Town to get armed patrols for influx

Armed gardaí will patrol Rathkeale this Christmas when thousands of transient Travellers descend on the west Limerick town from all over Europe.

The resident population of just 1,500 is due to swell to more than 4,500.

The HSE is setting up a special clinic which will open from Dec 20 to Jan 4 — except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It will be staffed by a doctor and nurse and open only to Travellers.