballymun is the centre of a lengthy feature in the current edition of Marie Claire Italy in which the suburb’s multi-million euro regeneration is examined.

While much of the piece is positive, a number of quotes and descriptions have incensed locals who claim the piece

“manipulates the truth to suit a stereotype

?.

In the article, locals are quoted to have said that Ballymun was called the

“Irish Bronx

?.

“People who lived there were ashamed to give their address,

? one local resident is quoted as saying.

“Before it was like [a scene] from Blade Runner with tower blocks that all looked same so it was hard to explain where you lived.

?

The article appears with a tagline explaining how the

“Dublin Bronx has transformed into the new Irish dream

?.

The extensive feature sets the scene of

“entire blocks of gunmetal flats tall as towers, giant concrete boxes, monotonous bands of windows lined up like a fortress

? which has transformed through the regeneration.

According to local TD John Lyons (Lab), local residents are unhappy at the portrayal of their area in the article.

“It’s very disappointing that once again the truth about Ballymun seems to have been stretched to suit the stereotype and the negative perception of the area,

? he said.

“It’s very hurtful to people like myself who call Ballymun home and it’s damaging for the image of the area.

?

Deputy Lyons said the article in Maria Claire Italy compounds the

“ignorantly held

? negative perceptions and imagery associated with the area.

“References to the Bronx and Blade Runner feed into the stereotype and negative perceptions of the area which are only held by those who know nothing about Ballymun and the people who live here,

? the added.

“There’s this constant need to portray the area for the old elements rather than its new reality.

“It adds to the

‘Into the West’ and

‘Adam and Paul’ imagery of the boys on the horse coming out of the lift in the tower block, outdoor fires and two drug addicts lying on a mattress outside the flats.

?

The Northside TD added:

“For those of us who call Ballymun home, that imagery and the negative perception it instils is hurtful.

?