
Rob Cross
@RobCross247 • 23,809 subscribers
Author, Artist, Architectural Designer, and creator of https://t.co/1Q1mcZ2Wuc For commissions or questions, email: [email protected]
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Only in Ireland!😡 In the midst of a housing crisis—17,517 people, including 5,571 children, are relying on emergency accommodation—and with rents and house prices unaffordable to the vast majority, there are still so many derelict and vacant buildings throughout Ireland. Here is one example in Dublin; in my visualisation, the red blocks represent some of the derelict and vacant sites along Upper and Lower Ormond Quay in Dublin City. #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #Dublin #Ireland
Rob Cross30,317 次观看 • 5 天前

A river of dereliction and vacancy runs through it. In the midst of a housing crisis, a record 17,548 people are accessing state-funded emergency accommodation across Ireland, including 11,944 adults and 5,604 children. In my visualisation, the red blocks represent some of the derelict and vacant sites along the River Liffey quays in Dublin City. #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #Dublin #Ireland
Rob Cross14,043 次观看 • 2 天前

My visual study shows a lack of playing pitches in Dublin City Council postal codes D1 (outlined in blue) and D8 (yellow). In contrast, the surrounding local authorities are well-resourced. Postal codes D1 and D8, with a combined population of 80,000+ (roughly the size of Waterford), have no full-size pitches, while South Dublin County Council has 166. Note: The tall red blocks in the visual represent playing pitches (e.g., GAA, soccer, rugby pitches, hockey pitches, and basketball/tennis courts). #SportEquality #SportForAll #Dublin #Ireland
Rob Cross20,451 次观看 • 7 天前

It's so-so frustrating to see how dysfunctional Ireland has become when this could be resolved if there was the real political will to make a change for the common good rather than to serve vested interests.😡 In my visualisation, red blocks represent some of the Derelict and Vacant Sites in Cork City. #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #Cork #Ireland
Rob Cross390,524 次观看 • 6 个月前

Only in Ireland!😡 In the midst of a housing crisis—with 16,766 people, including 5,274 children, relying on emergency accommodation and likely to hit 17,000 by Christmas- Baggot Street Hospital closed in 1987 and has been vacant for roughly 38 years, yes, 38 years.🙈 How much has the HSE spent on security for Baggot Street Hospital over those 38 years?🤔 “"The building (Baggot Street Hospital) is a protected structure located in a conservation area. The LDA's assessment concluded that significant investment would be required to deliver a residential scheme within this building, making it unviable for affordable housing," said the LDA. Of interest here are some LDA schemes on the HSE books that involve protected structures: Dundrum Central, Dublin (former Central Mental Hospital) – multiple protected structures and an ACA (Architectural Conservation Area) context being redeveloped by LDA. Meath Hospital, Dublin – multiple protected structures being redeveloped by LDA. St Kevin's Hospital, Cork – a former psychiatric hospital complex, protected structure, being redeveloped by LDA. #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #Dublin #Cork #Ireland In my visualisation, red blocks represent some of the Derelict and Vacant Sites in Dublin City.
Rob Cross370,904 次观看 • 6 个月前

Only in Ireland🙈 103 completed apartments at Old Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin have stood empty for two and a half years. This is happening in the middle of a housing emergency, with homelessness reaching a record 16,353 people—including 2,391 families, 252 people over 65, and more than 5,145 children—now accessing emergency homeless accommodation. #DerelictIreland #HousingCrisis #Dublin In my visualisation, red blocks represent Derelict and Vacant Sites.
Rob Cross189,002 次观看 • 7 个月前

My graphic shows all whole homes listed on Airbnb in An Daingean (Dingle), County Kerry, Ireland. It's no wonder seasonal workers in Dingle—waiters, bar staff, chefs, and others—can't find places to stay, as Airbnb landlords and holiday home owners are forcing native speakers out of Gaeltacht areas. #HousingCrisis #Airbnb #Kerry #Ireland
Rob Cross326,997 次观看 • 1 年前

It's frustrating to see how dysfunctional Ireland has become. Here's one example: The owner of two derelict Victorian houses at 19 and 21 Connaught Street, Phibsborough in Dublin 7, boarded them up in 2012. A compulsory purchase order came into force in April 2019. The council bought the houses for €350,000 each, hoping to have them back in use the following year. But six years later, these properties remain derelict—in a much worse state than before. Meanwhile, the original owner, who lives in a nearby house on Connaught Street, has €700,000 (your money) in his back pocket. The council is left with two crumbling properties on its books.🙈 One solution: Ireland's local authorities lack the resources to restore derelict and vacant properties, so they should place CPO properties on the market with leasehold agreements for the common good. The Scottish Land Commission has proposed Compulsory Sales Orders (CSOs) to give local authorities the power to force the sale of long-term derelict land or buildings via public auction or tender. If the property is truly abandoned and has no known owner, it is then transferred to the state. Ref: Two derelict Victorian houses at 19 and 21 Connaught Street (Irish Times): #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #Dublin #Ireland
Rob Cross70,949 次观看 • 4 个月前

This is one of the reasons why the housing system is broken in Ireland. Deutsche Bank's €800 billion investment arm fund has acquired 85% (46 homes) in Belcamp Manor, Dublin 17 for €24.5 million. Originally intended for individual buyers, these properties are now being advertised for rent at €3,175 per month (€38,100 per year) by a London-based real estate investment fund on It is no surprise that in the past 13 years, rent in Ireland has doubled, and house prices have increased by 55%, making it the fastest growth in any major EU economy. Currently, vulture funds own 1 in 6 mortgages in the Irish housing market, while Cuckoo funds and the State purchase 42% of new homes. This leaves a record number of first-time buyers competing for the lowest supply of housing stock nationwide in over a decade. There are just over 11,000 homes available for purchase nationally, the fewest since 2012 when 60,000 homes were on the market. The 2022 Census reveals that there are 166,752 vacant homes and 66,135 vacant holiday homes across the country. Out of the vacant homes, almost a third (48,387) have been vacant long-term since 2016 and remain unused. Additionally, the current salary required to buy a new home in Dublin is €127,000, which exceeds even a TD's basic salary of €108,987. Meanwhile, in December 2023, there were 18,648 entire houses/apartments available on the short-term letting platform Airbnb in Ireland. This includes 4,666 listings in Dublin City whilst there is a record-breaking number of 13,514 people, including 4,105 children, who are currently accessing emergency accommodation. #Dublin #Ireland #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #homeless #Airbnb
Rob Cross327,515 次观看 • 2 年前

Don't blame nature for doing its thing—blame poor town planning.😠 Enniscorthy has experienced significant Slaney River flooding in 1924, 1947, 1965, 2000, 2015, 2018, 2021, and now in 2026 with Storm Chandra, leading to extensive property damage, commercial disruption, and traffic issues. There's a good reason past generations of town planners avoided building houses and shops on river floodplains, which they clearly marked on their historical OS maps. This is stunning aerial footage taken 11 years ago by SkyCam Ireland showing the devastating flooding caused by Storm Frank on 30th December 2015 at Enniscorthy in Wexford, Ireland. #StormChandra #StormFrank #Wexford #Ireland
Rob Cross54,400 次观看 • 4 个月前

This is one of the reasons why the housing system is broken in Ireland. Dublin City Council is missing out on millions of euros in untapped revenue by not applying a 7% annual levy on the market value of vacant sites. As of June 2024, Dublin City Council's Vacant Site Register lists only 38 sites with a combined market value of €124,275,000. Most sites on the register date back to 2017/18. If the council applies the 7% annual levy, they should collect €8,699,250 yearly. Notably, 12 of the 38 vacant sites are owned by Dublin City Council itself, with a combined market value of €57,790,000. If the council applies the 7% annual levy to its own properties, it should pay €4,045,300 yearly. It's worth mentioning that by the end of May, another new record 14,159 people were accessing emergency homeless accommodation in Ireland. One way to view the scale of homelessness is to consider that Hill 16 in Croke Park has a capacity of 13,000 people. In Dublin alone, 10,291 people were homeless—another new record—with 3,233 of those being children. Dublin City Council Vacant Sites Register: #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #HousingCrisis #Dublin #GAA #Ireland
Rob Cross176,096 次观看 • 1 年前

Only in Ireland🙈 19 South Terrace in Cork City, owned by UCC Building & Estates, has been on the Derelict Sites Register since January 2001. Its market value is €180,000. After nearly 25 years on the Cork City Derelict Site Register, the accumulated levy and interest now totals approximately €861,840. Cork City Derelict Site Register: Derelict Sites Act, 1990 Annual levy: 7% × €180,000 = €12,600 per year. Unpaid levies accrue interest at 1.25% per month. Principal levies (2001–2024): €302,400 Accrued interest: €559,440 Total due now (excluding 2025 levy): €861,840 #DerelictIreland #HousingCrisis #Cork In my visualisation, red blocks represent some of the Derelict and Vacant Sites in Cork City.
Rob Cross64,715 次观看 • 6 个月前

The corner at the junction of Marlborough Street and Parnell Street next to the An Bord Pleanála offices in Dublin's Inner City has been derelict for years. It's astonishing how dereliction is tolerated in Ireland, especially in one of the most deprived areas in Ireland, if not Europe. Dereliction should be treated as a social crime against the state and must not be tolerated—particularly with 14,864 people nationwide in emergency accommodation, including 10,686 in Dublin. This represents a 9% increase over 2024. The red blocks in my graphic represent some of the derelict and vacant sites in Dublin City. #DerelictIreland #HousingCrisis #VacantIreland #Dublin
Rob Cross90,601 次观看 • 1 年前

Ireland's housing system is not fit for purpose as it fails to deter vulture funds from buying properties that could be homes for individual buyers. On May 20, 2021, the Irish Government introduced a 10% stamp duty on bulk purchases of residential houses. This measure aimed to discourage large-scale acquisitions by investors and vulture funds. However, the policy has two notable exemptions: bulk buying of apartments in multi-storey buildings with grouped access, and purchases by local authorities and approved housing bodies. These entities are not subject to the 10% stamp duty on bulk purchases of residential houses. This is one of the reasons why the housing system is broken in Ireland. Deutsche Bank's €800 billion investment arm fund has acquired 85% (46 homes) in Belcamp Manor, Dublin 17 for €24.5 million. Originally intended for individual buyers, these properties were being advertised for rent at €3,175 per month (€38,100 per year) by a London-based real estate investment fund on It is no surprise that in the past 13 years, rent in Ireland has doubled, and house prices have increased by 55%, making it the fastest growth in any major EU economy. Currently, vulture funds own 1 in 6 mortgages in the Irish housing market, while Cuckoo funds and the State purchase 42% of new homes. This leaves a record number of first-time buyers competing for the lowest supply of housing stock nationwide in over a decade. There are just over 11,000 homes available for purchase nationally, the fewest since 2012 when 60,000 homes were on the market. The 2022 Census reveals that there are 166,752 vacant homes and 66,135 vacant holiday homes across the country. Out of the vacant homes, almost a third (48,387) have been vacant long-term since 2016 and remain unused. Additionally, the current salary required to buy a new home in Dublin is €127,000, which exceeds even a TD's basic salary of €108,987. Meanwhile, in December 2023, there were 18,648 entire houses/apartments available on the short-term letting platform Airbnb in Ireland. This includes 4,666 listings in Dublin City whilst the number of people living in emergency accommodation reached another record high of 14,429 in July—including 2,096 families (up 14%) and 4,401 children (a 15% rise since July 2023). In Dublin alone, 10,487 people were homeless—another new record—with 3,289 of those being children. #Dublin #Ireland #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #homeless #Airbnb
Rob Cross93,174 次观看 • 1 年前

Ireland's housing system is in a state of disrepair, primarily due to ineffective Government policies. My graphic illustrates 20,116 entire homes listed on Airbnb's short-term letting platform in Ireland. Within Ireland's six Gaeltacht areas of Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Meath, Mayo and Waterford, there are 6,201 entire Airbnb properties. These properties, along with thousands of long-vacant holiday homes owned by wealthy investors for short-term rentals, are forcing native Irish speakers out of their communities. The resulting housing squeeze has left seasonal workers—including waiters, bar staff, and chefs—unable to find accommodation during a record-breaking housing crisis, with 15,418 people (including 4,675 children) now in emergency housing. #HousingCrisis #DerelictIreland #Airbnb #Ireland
Rob Cross56,831 次观看 • 1 年前

Here is my graphic showing the preferred 18km route selected for the new Luas service in Cork, released for public consultation. 🚊 The Cork Luas light rail service will span 18 kilometres from Ballincollig to Mahon Point. The route will include 25 stops serving major locations, including: MTU, Cork University Hospital, UCC, City Centre, Kent Station, Cork Docklands, and Blackrock. The project's estimated cost ranges between €1 and €3 billion. At peak times, the service will transport up to 2,300 passengers per hour in each direction. Journey times will be approximately 35 minutes from Ballincollig to the city centre and 20 minutes to Mahon Point. 🔴Red Blocks = Derelict & Vacant Sites #Cork #Ireland #PureCork #DerelictIreland #HousingCrisis #VacantIreland #Luas
Rob Cross56,421 次观看 • 1 年前

Allowing properties to remain derelict for decades should be considered a crime against the state. Ireland's housing system is in a state of disrepair, primarily due to ineffective Government policies. My graphic reveals the sites featured in today's Irish Times. 'How a site in a sought-after area of Dublin remains derelict after 20 years of inactivity' by Ronan McGreevy. 43-50 Dolphin’s Barn Street. 33-37 Dolphin’s Barn Street. 148-160 South Circular Rd, Player Wills Cigarette Factory and St Teresa’s Gardens. 355 South Circular Road, Rialto Cinema. 103-104 Cork Street, The James Weir Home. #DerelictIreland #VacantIreland #Dublin #Ireland
Rob Cross89,231 次观看 • 2 年前

Bringing Ireland's Past to Life 🇮🇪🚂🚃 My colorised circa 1920s Pathé footage showcases the Lartigue monorail. This monorail was the only one in the world to successfully operate on a commercial basis. Charles Lartigue, a Frenchman, designed this steam-powered monorail that ran from 1888 to 1924, covering a distance of 9 miles between Listowel and Ballybunion in County Kerry. It carried passengers, livestock and freight along a rail supported on A-shaped trestles. The last train ran on the 14th October 1924 and everything was scrapped. Much of the track was sold off to local farmers for use as fencing, except a short section of the track. For those interested, Listowel now offers a demonstration journey on a full-scale diesel-powered replica of the original monorail and also has a Lartigue Museum. The music I added is called The Bridge by Ireland's foremost exponent of the uilleann pipes Liam O'Flynn 1945-2018. #TheColourOfIreland #Ireland #History #IrishHistory #IrishCulture #Kerry #Listowel #Ballybunion #railroad #rail #railway #railways_worldwide #railways #trainspotting #trains #Monorail
Rob Cross97,368 次观看 • 2 年前

RIP the legend Ronnie Delaney, our 1500 metres Olympic gold medalist in Melbourne in 1956. Here is some footage I colourised of Ronnie on 6 August 1958, when Australian Herb Elliot broke the world record for the mile, running 3 :54.5 at the Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin. In one of the greatest mile races ever, the first four athletes all broke the existing world record.
Rob Cross14,939 次观看 • 2 个月前