People are taking to the streets to save Merchant’s Arch and the Cobblestone pub

A protest will take place in Dublin this weekend.

A call for support has been issued ahead of a planned protest set to take place in Dublin this weekend. Following public outrage over separate proposed plans to develop hotels atop two of the capital's most renowned existing sites – Merchant's Arch in Temple Bar and the Cobblestone pub in Smithfield – a demonstration is set for the city centre on Saturday afternoon, 9 October. The protest is scheduled to kick off at 1pm in Smithfield Square with a planned march to the offices of Dublin City Council to follow. Musician John Francis Flynn was among a large chorus on social media inviting people to take to the streets and make their voices heard. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUunCe1skeJ/ At the time of writing, the petition to save Merchant's Arch has attracted over 46,000 signatures ahead of its goal of 50,000. Though the planning application registered with Dublin City Council relating to the potential Cobblestone development notes an intention to retain the existing public house, there are fears that any contemporary rework of the site would leave the pub a shadow of its former self. The retention of public spaces remains an ongoing, largely one-sided conversation in Ireland. Earlier this week, a petition was handed into Dáil Éireann for the attention of TDs, seeking to challenge the continued presence of vulture funds in the housing sector. On Thursday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar dodged a question in Dáil Éireann regarding potential Government action on vulture funds, noting that it was a matter for the upcoming Budget. Featured Image via The Cobblestone Pub