Glen Hansard has admitted that he and fellow Irish stars have taken over the NAMA-owned Apollo House illegally.
The singer joins others like Hozier, Saoirse Ronan, director Jim Sheridan and Mattress Mick as part of the Home Sweet Home group who have occupied the vacant building for use as a homeless shelter.
“We are involved in an act of civil disobedience. I call upon the very spirit of the Irish people to look at this, it is an illegal act,” Glen said.
Occupied: Glen, Hozier and other Irish stars have taken over the NAMA-owned Apollo House | VIPIRELAND.COM
“We have taken a building that essentially belongs to the people of Ireland and that has been lying empty,” he told Ryan Tubridy on the Late Late Show.
“The Government will shelter 200 people this Christmas and there’s 260 people between the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal in Dublin.
“Now this is not only a Dublin issue but between the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal there are 260 people tonight homeless.
“What we would like to do is bridge the gap. We’ll be asking people to volunteer, we’ll be asking people to get behind the idea. It is a radical idea.”
Homelessness: Saoirse is another member of the Home Sweet Home group | VIPIRELAND.COM
When asked what he’ll say if the group are told by authorities to vacate the building, Glen explained that tax-payers own the building.
“You appeal to the better nature of the Government and NAMA. This is a NAMA-owned building.
“If everybody pays tax in this audience, if anyone knows their stuff they know that that is essentially our building.
“We are just going to take it for a few months,” he added.
