Disorderly behaviour escalated tonight in the Holylands as hundreds of revellers took part in a “street rave” on Palestine Street. Police and University officials looked on helplessly as young people sang and danced along with music blaring from one of the houses. It has been alleged that the house in question was not a student house.
BY CATHERINE WYLIE AND BRENDAN HUGHES
The “street rave” took place at the Agincourt Avenue end of Palestine Street, whilst the opposite end of the street was blocked by an ambulance. The crowd sang ‘The Fields of Athenry’, the Irish national anthem and various chants, such as ‘We all live in the Holy Holylands’. It seemed that the ambulance was moved down the street in a futile attempt to disperse the crowd. Police officers then took the decision to run at the crowd, and this was successful in moving the revellers from the concentrated area, despite a defiant reprise of the Irish national anthem played on an electric guitar.
Shortly after the mob was dispersed, The Gown watched as police officers put an amplifier and guitar into the back of a police van. At this stage there was no music playing on Palestine Street.
Crowds cheered for one young man on Palestine Street who let off a fire extinguisher. Motorists attempted to dodge broken glass on the road, but many onlookers watched as tyres were punctured.
Student officers and University officials observed the chaos until late.
Across the Holylands, streets remain covered in broken bottles, glasses, empty beer cans, and an assortment of rubbish.
For more photos from the day, go to The Gown’s Facebook page.
what idiot thought driving through the holylands today would be a good idea?
Bunch of wasters. Should all be kicked out of Queen’s.
looks quieter than last year! the dublin road on a saturday night has looked worse
Quieter is an improvement, and credit to those involved in doing what must have been a lot of work to have what little effect they realistically can, particularly Laura Hawthorne and her team. Some great efforts by the local churches it seems too. That said it cannot solely be looked at it comparatively to last years crescendo of disgrace, these scenes are still wholely unacceptable.
Police should not be allowing crowds to congregate to this degree. They have absolutely no right to gather like this for a mass street drinking session or “street rave”. I would hate to be a resident.
But natually, this is a purely Belfast thing, Imean, a day culturally earmarked for Bacchanalia and rvellery could nly cause incident in Belfast, never New Orleans, New York, Dublin, London, Boston etc, it only happens in Belfast, and Naturally, only students ever get involved. Sarcasm aside, all credit to Hawthorne and her team, and all the others who helped keep the place resptable throughout the day. Maybe some of the ‘Furious frm Agincourt avenue’ commenters should tke note that it is not only students who become involved in such activity, but maybe that this is a woldwide occurence on this day.
Pax Amorque
“Bunch of wasters. Should all be kicked out of Queen’s.”
and what about the UUJ students? should they also be kicked out of queens?
Hardly surprising that discussion on a student newspaper from QUB’s website focuses on a) Belfast or b) QUB students, to be fair.
Catherine and Brendan, you are becoming the Spinal Tap of yourselves. I honestly didn’t think you’d become this ridiculous:
“Motorists attempted to dodge broken glass on the road, but many onlookers watched as tyres were punctured.”
It’s a little bit hilarious.
@Concerned Student:
“They have absolutely no right to gather like this”
Surely the idea of “freedom of assembly” is something similar to “freedom of expression” or, tellingly, “freedom of the press”… It might’ve been illegal to drink in public, but it looks like fun. Proper fun.
“The crowd sang ‘The Fields of Athenry’, the Irish national anthem”
When did it get changed to that? Do not think anyone else knows of this yet.
Read the quote in context:
“The crowd sang ‘The Fields of Athenry’, the Irish national anthem and various chants, such as ‘We all live in the Holy Holylands’.”
@Ciaran
Reading comprehension is a prerequisite for sardonic success.
The article reads:
“The crowd sang ‘The Fields of Athenry’, the Irish national anthem and various chants, such as ‘We all live in the Holy Holylands’.”
In other words, the crowds sang: (a) the fields of athenry (b) the Irish national anthem, and (c) various other chants, including ‘we all live in the Holylands.’
In other news the bbc is reporting that St Patrick’s Day passed off peacefully in the Holylands:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8574588.stm
These culchies should be sent back to where they came from…. the bot!
The Gown were running round like a pack of utter loners yesterday and being ridiculous! Their smug faces were enough to make people want to show their rear end to them!
I think people are forgetting that not only is it but one day a year, but it is brilliant craic. The atmosphere was a bit mental but wholly one of “party!”. Some people may like the idea of treating St Patrick’s Day like any other mundane day but I put my full support behind this idea of suspending normal social rules and just having the craic. Many houses had an open-door policy all day, friendships were made with neighbours and at one point I was sitting on a sofa in a garden with about 14 people – many of whom I had never met before – watching football on a TV and having a few drinks while the party went on around us. But what could be more anti-social and disgraceful I suppose…
its days like this……its days like this that make me wanna try and do well in school just so i can drink non-stop as a student!
“Motorists attempted to dodge broken glass on the road, but many onlookers watched as tyres were punctured.” – I’d like to see some substantiation for that claim. What were all these supposed tyres made of? Balloons?
All: As a resident of the HOLYLAND, can we all try to be accurate when describing this area – it is NOT and never has been the HOLYLANDS!
These photographs are absolutely disgusting. I have always lived in the holyland (25 years) and also completed a 4 year university degree and these scenes are abominable. My extended family and I have lived here as living within a student population has always meant living in a dynamic, progressive atmosphere and environment. I refuse to be intimidated or alleged or ‘ruining the craic’ by backwards idiots.
I’ll be ‘celebrating’ with my friends in Tyrone next year….
I spent a couple of hours in the Holylands area yesterday – lots of street drinking, music blasting from houses, beery, lairy, intimidating, disgraceful. To the long term residents, these ‘partying students’ are as welcome as having an Orange parade forced into your neighbourhood. You should all be proud of yourselves – a credit to Ireland.
@John RE:
“Many houses had an open-door policy all day, friendships were made with neighbours and at one point I was sitting on a sofa in a garden with about 14 people – many of whom I had never met before – watching football on a TV and having a few drinks while the party went on around us. But what could be more anti-social and disgraceful I suppose…”
That’s only one side to the argument. You may have been having a civil day, but what about those who go out of their way to be obnoxious and a disturbance? Those who scream and roar into the small hours?
I’m sick of hearing this “sure the residents should be moved away”. The area happens to be highly populated with students due to landlords buying up property and renting it out. A large majority of the students in the Holylands really have no respect for the place. Compare it to the scenes in Stranmillis village
im a 50 year old resident of the holylands and it was one of my favourite experiences….. obviously since last years party. roll on st paddys 2011. the singing was fantastic. can i get my guitar and amp back please? fermanagh people make the world go round…..literally