U-turn on Ballinrobe asylum centre site as Ballsbridge residents plan protest

Protestors outside Gannon's Hotel in Ballinrobe yesterday after their campaign had been stood down. Picture: Conor McKeown

Anti-immigration protestors are planning a demonstration outside a proposed asylum centre on the site of a former nursing home in Dublin, after a similar one in Mayo ended yesterday. It comes after a weekend-long rally at a disused hotel in Ballinrobe was halted.

The building was to be used for 50 men, however on Monday a U-turn by the Government saw new plans for families to be housed there instead.

The Department of Integration said: “While initially earmarked for adult males, there is now an acute shortage of accommodation for families and children and it is now intended to place families into this property over the coming days.”

It also said centres like the proposed site in Ballinrobe have been opened in all parts of the country.

There have been more than 190 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.

A spokesman said: “These options must be considered to prevent homelessness for people arriving seeking international protection.

“The situation in relation to accommodation for international protection applicants remains extremely challenging, and the Department does not have enough accommodation to offer to many newly arrived IP applicants at present.”

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Damian Ryan said: “The protest has ended but there are a few outsiders who are not accepting it, regardless.

“I think for the single men who were meant to go there, they will be moved elsewhere, most likely to a bigger city. That could be an answer to this, putting the men in the cities instead and families with smaller communities.

It’s a lesson learned, the Government has to talk to the communities to prevent incorrect rumours and upset, but this protest was happening all weekend when no one was quick to come back in the department.

Just as one protest ended, another one is being planned by demonstrators in Dublin.

The rally is being planned at a former nursing home in Ballsbridge in south Dublin after it was confirmed a 220-bed emergency accommodation facility for asylum seekers will open in Pembroke Park.

The former St Mary’s nursing home is situated beside St Conleth’s College and will house people seeking international protection. It is due to open in the coming weeks.

The property went on the market in September for €7m, with planning permission recently secured for a 64-unit build-to-rent scheme.

The building is now owned by Goldstein Property Irish Collective Asset Management, and leased by Burvea Unlimited Company on a five-year lease.

One protestor told the Irish Examiner: “Some people are ok with this, but we are not. We don’t know who will be going in there, but we will do the same as what others have done, we’ll sit for as long as we have to.”

Meanwhile, other protests are taking place in Kilkenny and Cavan. In the last number of days, up to 20 people have gathered in Urlingford in Kilkenny over the possible use of a site for those seeking refuge here.

The former Josephine’s Restaurant is a well known landmark on the old Cork - Dublin road which has been vacant for many years..