Protesters block Clare hotel being used for asylum seekers

Protestors have blocked the site of a former hotel in County Clare which was due to house 34 asylum seekers.

This Monday, the international protection applicants arrived by bus at Magowna House in Inch, just west of Ennis.

Residents and a local politician are taking issue with the site itself, claiming that in 2022, Clare County Council deemed the site "unsuitable" for accommodation. 

Locals arrived at the site on Monday and blocked the access ways in a 'peaceful protest', according to Clare TD Cathal Crowe.

Last Thursday, Deputy Crowe received a "briefing note" from the Department of Integration, where his office was made aware of a 12-month contract to provide accommodation to asylum seekers at that site. He also received information that there would be a manager onsite, and meals onsite. 

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, he then referenced the fact that due to the blockades, there were no meals this Monday when the international protection applicants arrived.

Deputy Crowe said he visited the site twice on Monday.  At 11am he attended the former hotel as his office was "bombarded" with concerned residents. He told Morning Ireland that through the windows he saw the hotel was "kitted out with beds".

Shortly before midnight he returned to the area and found there were still 50 people blocking access to the building. 

The deputy, who is a resident of Meelick, an area which houses dozens of asylum seekers at Knockalisheen, says "people seeking asylum are very welcome in Clare," and adds that 3.5% of the county's population are made up of "people feeling war or persecution." 

One resident of Inch spoke on the programme saying that tensions are running very high as there was "no consultation with the local community."

He added that Clare County Council told residents no one could reside there due to health and safety issues at the site.

Another resident also featured on the radio programme discussing her feelings on the issue. She stated that Inch is not suitable as it is "not even a village, it's a townland."

When asked what would be a suitable site to reside, she continued, "somewhere you have easy access to amenities required for individuals," including shops, meeting places and transport hubs. 

The same resident added, "if you said there were 30 families here with kids I don't think there would be any barriers," and continued, "I don't want anyone to think we are hostile in any way."

With 12 tents present at the Meelick site later this Tuesday, Deputy Crowe stated that the matter of being welcome is "not up for question at all," but rather the suitability of sites. "There has to be a baseline of accommodation," said the deputy.

Deputy Crowe finished by saying he has passed complaints to Clare County Council and Environmental Health and hopes to meet Minister for Integration, Roderic O'Gorman later today to discuss the matter further.

It's understood that gardai have also attended the scene of the protest but have not intervened.