Protests erupted over the weekend in the town of Ballinrobe in Co Mayo, Ireland, over plans to bring 50 male migrants to the small town to be housed at the JJ Gannons Hotel.
On Thursday afternoon the Department of Integration sent a briefing to politicians informing them that from 8 January 50 hotel beds would be provided to men seeking international protection.
The briefing said that a contract had been offered to the department for a period of one year.
The briefing explained that there is currently a whole of Government emergency response to the influx of asylum seekers into Ireland.
“Given the scale and urgency of the operation to source accommodation for new arrivals… there has been a requirement to act at pace, with developments often happening at very short notice,” it stated.
The briefing said that the Department is working to improve how it sources accommodation for those fleeing war and seeking protection, and to improve how it communicates with local communities where people are placed.
Fine Gael representative Michael Burke shared news on social media that after the protests, the owner of the hotel has now withdrawn the lease.
I HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OWNERS OF THE FORMER JJ GANNONS HOTEL.
THE OWNERS HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE LEASE IS WITHDRAWN FOR THE CURRENT PROPOSAL AS OF THIS MORNING.
I AM DELIGHTED WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ITS A GOOD RESULT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT TURNED OUT LAST NIGHT AND HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ME OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT”
The town came together to protest the move with the social media page ‘Ballinrobe Says No’, created to garner support.
A live-streamed video of the protest showed a local business owner addressing the crowd and sharing the concern that the community was only given two days’ notice of the impending migrant arrival.
“Unfortunately, we are going to have to stand here and stay here, and not allow this to happen,” she shared.
“If this happens, my daughter will not walk down this street, and I won’t walk down this street. Where are we all going to go if these 50 people, without documentation likely, are hovering here, where we are standing now.”
“They will be here Monday morning unless we all stay here, stand here, and do something about it.”
In the past few days it emerged that the former JJ Gannons Hotel in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo was going to be used to house 50 male international protection applicants.
There was a huge push back from local people, who have been staging a constant 24/7 presence at 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. It’s not over! #IrelandIsFull pic.twitter.com/iolr4cxK7d
— TheIrishInquiry (@IrishInquiry) January 6, 2024
In Ballinrobe, Co Mayo in the west of Ireland, news gets out 50 asylum seekers are due to arrive.
Residents are furious, the entire community is on the streets! pic.twitter.com/VNyTqGuihu
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) January 6, 2024
Ballinrobe, Mayo
After two foreign men turned up at 2.30 AM to try gain access to the building the local ladies stood firm and gave them a piece of the mind.
Irishwomen are saving Ireland single handedly. Respect #IrelandBelongsToTheIrish #IrelandisFull pic.twitter.com/YLRIX1sRNJ
— Niall O’Hara (@ThoughtsToby) January 6, 2024
