Cork protest attracts hundreds frustrated with housing costs – ‘Everyone was under the same banner'
The Raise the Roof protest was comprised of people from Munster and further afield who made their way to Cork to protest against Ireland's worsening housing crisis.
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, told The Corkman that those in attendance, despite coming from various backgrounds, marched as one.
'There was a really good crowd and a great cross section of trade unions, opposition parties on the left, some members of the Traveller community as well,' Deputy Gould said.
'Thousands of people marched, and they didn't just march under the tricolour.
'They marched under every flag from different political parties, all the different unions and the Travellers had their flag.
'A lot of people used their voice on the day.'
According to the Daft.ie House Price Report for Quarter 2 of 2025, released on Monday, June 23, the average house price in Cork county is €325,999 while the average house price in Cork city is €369,938.
In the county, house prices were 12pc higher in Q2 than the same time last year, while city prices increased by 8.6pc in a year.
The report stated that house prices in Cork county are 44.4pc higher now compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. House prices have risen by 32.6pc in Cork city, since before the pandemic.
Mr Gould said the figures are 'another blow' for young people and their families.
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'Today's report shows that home ownership is not a viable option in Cork for many of these people either. The price of buying a home is now so far out of the reach of most ordinary people in Cork, they may as well plan for a trip to Mars,' he said.
'12 months ago, housing was unaffordable. Today, it is astronomical and entirely out of reach of most people in this state,' he added.
Mr Gould said the Raise the Roof protest in Cork has shown the 'fight back' has begun.
'We saw people come out in Cork this weekend to say enough is enough. We need to build on that momentum. We need to offer young people a chance at hope and a future here. They are our future. We cannot continue to wave them off from airports,' he stated.
Cork singer Martin Leahy performed at the protest. He performed his song 'Everyone Should Have A Home', which is his own personal protest to the housing crisis.
Mr Leahy has performed his song outside the Dáil for the past three years.
He described the Cork protest as 'cohesive', and energising.
'It felt very cohesive, and it was great that everyone was under the same banner,' the singer said.
'I felt energised by being there, and it is always good to put [the song] out there in front of people.
'Everything that I would like to say to people, I talk about in my song, so it's always good to play it in front of a crowd.'
Mr Leahy has attended and performed at several housing demonstrations over the years, and he said it feels like protesters are 'building towards something'.
'There has been a lot of big protests happening in the last while, and it is great that they are happening,' he said.
'I would love to see them continue because it really does feel like we are building towards something.'
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