Are there more beggars on the streets now?

Tearin It Up · 24-03-2015 12:25am #1

I don't know but I have never noticed beggars on the streets of Galway before.

The past couple of weeks I have had a young woman approach me, a few times, on different days/evenings, begging for change.

Last week, she came up again begging for change and I just walked away, as you do and she started to hurl some abuse at me "talk about ignorance". Calling me ignorant and she was the one begging!

Not a guard in sight around shop street, eyre square where she's usually begging.

Has anyone came across this one before?

Links234 · 24-03-2015 12:39am

There's a couple I've noticed around Dominick street for the last while, quite aggresssive too, a rather big guy and a woman. sometimes they're together, sometimes not.

ben.schlomo · 24-03-2015 1:03am

Links234 wrote: »

There's a couple I've noticed around Dominick street for the last while, quite aggresssive too, a rather big guy and a woman. sometimes they're together, sometimes not.

There are two that regularly work Shop/High St, middle aged guy and girl, he has an English accent i think and they always want 'money for a hostel'! Other than that it just the usual Roma, but then thats not begging, its just what they do.

Tearin It Up · 24-03-2015 1:31am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

There are two that regularly work Shop/High St, middle aged guy and girl, he has an English accent i think and they always want 'money for a hostel'! Other than that it just the usual Roma, but then thats not begging, its just what they do.

That's the woman that called me ignorant. I didnt know there was a guy also. She wanted 'change for a hostel'. But last week was the first time she said that hostel excuse. Other weeks it was just change. She made me feel very uneasy calling me ignorant, what lengths would they go to get their money if they're being agressive. You don't know if they will ever turn on you for walking away.

MataofK · 24-03-2015 8:56am

I think there are 2 girls usually around tig coili area at 6/7pm asking money for hostel , only here since few month, on my opinion they more looking for money to buy drugs (heroine).. The other lad is English , i spoke with him few times , he is more lost than anything else.. He told me he just get out of jail (not sure it's true )

ArtyC · 24-03-2015 9:26am

Ya I feel it's getting worse, the English guy is not too bad but the girls I feel are aggressive, there's 3 regular ones. Sad really

renegademaster · 24-03-2015 9:27am

MataofK wrote: »

I think there are 2 girls usually around tig coili area at 6/7pm asking money for hostel , only here since few month, on my opinion they more looking for money to buy drugs (heroine).. The other lad is English , i spoke with him few times , he is more lost than anything else.. He told me he just get out of jail (not sure it's true )

The girls doing the rounds on shop st in the eves are on the US protected afghani heroin, the big lad that usually trails with one of the lasses is from castle park, I know the English to see around the place, none of them are actually looking for hostel money. Its quite scary now that ya can set your watch by these poor unfortunate but dangerous aggressive heroin addicts!!

Mrs OBumble · 24-03-2015 9:27am

Yes, there are some new faces in town. Mr OBumble has noticed it too.

One woman is quite aggressive / direct (skinny, long/dark hair).

I usually just look at them as if I have no idea what they're talking about and keep on walking, ie don't even break my stride. Yes, it's mean, but I live in the inner city and know that if I give money once I'll be seen as a soft touch forevermore.

biko · 24-03-2015 10:38am

Yeah, it has been getting worse over the last years.
I never give to non-locals. Instead give to Simon or similar organisations.

muppetkiller · 24-03-2015 10:43am

That dark haired one drives me and my father nuts. She's so aggressive and shouts abuse at you when you ignore her. She's always off her head too as she can never remember asking you a minute previously.

And as for the Guards..I haven't seen a cop on the beat in town in months.

gordongekko · 24-03-2015 4:23pm

I was only saying it the other day to a friend how bad it is lately. There are now a group that harass tourists as they head into the cathedral. And I noticed a lot more around Newcastle lately. They must be squatting around there.

24-03-2015 6:29pm

This country is an embarrassment.

If I came to Ireland as a tourist I wouldn't come back.

Spent a week in Berlin last summer and the only people who approached were Romas running a "sponsor charity" scam.
In Edinburgh last week and the bums sat on corners with cups, again nobody approaching directly.

Dublin then must be one of the worst places in the world for scumbags knocking around and while per person Galway isn't as bad, it's a disgrace that a City of 70k has a more intimidating element than two European capitals.

I guess this all reverts back to prison spaces, you can bet these types have double digit convictions.
Until the government gets serious about law and order then we'll continue to see these types ruin Irish towns as we give them concurrent sentences, probation to repeat offenders and temporary release to free up space to keep the cattle rolling through.

Just pick up the local paper next week and you'll see some low life racking up free convictions while on bail and then receiving a partially suspended sentence for offences that deserve 5 years plus of actual jail time(half every actual sentence for good behaviour).

Lovely country,with a ridicules attitude to making it a safe and enjoyable place to live, work, visit.

JJpedro · 24-03-2015 7:16pm

Hi,
This is a scam by this girl looking for money for Hostel , I saw her the last day looking at a fancy phone ( how can she afford if she is homeless ) , I was told that she lives in Westside but I think there is more involved with her and that there could be drugs involved , be carefull if you get abusive with her , you dont know who is with her ( keeping a distance ) , it could get nasty .

Note: I still think that those guys from Tuam who are supposed to sell scratch cards for Irish Lung foundation or Hanley Centre are worse, They approach you when you are sitting down in cafes etc and ask to help the homeless , people give them money and not buy scratch cards , they pocket the money.
When volunteers from Cope / Simon Community go collecting ( with Garda permits) , people get confused , people should ignore those scumbags. I mentioned it to the Guards but they said that I have to make official compliant about them.

24-03-2015 7:30pm

Is this girl ye talk of blonde and youngish?.

If so its probably the same girl who mugged a young lad in the Headford road car park recently and got away with it... Was in the paper maybe a month back.
Failed to comply with probation and was given a second chance... Comical.

Asked a friend from that side about her and was told she was on FB, thought I may know her but didn't, is a gear head alright.

Mrs OBumble · 24-03-2015 7:35pm

gilberto_eire wrote: »

This country is an embarrassment.

If I came to Ireland as a tourist I wouldn't come back.

In fairness, many do come back despite these charmers. Fiji is the only place where I've had beggars approach me inside the supermarket, we haven't reached that level yet!

And I do find that my no-speekee English approach works quite well.

Mr OBumble reckons the dark haired woman has been here before (5-ish or so years ago) but is just back on the scene again lately.

inisboffin · 24-03-2015 7:46pm

I've travelled a fair bit in the last couple of years, and I have to say 'city wise' Galway is fairly average in terms of beggar/junkie/scammer approaches, or even on the low side.
Parts of Spain were a lot more aggressive imo. More Nordic countries less so. US? Depended on where you were. Also different tactics culturally for asking for money.
Sometimes it takes just one really aggressive beggar to give the impression that a city is hassley, particularly in a city as small as Galway where you may see the same person multiple times.

ScumLord · 24-03-2015 7:47pm

This is nothing new. 10 years ago I remember there was a regular in eyre square that used to have a sob story about being robbed and had no money for the bus and just wanted the price of a cup of tea.

I remember talking to the regular street drunks that would wander around at night when I was in college. They would never remember the first time they met you, giving you their life story. So you could really freak them out the second time you'd meet them.

Tearin It Up · 24-03-2015 7:56pm

If its true, what is said here and they are heroin addicts, begging for money, how bad will the situation get before something is done about it?

Galway is a beautiful city and attracts alot of tourists, we don't need this around the place and we don't need more beggars and drug addicts like this.

It takes alot for me, but I'm scared being approached by them, especially after last week, their aggression when I walked past. Honestly, you don't know if they will ever turn more aggressive or if they will attack.

I'm scared in my own city. That shouldn't be the case. God knows how other people and tourists feel. Like the previous poster said, I hadn't a problem in Edinburgh, could walk down the streets, not a problem.

CiaranMT · 24-03-2015 8:25pm

I work in a shop in town and have had dealings with this group. I find that being blunt with them on the street is the quickest way of dealing with it. The two girls try and fob their 'hostel money' off on us for notes, we don't take it. The tall lad I only see infrequently now, but he's been barred for robbing drink. The English lad I had barred for threatening to put me in a body-bag. I've only been in Galway about two years but this group have definitely been around at least that long. People give out about Roma but this crowd seem to be doing this in shift work.

bodhrandude · 25-03-2015 7:19pm

Sounds like the same folk I encountered the day after ST Patrick's Day, I was approached by three different folk at different times of the day, two were female, one dark haired, the two females were looking for the price of a night in the hostel. I don't know what they're thinking but most don't be walking about with 15 to 20 euros spare which is the price abouts to stay in a hostel for the night. The man also asked for help towards the price of a hostel. This is quite common from the 17th March onwards, back in the 1990s it was crusties usually pretending they were hatting for street musicians or buskers, 'any money for the busker matey?' or the like

Otto Skorzeny · 26-03-2015 2:31am

Have encountered these individuals plenty of times recently. I just walk past, don't even make eye contact, haven't got any abuse...yet.

Between this lot and the gypsies, walking up Shop St can be like running the bum gauntlet at times. At least the winos generally don't bother anyone. Well they do when you're sitting outside neachtains but they usually move in if you ignore them.

muppetkiller · 26-03-2015 12:51pm

Otto Skorzeny wrote: »

Have encountered these individuals plenty of times recently. I just walk past, don't even make eye contact, haven't got any abuse...yet.

Between this lot and the gypsies, walking up Shop St can be like running the bum gauntlet at times. At least the winos generally don't bother anyone. Well they do when you're sitting outside neachtains but they usually move in if you ignore them.

And lets not forget the Chuggers and the Hanley center conmen too.

There's hardly room to walk on shop street now lol.

Otto Skorzeny · 26-03-2015 1:02pm

muppetkiller wrote: »

And lets not forget the Chuggers and the Hanley center conmen too.

There's hardly room to walk on shop street now lol.

Don't forget the terrible buskers (not all of them).

Paddyfield · 26-03-2015 1:58pm

gilberto_eire wrote: »

This country is an embarrassment.

If I came to Ireland as a tourist I wouldn't come back.

Spent a week in Berlin last summer and the only people who approached were Romas running a "sponsor charity" scam.
In Edinburgh last week and the bums sat on corners with cups, again nobody approaching directly.

I half disagree. Berlin is awash with people begging. In recent times, I've been to London, Paris and San Fran where there are homeless people begging everywhere. It seems to me that beggars make a life choice to go to popular tourist places. You wouldn't see a lot of them in say Tullamore, Carlisle or and non-descript French or American city.

Mrs OBumble · 26-03-2015 2:26pm

Otto Skorzeny wrote: »

Don't forget the terrible buskers (not all of them).

And the sign-holders.

thesandeman · 26-03-2015 2:46pm

And the students.

*runs*

Gremlinertia · 26-03-2015 2:56pm

Down with people!.

Hold the door please Thesandeman

youngrun · 26-03-2015 3:32pm

Counted 5 beggars in 30 mins walk in town today, one request for funding

Utopia Parkway · 26-03-2015 4:17pm

The past couple of months was the first time ever I've had people approach me on the street asking for money. And it happened about 3 or 4 times. In the past it was usually they would have had a cup or a cap out as you walk past maybe but these were proactive in their begging. One dark haired Irish woman approached me outside the shopping centre in the Headford Road. I stopped as I thought she was looking for directions and she asked for money for the bus. Didn't even have any cash on me as I was coming back from the gym. A couple weeks later I think the same woman approached me outside Supermacs in Eyre Square. And gave me a verbal volley when I passed without giving her anything. Another fella tapped me on the shoulder looking for money down near Dominick Street direction. I was actually on the phone to the mother at the time.

There's always been some level of begging unfortunately in Galway but just seems more proactive these days.

Diabhal Beag · 26-03-2015 7:38pm

thesandeman wrote: »

And the students.

*runs*

Only just woke up but HEY! *shakes fist*

ben.schlomo · 26-03-2015 10:44pm

youngrun wrote: »

Counted 5 beggars in 30 mins walk in town today, one request for funding

Counted three this evening on Shop St and we had one ask for money. All women, 2 working together.

donfers · 27-03-2015 2:15am

Why are you all counting beggars? Surely there are more productive hobbies to iimmerse yourself in

ben.schlomo · 27-03-2015 11:37am

donfers wrote: »

Why are you all counting beggars? Surely there are more productive hobbies to iimmerse yourself in

You may want to read from page 1 and see if you can figure it out, immerse yourself in the thread.

27-03-2015 4:41pm

There's an increase in junkies on the street so I'd expect to see begging increase in line with that

27-03-2015 4:43pm

gilberto_eire wrote: »

This country is an embarrassment.

If I came to Ireland as a tourist I wouldn't come back.

Spent a week in Berlin last summer and the only people who approached were Romas running a "sponsor charity" scam.
In Edinburgh last week and the bums sat on corners with cups, again nobody approaching directly.

Dublin then must be one of the worst places in the world for scumbags knocking around and while per person Galway isn't as bad, it's a disgrace that a City of 70k has a more intimidating element than two European capitals.

I guess this all reverts back to prison spaces, you can bet these types have double digit convictions.
Until the government gets serious about law and order then we'll continue to see these types ruin Irish towns as we give them concurrent sentences, probation to repeat offenders and temporary release to free up space to keep the cattle rolling through.

Just pick up the local paper next week and you'll see some low life racking up free convictions while on bail and then receiving a partially suspended sentence for offences that deserve 5 years plus of actual jail time(half every actual sentence for good behaviour).

Lovely country,with a ridicules attitude to making it a safe and enjoyable place to live, work, visit.

There is serious hyperbole in this.

Talk about exaggerating

JONJO THE MISER · 28-03-2015 8:05pm

Some people living here must be very sheltered, god help them if they ever went to any small city like Galway in the States or Canada, then they would know all about beggars homeless and meth heads.

Straight Talker · 29-03-2015 2:24am

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Some people living here must be very sheltered, god help them if they ever went to any small city like Galway in the States or Canada, then they would know all about beggars homeless and meth heads.

And how does that alleviate the situation here.Galway like a lot of places in Ireland has gotten a lot rougher over the last few years.People are not living sheltered lives at all.It's just that you want to dismiss them with a throw away insult because their opinions don't fit in with whatever agenda is in you're head.Come back to us whenever you are attacked or have you're house robbed by these people.The heroin has taken off big time in Galway.The west side and castle park areas are riddled with discarded needles.

Long Gone · 29-03-2015 2:30pm

rarnes1 wrote: »

There is serious hyperbole in this.

Talk about exaggerating

No - I'm extremely widely travelled and his comment is right on the money actually. Dublin City centre is the scumbag capital of Europe and must be well up there in the world rankings as well.

Long Gone · 29-03-2015 2:46pm

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Some people living here must be very sheltered, god help them if they ever went to any small city like Galway in the States or Canada, then they would know all about beggars homeless and meth heads.

How many small cities have you been to in The States or Canada ? - I don't recognise that description of the many that I've been to....

inisboffin · 29-03-2015 4:50pm

Long Gone wrote: »

No - I'm extremely widely travelled and his comment is right on the money actually. Dublin City centre is the scumbag capital of Europe and must be well up there in the world rankings as well.

I'd disagree with this. I do think the geography of Dublin has an effect on how we see it. As cities go, it is relatively small and the central/tourist areas are the same, but also have a large concentration of the total beggars/junkies due to a lot of different factors. Many many tourists remark how safe Dublin feels.

I'd also say that 'scumbag' is rather subjective. Is it people that hassle you personally, people that 'look scummy' or certain individuals in expensive suits robbing the country's money

ScumLord · 29-03-2015 5:36pm

All tourist cities attract beggars, druggies and prostitutes. You can't walk down La Ramblas in Barcelona without being accosted by prostitutes. Eastern Europe has the most aggressive beggars I've come across anywhere. Most people don't pay too much attention to these things because they're more worried about serious things like being attacked, raped or mugged (sometimes by the local police). Which isn't nearly as likely to happen in Galway as it is in bigger cities in bigger countries.

Many tourists that come to Galway are well used to this kind of thing, they live in cities and have had to put up with it for a lot longer than we have. They'd see our beggars as quaint.

WallyGUFC · 29-03-2015 6:56pm

Who said there's anything wrong with prostitutes??!

jazzdude18 · 29-03-2015 7:15pm

Well, from what I learned from some people is that, if there's people who need money for food/water, and you can give them some money to them for food/water then it would be very helpful to give it to them. Weather they are beggars or not.

if you think about it, we're all one. in fact dare I even say the person asking for money is you. maybe. but you know.

jazzdude18 · 29-03-2015 7:18pm

watch this video:
youtube.com/watch?v=UhsGSYAdUs4

at the beginning of the video, it felt like what could I do for him as he was begging, but near the end of the video I felt like I was down on my knees to that homeless man praying to him .

man, just help out people if you can.

renegademaster · 02-04-2015 9:22am

Straight Talker wrote: »

And how does that alleviate the situation here.Galway like a lot of places in Ireland has gotten a lot rougher over the last few years.People are not living sheltered lives at all.It's just that you want to dismiss them with a throw away insult because their opinions don't fit in with whatever agenda is in you're head.Come back to us whenever you are attacked or have you're house robbed by these people.The heroin has taken off big time in Galway.The west side and castle park areas are riddled with discarded needles.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/31/blackwater-gets-rich-afghanistan-drug-production

The Strawman Argument · 03-04-2015 4:48am

Paddyfield wrote: »

I half disagree. Berlin is awash with people begging. In recent times, I've been to London, Paris and San Fran where there are homeless people begging everywhere. It seems to me that beggars make a life choice to go to popular tourist places. You wouldn't see a lot of them in say Tullamore, Carlisle or and non-descript French or American city.

I dunno, I'd say it's more the fact that those are tourist areas is what makes a sizeable contingent of the very poor be able to resort to begging.
Once you're in that situation, you're gonna hang around the more populated places to beg purely cos your odds are so much higher than they'd be in a Tullamore, then the fact so many beggars have zoned in on such places also greatly reduces the odds of one being reported or whatever too.
You'd also have a higher number due to things like the constant influx of people coming into those cities are pushing people on the fringes into new lows, you'd also have a batch of people who go for broke making a move to a big city and be left screwed when it falls through.
San Francisco is also, in comparison to other US cities, very friendly to the homeless, I believe.

There's absolutely tons of nondescript dives in the US with homeless and crackhead types. They generally won't be there panhandling or anything like that, but that's cos they're either in some slum where no one has anything or the police'll be ready to batter the ****e out of them and take them to aforementioned slum. They'll ask just about anyone who looks like the might have spare change for some.

...I had a point in there somewhere but I forget what it was

Anyways, Galway's grand, I've never felt remotely threatened on the streets here. Just about everywhere else I've been has had someone or another zone in on me.

thesandeman · 03-04-2015 7:13am

The Strawman Argument wrote: »

...I had a point in there somewhere but I forget what it was

I'm glad you said that. I'd read the previous paragraphs three times before I kept scrolling.

Personally, the 'hostel people' have given up on me. The aggressive girl just says "oh" when she finds herself heading for me. The forgetful one does a U-Turn. The English lad and the newish polite English girl (I really don't know why she feels she needs to be on the streets. She has a personality that a lot of businesses in the hospitality/retail industries in Galway could do with) give me a wave or have a chat without any expectations. Neither of those are on heroin.
The 'bus woman' usually says "I've asked you before haven't I".

From another thread: 'bird ladies' think I'm strange.

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2015 10:51am

thesandeman wrote: »

I'm glad you said that. I'd read the previous paragraphs three times before I kept scrolling.

Personally, the 'hostel people' have given up on me. The aggressive girl just says "oh" when she finds herself heading for me. The forgetful one does a U-Turn. The English lad and the newish polite English girl (I really don't know why she feels she needs to be on the streets. She has a personality that a lot of businesses in the hospitality/retail industries in Galway could do with) give me a wave or have a chat without any expectations. Neither of those are on heroin.
The 'bus woman' usually says "I've asked you before haven't I".

From another thread: 'bird ladies' think I'm strange.

In fairness theyre batsh1t crazy so you must be doing something worse

snubbleste · 03-04-2015 3:07pm

'Journalists' read boards..
http://connachttribune.ie/organised-begging-raises-ire-in-city-501/

Scores of reports on social media complain about several groups of beggars working in shifts demanding money to pay for a hostel bed. At least one of the women often unleashes a tirade of abuse if not given money.
There is also a group who harass tourists as they head into the Galway Cathedral.
This new wave of begging is thought to be rooted in drug addiction.

03-04-2015 3:16pm

snubbleste wrote: »

'Journalists' read boards..
http://connachttribune.ie/organised-begging-raises-ire-in-city-501/

Using social media as a source is not what I'd call journalism tbh.

Strange

snubbleste · 03-04-2015 4:27pm

You ought to pass on your comments to those 'journalists' then

Are there more beggars on the streets now?

Comments