Cormac Auty
@cormacauty.com
London-based researcher analysing how people in cities relate to their evolving environments through their attachment to place and sense of belonging. Seeking to strengthen urban social resilience.
Reposted by Cormac Auty
Apologies to non-Londoners. But these are your people, not ours.
September 13, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Apologies to non-Londoners. But these are your people, not ours.
published stories. Earlier this evening The Guardian headline was leading with the mass hysteria angle, quoting a scientist. Now news outlets are saying someone was arrested for having CS gas, yet if you look in the tagline of the link in the screenshot below, the BBC says a firearm was present (2)
September 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
published stories. Earlier this evening The Guardian headline was leading with the mass hysteria angle, quoting a scientist. Now news outlets are saying someone was arrested for having CS gas, yet if you look in the tagline of the link in the screenshot below, the BBC says a firearm was present (2)
Am I missing something here?
June 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Am I missing something here?
represent a not so tiny increase in the number of new homes. It must alleviate pressure to some extent, right? I just find it really quite odd that houseboats seem to be so few and far between in Dublin, a city with two city centre canals, unlike London which only has its north of the river.
June 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
represent a not so tiny increase in the number of new homes. It must alleviate pressure to some extent, right? I just find it really quite odd that houseboats seem to be so few and far between in Dublin, a city with two city centre canals, unlike London which only has its north of the river.
It was further assumed that on average you might have 1.5 people per boat for a total of 1,260 people.
1,260 people is around 0.1% of Dublin's metro population, supposedly akin to a small neighbourhood or large apartment complex, so it's rather tiny, though it would
1,260 people is around 0.1% of Dublin's metro population, supposedly akin to a small neighbourhood or large apartment complex, so it's rather tiny, though it would
June 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It was further assumed that on average you might have 1.5 people per boat for a total of 1,260 people.
1,260 people is around 0.1% of Dublin's metro population, supposedly akin to a small neighbourhood or large apartment complex, so it's rather tiny, though it would
1,260 people is around 0.1% of Dublin's metro population, supposedly akin to a small neighbourhood or large apartment complex, so it's rather tiny, though it would
and there would be some gaps with no boats. ChatGPT suggested a conservative density of one boat every 25m, resulting in 40 boats per km. It also assumed that on average, only one bank is moored at a time, but in denser areas both sides might be used. 21km x 40 boats/km = 840 boats.
June 22, 2025 at 7:26 PM
and there would be some gaps with no boats. ChatGPT suggested a conservative density of one boat every 25m, resulting in 40 boats per km. It also assumed that on average, only one bank is moored at a time, but in denser areas both sides might be used. 21km x 40 boats/km = 840 boats.
potential of the canals. The assumptions were, for anyone interested, that the Royal Canal out to the M50 is about 12km and that the Grand out to the M50 is about 9km. The total usable length is about 21km. It was assumed that boats would be between 17m long on average, double-banking would be rare
June 22, 2025 at 7:26 PM
potential of the canals. The assumptions were, for anyone interested, that the Royal Canal out to the M50 is about 12km and that the Grand out to the M50 is about 9km. The total usable length is about 21km. It was assumed that boats would be between 17m long on average, double-banking would be rare
to be narrowboats and not smaller day-trip craft. There's then nothing until you reach Confey, where there's an equally small gaggle. I thought this was really odd, particularly in a city with such an acute housing crisis.
I asked ChatGPT for some back-of-the-envelope calculations on the housing
I asked ChatGPT for some back-of-the-envelope calculations on the housing
June 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
to be narrowboats and not smaller day-trip craft. There's then nothing until you reach Confey, where there's an equally small gaggle. I thought this was really odd, particularly in a city with such an acute housing crisis.
I asked ChatGPT for some back-of-the-envelope calculations on the housing
I asked ChatGPT for some back-of-the-envelope calculations on the housing
and 2 for the rest of the canal to the M50. I thought this to be quite odd and I wondered if the situation was different on the Royal Canal. Doing the same, I didn't count a single boat between the Liffey and the M50. At Blanchardston I counted about 32 boats of which around 17 appeared
June 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
and 2 for the rest of the canal to the M50. I thought this to be quite odd and I wondered if the situation was different on the Royal Canal. Doing the same, I didn't count a single boat between the Liffey and the M50. At Blanchardston I counted about 32 boats of which around 17 appeared
the Royal Canal I never really paid too much attention to the canals there, but casting my mind back, I didn't remember seeing many boats.
So I fired up Maps and starting in Grand Canal Dock, went along in both street view and satellite out to the M50. I counted 8 or so boats in Grand Canal Dock
So I fired up Maps and starting in Grand Canal Dock, went along in both street view and satellite out to the M50. I counted 8 or so boats in Grand Canal Dock
June 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
the Royal Canal I never really paid too much attention to the canals there, but casting my mind back, I didn't remember seeing many boats.
So I fired up Maps and starting in Grand Canal Dock, went along in both street view and satellite out to the M50. I counted 8 or so boats in Grand Canal Dock
So I fired up Maps and starting in Grand Canal Dock, went along in both street view and satellite out to the M50. I counted 8 or so boats in Grand Canal Dock
Well you’d be wrong, but nice talking to you.
June 19, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Well you’d be wrong, but nice talking to you.
Touché, I did wonder if Cameron would be mentioned to be honest.
June 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Touché, I did wonder if Cameron would be mentioned to be honest.
Happy to confirm I’m no one’s stooge. I like The Jam.
June 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Happy to confirm I’m no one’s stooge. I like The Jam.
Well at least we agree on Armagh, I see. Le meas.
June 19, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Well at least we agree on Armagh, I see. Le meas.
That’s your view. I maintain that Mo Chara could have spent the entire gig criticising Israel on stage and you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion because there would have been nothing to charge him with.
June 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
That’s your view. I maintain that Mo Chara could have spent the entire gig criticising Israel on stage and you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion because there would have been nothing to charge him with.
Ok so let’s change the law then and allow people to wave flags of homophobic and antisemitic groups then (sarcasm)
June 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Ok so let’s change the law then and allow people to wave flags of homophobic and antisemitic groups then (sarcasm)
Disappointing that CnG is getting involved in this. This isn’t about Irish language rights, as important as these are. These is a relatively straightforward case of alleged criminality over the alleged display of a symbol of a proscribed organisation.
June 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Disappointing that CnG is getting involved in this. This isn’t about Irish language rights, as important as these are. These is a relatively straightforward case of alleged criminality over the alleged display of a symbol of a proscribed organisation.
That may be the case, but let’s not turn a blind eye to things that are crimes because some other group supposedly does them.
June 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
That may be the case, but let’s not turn a blind eye to things that are crimes because some other group supposedly does them.
You’re assuming I don’t know this. If you get up on stage at the O2 Forum with a UVF flag, you’d probably be charged as well. It shouldn’t matter that you can put them up on lamp posts, but unfortunately it’s a different case.
June 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
You’re assuming I don’t know this. If you get up on stage at the O2 Forum with a UVF flag, you’d probably be charged as well. It shouldn’t matter that you can put them up on lamp posts, but unfortunately it’s a different case.
I could stand outside Downing St tomorrow with a Palestinian flag and criticise Israel’s actions. I’d put good money on being able to walk home without the police batting an eyelid. If I couldn’t, we might have a problem, but I’m pretty sure I’d be fine. Le Meas.
June 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I could stand outside Downing St tomorrow with a Palestinian flag and criticise Israel’s actions. I’d put good money on being able to walk home without the police batting an eyelid. If I couldn’t, we might have a problem, but I’m pretty sure I’d be fine. Le Meas.
Of course there’s nothing wrong with the flags on display today. One of them is a flag I own. Let’s remember that if Mo Chara had waved a Palestinian flag and chanted ‘free Palestine’, you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion. I haven’t been on X in years, more so since Musk’s takeover. Le Meas.
June 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Of course there’s nothing wrong with the flags on display today. One of them is a flag I own. Let’s remember that if Mo Chara had waved a Palestinian flag and chanted ‘free Palestine’, you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion. I haven’t been on X in years, more so since Musk’s takeover. Le Meas.