The Colours of the Ballymun Flats

During a recent recce in December for my Intruders project, I was amazed at the colours I encountered in the Ballymun Flats.

I must admit, I was very nervous climbing into the back of this building for fear of meeting a crazed junkie or some nasty rats. There was evidence of both but thankfully the junkies were elsewhere and the rats had huddled together in some dark and warm corner. All but one window had been barricaded and ‘Chair’ came in very handy for some extra elevation to climb. Almost all the doors and windows had been torn from the building and the permanent cold wind that whirled through every room made it very unpleasant. Adrenaline kept the cold at bay.

The people here decorated their homes in very colourful surroundings, perhaps to disconnect themselves from the grey concrete and grim life that existed outside.