Government agrees 'in principle' to purchase disused Roscrea hotel for community use

Clashes had followed the change of use of the town's only functioning hotel to asylum seeker accommodation

Locals had cited the loss of Racket Hall, Roscrea's only hotel, as a reason for recent protests. The new plan would see the State purchase the former Grant’s Hotel in Roscrea town centre to cater for the community. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

The Government has agreed "in principle" to purchase a disused hotel in Roscrea after clashes followed the change of use of the Racket Hall hotel to asylum seeker accommodation.

Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary Jackie Cahill said that he received assurances that the hotel would be purchased to cater for the community after locals cited the loss of the town's only hotel as a reason for a protest at Racket Hall.