Dublin's working class fight gentrification with horses

Award-winning Irish director Marion Bergin visited a community of Dublin’s working-class men to create a documentary about their equestrian cultural legacy and how horses have transformed their lives in a city undergoing gentrification. The multidisciplinary filmmaker approaches her work with an anthropological curiosity that questions the status quo and fosters new viewpoints through shared human experience...
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#Gentrification #Dublin #Horses #Documentary
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[@aishling2083]

I get a kick out of life when I see lads on their horses,it stops me in my tracks,lifts my spirits for the day, it just amazes me that they ride bareback.Hopefully this tradition stays as a piece of Dublin's history.

[@raymondo162]

"it just amazes me that they ride bareback" ........... actually it's not difficult. sakes

[@susantunbridge4612]

You're less likely to get hurt if you fall off bareback. You just get on that way when you're young, and that's all you know. You get a better riding seat riding bareback. I learned bareback, fell off numerous times, always had a good seat.

[@aishling2083]

@@raymondo162 I say ye have never even tried it,spitting out tripe ye are

[@Ange-tc4rm]

What a beautiful culture! I wish your horse culture never dies. Fight with all the strength you have, it's a great cause. Riding horses is freedom. Here in Paris, it's all been gone for a long time. All the best to you guys, keep every inch of that culture, keep going, keep riding!

[@samdavid9237]

I meet and speak to people from all over the world and I can say that the Dublin working class are the salt of the earth and some of the nicest people I have ever met, very family and community orientated.

[@adamosantonio1499]

Prawda☝️💯

[@MP-po6fj]

"This is Dublin Ireland....Horses are in our blood !" What a documentary this really is i cannot fathom these words enough

[@TheFallenangel800]

Beautiful film, brought tears to my eyes

[@markg9749]

Bleedin Deadly...Grew up with horses in Ballyfermot and worked on a four wheeler selling coal & logs & briquets all around Dublin. Smithfield was were I got me first pony and I kept him in a yard in Bluebell beside JFK Ind Estate , Absolutley loved it and still do. I have two youngfella's meself now and there getting into it , It's a part of Dublin Culture and always will be...!!

[@joanperis5570]

What a report,my god! Congratulations to all the people involved in it.

[@eggmcbluffanpoker4498]

Born in England raised in finglas used to love going home, seeing horses tied up by a house yet just as loved as the kids in bed . RIP Little Paulie

[@PM-de6zt]

I rememeber back in the 90s there was a horse in every field in every working class estate. Times are a changing

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

I'll tell you here in Mayo livestock is kept in fields in towns. Most livestock in a town is generally horses and donkeys. And then out rural we have all sorts from cattle to poultry to pigs ect. So me seeing this in Dublin brings a smile to my face. A staple of Irish villages towns and even cities is farming or at least keeping livestock. And a horse is more than livestock. I believe that the people of Dublin who have horses should have access to proper stables if they don't have any. The government in Ireland is useless. They have the power to help all these equestrians and they're not. I wish great happiness and success on the horse people of Dublin. Dia linn ar do chroí

[@thequietmanpaddynevin9091]

Gas thing is anyone can rock up and use the bridleway in Hyde Park in London 50 meters from Harrods in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world but our sterile kip of a city deem it unsavoury and dangerous even if an individual has the requisite insurance etc . Believe me there is tons of space ten minutes in every direction to allow these activities, your right it is a staple of Irish life and not million years ago there was plenty of farmers within the city limits as well as equine enthusiasts

[@susantunbridge4612]

Horses are fine outside, in fact better healthier than in stables; but they need secure fencing, good water, lots of #1 hay. They don't really need blankets either, depending on the circumstances. Good paddocks, but a stable isn't absolutely necessary at all - they need room to move, all the time, to stay healthy.

[@candylove1234]

This is so stunning! Well done, so happy to see Dublin represented here

[@tommybyrne5864]

Such a unique, beautiful part of Dublin culture compared to other capital cities. Hopefully it survives!

[@MP-po6fj]

Love this Documentary i have watched it over so so many times and i have now removed my prejudice i had before of the horses been ill treated on these estates. They are cared for and exercised better than most horses in other regions that are maybe locked up in stables. The physique on their horses is second to none and cannot be argued when you see the physique of them. Best scene i keep replaying out of many on here is 5.17 onwards to buddie smiling with sunglasses on riding the horses down the main street bareback and the smiles of the 2 of them is so satisfying to see. Amazing is an under statement....these guys would do well in a high end sport training horse facility as they know them inside and out. AMAZING GUYS....Hope you keep the horse culture going in Dublin...Should be a petition put on youtube with this documentary at the top of it. Again totally changed my perception of where i was beforehand for the second time

[@rachelmoran2205]

Sadly a small minority do give everyone a bad name but it's easy to understand why. You only need to see a few photos or bits of footage of dreadfully treated horses and it's so tragic it'll stick in your brain. What most people don't know is the young teenagers who bought horses and had no clue how to treat them are not actually any part of this old Dublin tradition, they just went to the horsefair one Sunday because they liked the idea of a horse and thought all you had to do was provide it with grass by leaving it in a field. If the government gave a damn about either the tradition or the horses they'd have provided facilities in the city decades ago.

[@raymondo162]

"The physique on their horses is second to none and cannot be argued when you see the physique of them." .............. so what year did you qualify as a vet ?? SAKES

[@MP-po6fj]

@@raymondo162 Great point was just stating the muscle tone in areas as i broke my back as a mechanic and was a rake for years and spent 15 years doing light rehab and pilates to get well. lightly built but getting there.# I guess we a are all unique. Bur fare point Raymondo i wish you well

[@susantunbridge4612]

I had no idea there were city horses in Dublin, I hope they can get some sympathy to be able to keep it going. What about the EU, maybe they could help if it's presented as a long-lived culture? I know EU aren't popular, but -- Horses are far, far better off if they are not kept in stables. They are evolved to be roaming animals, grazers, and the last of the ice-age mammals. Putting them in a stall is inviting arthritis, colic, and breathing problems. I've got 3 that I keep outside 24/7 in the Canadian prairies where it can go to -30C, and they're just fine. Make sure they have excellent hay/forage, good water, and shelter from wind and rain, plus friends. Fell smitten by horses when I was six, maybe bc of my ROI grandmother.

[@alejandrapaulasanchezceler9625]

Gracias una bella manifestacion de cultura, fragil ,de cuidado y como todo lo que se opone a la cultura neoliberal silenciado y desconocido para much@s, gracias por este hermoso film,saludos a cada uno de los irlandes@s por ese amor a su lengua y su cultura,gracias.

[@mrmanor101]

Omg this has made me miss Ireland so much! Can’t wait to move back home one day!

[@user-de8mu8xh9j]

Where in Ireland are you from and Where are you living now...

[@saulo3889]

Sad to see that, but God how I miss Dublin ❤️

[@deeppurple883]

I'm in this group, keep the culture and heritage alive. One time owner of horse's and dogs., it's just in us to be around animals and love them like we do. ✊☘️

[@TheIrishShoeStringTripper]

Great production. Magnificent shot of the horse on the beach. well done. I long to see more accommodation for irish horse culture especially in Dublin.

[@JSYN22]

This is so beautiful! I never knew about this about Dublin

[@EireHonour]

True heart of Dublin fair play to all keeping the tradition alive really injoyed this video

[@sequelance]

this is really good shot!visual&sound are successfully processed.

[@markmcgahey2683]

They're some beautiful horses, cryin here

[@katiedoran8197]

This made me cry 😢love the Irish Dublin lads and all xxxx

[@rafael55]

You guys should know that if you gallop a horse on pavement it is very easy for the horse to slip and fall if he has metal horse shoes on him. Careful please!!

[@victoriayoung1034]

Also a great way to cause splints. 😥

[@dmap9342]

Beautifully shot, thank you for this video.

[@Alibaba40recipes]

Absolutely beautiful short documentary about dublin inner city.

[@Ggggggggfddxv]

The government should b funding these chaps keep the old Dublin tradition going it’s a disgrace the media

[@mrlahey3084]

AND wtf the guy slapping the horse with the bridle on the beach at the end

[@MrBuckfast]

Great Documentary. Was so happy to help contribute to it. 💚 🏇🐎 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 #Horses #Dublin #Finglas #Tradition

[@leprechaun7667]

True Dublin right here!!

[@grisha4167]

Stunning soundtrack and video, and horses and people

[@katiefox9588]

I miss Dublin so much 💚 love this

[@seanwhitevideo]

This is beautiful - Thank you

[@allinwith2sChip]

Great video lads. Well done Marion and all the team and contributors

[@briankavo]

Fantastic short documentary, beautifully shot and edited.

[@daveberry2177]

respect from the uk

[@animalmother5473]

Fantastic piece of work.

[@adamseery5012]

My big problem is, it’s to easy to get a horse. It’s the same with dogs. A lot of the young lads haven’t a clue how to look after them. But, this is Dublin, and we need to respect traditional old Dublin ways

[@markilleen4027]

i remember some shit bag was abusing a horse so the boys took the horse of him and kicked him around that behavior is not tolerated. as for just not knowing how to look after the animal that would be highly unlikely and if it was the case it wouldn't be for long considering they would be surrounded by friends family neighbors that have looked after horses all their lives

[@raymondo162]

"it’s to easy to get a horse. It’s the same with dogs" same story at 4:30 - easy to rag someone's motor down the street

[@paddyokearney]

Wow, beautiful documentary, also the soundtrack is amazing!

[@dianafigueroaphotos]

Beautiful.

[@sanpedroez3367]

Here in Los Angeles affluent people ride horses but so do people in the inner city. People ride horses in Compton for example, I've seen dudes riding off Compton Ave

[@sirloksley7772]

may those have been the compton cowboys ?

[@sanpedroez3367]

@@sirloksley7772 yes but not just that particular group, people ride them in Watts also

[@sanpedroez3367]

@@sirloksley7772 people move here from some rural areas of Mexico and Central America, they love horses and rodeo

[@sirloksley7772]

Despite them being quite harsh to there horses sometimes i love their culture

[@mervue16]

0:28 he's a great singer

[@maureendrennan9328]

Thank you all. Well done and hope you see your vision. W. Wonderful and lovely documentary ❤

[@worlddictionary9954]

beautiful horses and beautiful video

[@paulone805]

Im dumbfounded,, got my head spinning,, blinding 8,39 time line,,

[@kraagaard]

Wow - very good storytelling

[@daveoneill3623]

Fantastic

[@TENDERTEN]

Loved watching it, thank you

[@jessicamiller746]

I hope you guys get to keep your horses they are beautiful ❤️

[@earthsgard]

Great show, the horses are great, I miss them, some buzz

[@caolanmaher5907]

Great video!

[@MonstaTrapz]

Keep this culture alive at all costs

[@raymondo162]

what - 4:30 ?? ragging a motor down the street - 2 b sure, it's part of our tradition. it's our HERITAGE.

[@itsalwaysteatime3803]

Beautiful ❤️❤️🍀🇮🇪

[@energetically1]

Beautiful

[@vivacallaghan5241]

That song in the beginning is so beautiful, anyone know where to find it?

[@ronanoconnor1195]

I got a rake of horses and I love them

[@joanneganon7157]

What a beautiful way of Life 😘! JO JO IN VT 💕😄🇺🇸

[@baileysarsfield4375]

Quality content

[@mabcat37]

At its best there is much to be said for these people keeping horses BUT I see no Winter shelter, rugs etc. also there is much cruelty and ignorance. It takes both money and know how to keep a horse. My Lovely Horse Rescue is dealing with such cases all the time.

[@nealwalsh2671]

Fantastic lads keep doing what yous enjoy horses in top shape 👍👍

[@bazaamo]

Home ❤️

[@scopelandyard5792]

Can anybody tell me who is singing casadh an tsúgáin at the beginning? I love that voice. This song has so many versions but i fell in love with this voice 😍 An bhféadfadh aon duine a rá liom cé hé a bhfuil ag canadh Casadh an tsúgáin ag tús an amhráin? Is breá liom an ghuth sin. Tá an amhrán seo á chur in iúl ar chomh maith le go leor leagananna eile, ach thit mé i ngrá leis an nglór sin. 😍😍😍

[@markkelly9964]

What's the soundtrack anyone please ?

[@Ciaraofthenorth]

Video made my day fair play to yous boys.

[@nealwalsh2671]

Rip to Jerry farmer one off the most wonderful men you could ever meet worked with him for years on the green would have everyone in great humour fantastic man and great sons 🙏👍👍

[@allysoobratty7565]

Ireland has a Long History of HORSES❤

[@seannng3454]

What’s the song in the beginning?

[@LSTARMUSIC1]

Anyone know the song the lads singing at the beginning?

[@Roses6858]

They seem to have no clue what they are doing. To me they are neglecting the horses, poor things.

[@polki1482]

Thats rich coming from you ,the size of you on that little pony you should really get on some sort of a diet its not healthy to be that over weight.

[@demongroovemusic]

Gave me a completely different perspective on people who keep horses in Dublin. These horses are well looked after, but unfortunately it's others who are going to ruin it for the horse lovers.

[@helenflynn96]

I know what you mean. I saw a horse being kept in a lane in Dublin 8, so tiny I don't know how they got him/her into that tiny space. Looking back I should have got animal welfare authorities involved.

[@thequietmanpaddynevin9091]

Well if some of the greatest race horse trainers this country has ever produced couldn’t remain in the Phoenix park thanks to the OPW what chance do these poor sorts have ! There should still be a gallop in the Phoenix park still in fact the remnants of the old one are still there . There should also be boxes to rent bordering this area under the stipulation that safety equipment etc is worth. Of course carefully constructed agenda s to vapourise this tradition long held in Dublin for the sake of unscrupulous builders most of which have no real lineage to these areas! Country folk and snobs in general should remember Eddie Macken Trained in Mespil rd in the city as well as the brilliant Jim Bolger who trained in the park and worked in the city amongst many other s of notoriety and if these calibre of folk where still in the city these lads -lassis would have work without having to leave their families and communities behind and be educated to a higher standard regard s their passion! Not every culchie wants to be a farmer and like wise not every towny wants to push a pen , this is a travesty for every socio economic cohort in the city not just the working classes ! Time to decentralise and allow Dubs of all classes a chance to renew these long held traditions in a safe manner, Im sure there are kids from wealthy area s who suffer as much as working class youth as a result of this land grabbing, by people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing!

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

Ya I think we all see what you mean. The problem is how tight our government is. Its actually very sad

[@orlab7745]

Its a pity they didn't interview someone from My Lovely Horse Rescue to give a balanced perspective on the so-called Dublin city horse culture

[@conorstagg8888]

There's plenty of people in the countryside that don't look after there horses either, the point of this documentary is that not all young Dubs that have horses, abuse or neglect them.

[@markilleen4027]

do you no the difference between an animal in some farmers field and an animal in a housing estate abusing an animal in a housing estate won't last long someone will take the animal of them eventually. but the animal in some farmers field will die a slow agonizing death and nobody will ever no. hear no evil speak no evil see no evil. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound etc

[@theSuperzz10]

Did you listen to anything that was said in the video

[@melissa0386]

i’m 43 now i kept horses all my life use to have the land for them it’s all a built up place now but i miss the horses it was passed down to me by my father bless him all the fairs great times easier to keep back in the day i’d love to get back into them it’s not easy now need land i got the best of animals pounded and it kept happening the fuckers took all my ponies i love them horses with a passion it’s a great thing to get into keep the kids of the streets great so let no one take your horses they bring the pigs anyway

[@gerrysonofmick8834]

Brilliant unfortunately the lads and girls have a battle that started back in the 80's with the inpounding of our horses then the council's tried the sneaky approach claiming to be helping these dedicated people while imposing rules that forced a lot of good people out , keep it going all in our blood and history yup

[@wolfgirl5636]

The Irish people should always have horses.

[@ReynaSingh]

Such a beautiful culture

[@louduva9849]

lol

[@blueXRPdynamite.]

My dad is a Dublin man.

[@raymondo162]

oh jolly good. well done, you

[@desireehubbard7337]

Ok first of all nice piece of film we got here. As a horseowner myself I really do get the bond people form with their horses. And it’s nice to see that. However the city is not a safe place for a horse both mentally and physically. They need nice open landscapes with woodlands for rain cover, and nice fresh air (since horses have really sensitive airways). What they don’t need is scrapyards stables (or any stable for that matter) and pavement. So it is sad to say that it is not realistic to keep horses and this tradition in a growing gentrifcation (which I don’t condone) city. I do think that big real estate companies ruin a city with their capitalists minds and making it only better for the rich. Which is really sad… However if you truly look at the needs of horses, they need land over city, a herd and a Loveling owner who treats them with respect and kindness. I'm not saying that the community doesn't do that, but I do think that humans can get stuck in their head and keeping things the same way. Therefore you don't learn and never get better. I hope there is a way in which the community can keep the tradition but also in a healthy way for the horses. Move to the suburbs or have a nice horse friendly facility just outside the city. And maybe once a year an annual parade through the city and celebrate the horses and traditions that come with them.

[@nathisnathi]

💜💜💜💜💜

[@karlagordon4555]

Once you look after your horse, the amount of young that don't. If you can't look after a horse then don't keep. One

[@walnuttv1999]

Featured in the top 10 videos of the day on walnut.tv/curious

[@bardo677]

Mark are we reindroducing street horses? Because i want one if we are embracing tradition

[@bardo677]

stick a couple on the jenny for me

[@daithi159]

Sadly those areas are labelled from media reports ( moral panic ) , criminal activity is caused by strain and environment caused by political failure to invest in these areas . Don't judge just think if the council and local government came together to invest in equine centre in these areas . Where those horse s would get more care and those whom own horses get more opportunities to achieve there means .

[@karlagordon4555]

Well then you guys need to sort out the ppl who don't look after them..

[@dogsquadindia]

Are the urban horse owners all Irish travelers or other people too?

[@m.tayyab3290]

I sympathize with the aspirations of these people, but I don't believe a city is a place for a horse. Perhaps the government can designate a place for horse-keeping and horse-riding, but regular streets needn't be made accessible to horses.

[@susantunbridge4612]

My grandmother was born in ROI, and I have a lot of cousins there. I haven't been to visit yet though, from Canada. Out of five children, I'm the only one who took to horses like a duck to water, learned to ride bareback, scrounged rides wherever I could as my parents weren't about to buy me a horse. I learned to be a pretty good rider, and I eventually got my own, 2 Thoroughbreds off the track who were to go for slaughter, and one Anglo Arab, all abused. I just wonder if it's something in the blood or genes to take to horses like I did, a sort of insanity in a way. Everyone else can go get stuffed, the horses are what counts.

[@mrlahey3084]

God they need to learn to ride, stop balancing on the horses mouths

[@killickfarms]

I really think you should take that back. There wasn’t one of the main riders in this film pulling out of the horses mouth. They were more accomplished horsemen than most riders you would see at a riding club jumping show. You’d want to get over yerself

[@raymondo162]

@@killickfarms eejit

[@itsajaj6695]

Are these still available for public viewings or public horse riding with a fee ?, would be cool to shoot some good features with those beautiful stallions

[@patkearney1587]

Gentrified is a nasty word to working class folk, it's state sponsored bullying. EIRE32

[@patkearney1587]

The lads on the horses stayed away from hard drugs they loved the horse so much and Dublin is better place because of them lads EIRE32

[@davidnyc487]

Those children should be kept in school to get a good education, because there’s no future in urban horses anymore it’s not the nineteenth century.

[@clionahunter-moore5393]

As a vet who regularly has to put down horse due to horrific neglect of these animals by this particular demographic, there’s nothing glorious about these individuals and their abuse of animals

[@Liam-eh2wp]

23 or 33?

[@brianstorm3917]

Here - horses ride people.

[@CrazyMonkey679]

Dubs are the salt of the earth

[@adamfogarty8029]

🇮🇪💪🏻

[@dazzlerd1272]

The kid is the only kid from dublin who can sing in irish

[@jamesoneill5045]

I love seeing a horse out on a road..

[@fl3693]

Racing horses on concrete is terrifying for the horse and endangers its legs as the metal shoes slipping risk its life... Don't care how romantic this film make it out, its cruel.

[@orlab7745]

Totally agree

[@minimumwage2millionaire]

@@jayrober4834 Or maybe literally a running shoe?

[@MrBuckfast]

@@jayrober4834 They already have rubber shoes, there called 'Slippers'.

[@iam-man]

So racing horses for bets is OK? Right o