Cork City Library made the decision to close at lunchtime on Saturday in advance of a planned demonstration by individuals who are opposed to LGBTQ+ reading materials being on the shelves.
Cork City Libraries said they opted to close their branch on the Grand Parade in the city centre at 12.30pm today in advance of the planned demonstration.
“The decision is taken in the interests of the safety and wellbeing of the public and library staff. We regret this temporary disruption to library services.”
The library closed 90 minutes before the demonstration which was organised by a group who said that the event was a “nationalist rally.” A poster flagging the rally said “Cork Says No” and included a picture of Michael Collins. The library will re open as usual on Monday at 10am. It is closed on Sundays.
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Cork City Library said that as part of the protest a banner was mounted across the entrance of their building without permission.
“A request was made by Cork City Library staff that the banner be removed. This request was refused and resulted in an escalation of a tense situation. Having liaised with An Garda Síochána it was decided it would be unsafe for library staff to attempt to remove the banner,” it said in a statement.
“It should be noted that Cork City Libraries does not endorse the placing of banners on our library buildings. We would like to apologise to all library users for today’s disruption to service which was outside of our control. "
The banner read: “There are only two genders: male and female.”
Around 60 to 70 people attended the anti-LGBTQ+ demonstration. A counter demonstration “against the right wing” took place nearby. Gardai monitored the situation and no incidents have been reported.
Cork Green Party councillor Dan Boyle posted on social media that he was horrified at the behaviour of certain groups who have harassed staff members onsite in recent months.
“The closure today of Cork City Central Library due to the actions of far right fascists is intolerable. This is not the right to protest, it is intimidation with behaviour that is threatening in its intent.”
Meanwhile, on July 7th last 500 people gathered at a solidarity protest in support of workers at Cork City Library. The workers report that they have been intimidated by protestors who are opposed to LGBTQ +reading materials being on the shelves.
In one incident in March, an individual grabbed a copy of Juno Dawson’s book, “This Book is Gay” and tore it up. Staff have also been subjected to verbal abuse and paedophile slurs by people who have objected to certain reading material being available onsite.
Liam O Briain, of Fórsa Trade Union, said that in recent months individuals have entered the city library, accosted staff and demanded that certain books be removed. Fórsa say they will engage with the gardai to highlight any threats and to agree emergency measures to protect staff, users and books.
Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer, is among those who have condemned the behaviour of vigilantes who have in recent times harassed library staff in Cork’s Grand Parade.
“We live in a democratic society. But in no way can it be condoned the behaviour towards the library staff. We are nothing without knowledge and our quest for knowledge is based upon the public library system and service. The staff deserve to work in an environment that is free and safe. We cannot allow anybody to interfere with that whatever their viewpoints are.”
Leading British trade unionist Mick Lynch meanwhile called on the people of Cork to rally around beleaguered library staff as they face down harassment by activists.
Mr Lynch, the head of Britain’s National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers, rose to public prominence leading rail strikes and joining wider left-wing demonstrations. His television appearances, arguing for the rights of the workers he represents, were widely shared as he dismissed criticisms in what was seen as a “no-nonsense” fashion.
He said he was fully behind library staff at Cork City Libraries Grand Parade branch and other branches.
Mr Lynch said: “People have the right to work free of that kind of harassment if they’ve got a job to do and there’s also a freedom of speech issue and I’m sure all library workers are on the side of the freedom of speech and human rights issues, but you shouldn’t get harassed at work.
“Workers should have the right to carry out their functions free of that kind of pressure … so the authorities have got to do something about it but also the people of Cork and the trade union movement and communities have got to rally around – I’m in total solidarity with library staff on this.
“Of course, if you have an issue with a book, you can also choose not to read the book - there is self-censorship, you don’t have to look at something that offends you and you don’t have to read something you disagree with but sometimes reading something you disagree with is good for you.”
Mr Lynch is a regular visitor to Cork where his father, Jack was born on Gunpowder Lane on the city’s southside and was speaking at the Cork Mother Jones Festival, where he was receiving a “spirit of Mother Jones” award for his union work,
Mother Jones, born Mary Harris in Cork in the 1830s, was an important union organiser in 19th century America.
