CÉAD míle fáilte. Ireland, the land of a thousand welcomes — my backside. You are welcome here if you’re white, rich, or American, but if you’re not, there is no room at the inn.

Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton has called on the protesters at the Achill Head Hotel to “stand down”.

What the country does not need replicated is the scenes that developed in Oughterard. Surely, even in the midst of various domestic problems, this country should offer a warm place of refuge, even if only temporarily, for some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, writes Michael Clifford

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has blamed "grossly misleading" information about asylum seeker numbers for the decision to scrap plans for a direct provision centre in Oughterard after a weeks long racism row stand-off.

The Department of Justice has said it is "disappointing" that a bidder has withdrawn from the tender process to provide a Direct Provision centre in Oughterard, Co Galway.

The right to protest is central to the democratic process. As well as being threatened by physical force, it is also threatened when smothered by social pressure and slandered with attributions of underhand motive.

The direct provision system is not fit for purpose, the Bishop of Galway has said, in an intervention that is likely to put further pressure on the Government.

Publican Rory Clancy, spokesman for a demonstration supported by over 2,000 people at the weekend, said the community was once again asking the department to “come and speak to us here in Oughterard”.

Thousands of people joined a silent-protest yesterday outside the former Connemara Gateway Hotel, and a 24-hour presence is continuing there today.

President Michael D Higgins has rowed into the asylum seekers debate claiming some people have "abused" the facts about people coming to Ireland.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has urged people in rural Ireland not to be “exploited” by “anti-immigrant” groups trying to “whip up” race hate in the aftermath of the Oughterard direct provision stand-off.

The developer seeking a contract to provide a centre for asylum seekers in Oughterard, Co Galway, has denied making “intimidating” comments to a delegation of residents last week.

"The system of direct provision is wrong and is one we need to bring to an end," she said.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has said he is "very concerned" about remarks made by a number of TDs on asylum seekers in recent days.

The comments come as controversy continues over proposals for a direct provision centre at a former hotel in Oughterard in Co Galway.

Gardaí say a man fell to the ground after “colliding with a vehicle” near the site of the Connemara Gateway Hotel.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has called on residents of the Connemara town of Oughterard to “step back” and allow for the process of selecting new direct provision centre for asylum seekers to take place.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly has told of her concern at the inaccurate figures being presented as facts at a public meeting in Oughterard on Wednesday night.

It’s an American western like you have never seen before — as it’s been filmed in Connemara.

Boxing, cycling, judo and shooting are occupying Irish thoughts on day two of the European Games in Minsk.

Farm families are invited to attend a series of nine free forest walks in support of the Green Ribbon campaign to raise mental health awareness during May.

Jurors found Marian Lingurar Jr guilty of the manslaughter of Oughterard publican and teacher, John Kenny(56), who was found badly beaten, tied up and left to die alone on the floor of the ladies toilet in his pub

A mother of five found dead in a hotel room in Galway this week was a cancer survivor who embraced life and was passionate about her family, hillwalking, and set dancing, her funeral Mass was told yesterday.

A mother of five found dead in a hotel room in Galway earlier this week was the “very essence of life” and a much-loved parent, grandmother, and childminder, says the priest in her parish of Donoughmore, Co Cork.

Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority are awaiting the results of an autopsy which was carried out on the body of a 64-year old woman who was found dead in a hotel room in Co Galway.

Latest: The Connemara Lake Hotel has released a statement on their website confirming the death of a guest while staying at the hotel.

LATEST: Air Corps Captain Sean McCarthy says today has been a more successful one for crews trying to tackle the forest fire in Co Galway, before warning that dry conditions could yet cause the blaze to grow.

Vibrations linked to the devastating earthquake in Italy, in which at least 73 people died, were felt in Ireland.

Tributes have been paid to a respected doctor who died in a boating accident.

A search is continuing in Galway for a man missing since yesterday.

Kya deLongchamps takes a look at the work of the late, great Maureen O’Hara and John Ford’s fictional Inisfree — ‘another name for Heaven’. 

More than 4,000 people are without power across the country tonight.

Steve Wall is among the stars of a major new TV drama about the Irish in the Klondike, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

Two gardaí, a father and son, have denied they assaulted some protesters during a protest against the Shell Corrib gas refinery in Co Mayo.

A man who denied any involvement in the 2011 manslaughter of a teacher and publican was yesterday sentenced to four years in prison for withholding evidence during Garda investigations.

The trial of a Romanian man charged with the manslaughter of schoolteacher John Kenny in his pub in Oughterard in 2011, ended yesterday when the prosecution withdrew the charge from the jury.

AT TIMES it is forgotten that business is about people and in Ballynahinch this is very much the case. 

Martin Claffey enjoys a walking break in the stunning surrounds of Connemara.

Six cars were washed out to sea at Cleggan in west Co Galway in one of the worst storms to hit the west in years.

Plans to include cycle-ways in upgrades to tourist routes along the west and south coasts could be in jeopardy following An Bord Pleanála’s rejection of a €65m development on the Dingle Peninsula.

THE Body & Soul Festival is becoming a fixture of the Irish summer.

THE Travel Classics International Writers conference has been held in Ireland several times over the past 19 years. This year it was held at Ballymaloe House and surrounding area. The delegates included some of the most prestigious food and travel editors and writers in the world. The weather was good, the country side looked beautiful and they really enjoyed the fresh food from the farm, gardens, local fishermen and artisan producers.

KEITH RICHARDS was somewhere around Oughterard, on the edge of Lough Corrib, when the craving began to take hold.

Two thousand homes around the country are without power this morning because of stormy weather and strong winds overnight.