Protests broke out over the weekend in the town of Ballinrobe in Co Mayo, Ireland, over plans to bring 50 male migrants to the small town to house them at the JJ Gunnons Hotel.
Magazine reports:
On Thursday afternoon, the Integration Ministry sent a briefing to politicians informing them that as of January 8, 50 hotel beds will be made available for men seeking international protection.
The briefing said the management had been offered a one-year contract.
The briefing explained that there is currently a whole government emergency response to the influx of asylum seekers into Ireland.
“Given the scale and urgency of providing housing for new arrivals… there was a need to act quickly, as developments often occur in a very short time,” the report said.
The briefing stated that the ministry is working to improve how it provides accommodation for people fleeing war and those seeking protection, and improving how it communicates with the local communities where people are being accommodated.
Fine Gael representative Michael Burke shared news on social media that following the protests, the hotel owner has now withdrawn the lease.
I have had discussions with the owners of the former JJ GANNONS hotel.
The owners have informed me that the lease for the current proposal has been withdrawn as of this morning.
I'm delighted by this announcement and what a good outcome it represents for all the people who came out last night and have been in contact with me over the past 24 hours.
Thank you everyone for the support.”
The city has come together to protest the move through the 'Ballinrobe Says No' social media page, set up to rally support.
Live video of the protest showed a local business owner addressing the crowd and sharing concern that the community had received only two days' notice of the imminent arrival of migrants.
“Unfortunately, we are going to have to stand here and stay here and not let that happen,” she said.
“If this happened, my daughter wouldn't walk down this street, and I wouldn't walk down this street. Where would we all go if these 50 people, who are probably undocumented, were hovering here, where we stand now?”
“They will be here Monday morning unless we all stay here and stand up and do something about it.”
In the past few days it has emerged that the former JJ Gannons Hotel in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, was to be used to house 50 men applying for international protection.
There was great disapproval from local residents, who have been present 24/7 in the building since… pic.twitter.com/7epwG81MNl
-TheIrishInquiry (@IrishInquiry) January 6, 2024
Well done to the people of Ballinrobe. Get out there and support them tonight. not finished yet! #Whole_Ireland pic.twitter.com/iolr4cxK7d
-TheIrishInquiry (@IrishInquiry) January 6, 2024
In Ballinrobe, Co Mayo in western Ireland, there were reports of the arrival of 50 asylum seekers.
Residents are angry, the entire community is in the streets! pic.twitter.com/VNyTqGuihu
– David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) January 6, 2024
Ballinrobe, mayonnaise
After two foreign men showed up at 2.30am to try to get into the building, the local ladies stood firm and gave them a piece of reason.
Irish women are single-handedly saving Ireland. respect #IrelandBelongsToTheIrish #IrelandisFull pic.twitter.com/YLRIX1sRNJ
– Niall O'Hara (@ThoughtsToby) January 6, 2024
