Protests over housing of asylum seekers at former Clare hotel

So-called "protests" are taking place in Clare against the moving of asylum seekers into a site near Inch.

Around 34 asylum seekers arrived by bus yesterday at Magowna House, a small hotel in the area which has been closed since 2019. The International Protection Applicants arrived at the former hotel in Inch yesterday evening, and will be put into small holiday homes surrounding the building.

Within minutes of their arrival, around 50 people from the local region arrived with tractors, blockading both ends of the narrow road leading to the former hotel and restaurant and completely blocking access to the area.

Locals said that their aim was to ensure that no further buses carrying refugees would be allowed through.

The asylum seekers currently being moved to the area have little to no say in where they will be housed in Ireland, and former hotels in remote rural areas are regularly selected as temporary housing for those who have fled here seeking safety.

Roughly half an hour after the blockade began, Gardaí arrived at the scene. While they have maintained presence at the blockade, they have not attempted to move it.

Last Friday, news broke in the local area that Magowna House was likely to be used as an emergency accommodation centre and a public meeting was held, where there was clear opposition to the move by locals.

Local authorities have no role when it comes to housing International Protection Applicants.

Why some people expect to be consulted when new families move into the area is beyond me. It’s racism under the guise of some kind of respectability by talking about “consultations”. Utter BS. #Magowna #Clare

— Jack Matthynssens (@JackMatthynssen) May 16, 2023

The Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Integration, Joe O'Brien, has appealed to "protesters" to end their "protest".

Mr O'Brien said it was was never the intention to put people into the hotel, and that the holiday homes are suitable locations for refugees.

Locals told RTÉ reporters that the protest will continue until they "get answers" as to why the hotel is being used for emergency accommodation, as well as why the locals were not consulted. A delegation of local people and politicians is going to Clare County Council in Ennis this morning to address their concerns.

The protest follows months of rising anti-migrant activity across the country, including a recent attack on a makeshift refugee camp in Dublin city last week. The lack of capacity for refugees and asylum seekers is another symptom of the ongoing housing crisis and state inactivity.