Councillors fight students annual bingeing fiasco.

Six councillors in the south-west ward signed a letter yesterday criticising the decision by students of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) to hold their so-called "Christmas Day" celebration again this year.

Despite what the councillors called the "disturbing fallout" from last year’s event, it is due to take place again this year on November 26.

"We are disgusted that, despite the wishes of the management of CIT, the residents of Bishopstown, its community association and its elected representatives, this daytime alcohol bingeing fiasco will, once again, be foisted on people that we represent," the councillors said.

The six, John Buttimer (FG), Mary Shields (FF), Michael Ahern (Lab), Brian Bermingham (FG), Henry Cremin (SF), and Ger Gibbons (Lab), said: "Last year’s event was as traumatic to local residents as previous ones.

"The community living in Bishopstown are sick and tired of the disturbing behaviour that it brings."

The event first started on CIT’s Bishopstown campus about 15 years ago as a good spirited end-of-term celebration.

But, in recent years, it has spilled out into the pubs in the surrounding suburbs.

It has become a catalyst for a gathering of hundreds of students, many of whom are bused into Bishopstown for a day-long drinking session beginning at 11am.

It features early morning and early afternoon house parties in residential estates.

Last year, motorists had to avoid hundreds of drunk students staggering outside pubs at rush hour. Students could be seen urinating in front gardens of private houses and property was damaged later in the night.

Many elderly residents felt terrorised and like prisoners in their own homes.

The councillors said that despite the strict internal controls and the best intentions of the bar owners during last year’s event, the streets were crowded by "scores of drunken, dishevelled and disorientated male and female students".

"The Bishopstown community, including some very young and some very old, were compelled to witness appalling conduct such as urination in their gardens, damage to their property, verbal abuse and violence," the councillors said.

And they said the Garda authorities were stretched dealing with complaints.

"We, as elected representatives of the people of Bishopstown, wish to emphasise that we do not want this conduct in our community," they said.

"We, together with the Bishopstown Community Association and the college authorities want this horrible event to cease."

Cllr Ahern, a former lecturer at CIT, stressed that they not are criticising all students.

But he said CIT’s Students’ Union, which is attempting to police the event this year, should distance itself from it, and ensure it is cancelled.

The councillors also urged local publicans not to support the event.

Source: Eoin English, The Irish Examiner, 19/11/2009