Air of despair in 'tent city' as Dublin prepares for St Patrick’s Day

As our capital prepares to welcome visitors from all over the world for St Patrick's weekend, a 'tent city' grows by the day in a corner of one of the wealthiest areas of Dublin

Tents stretch all around the International Protection Office in Dublin as people await their applications to be processed. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

A stench of excrement, urine, food waste and uncollected rubbish hangs over a part of Dublin as it prepares to welcome thousands of visitors from all over the world for the showcase St Patrick's weekend.

The latest figures from the Department of Integration show there are now 1,260 asylum seekers without accommodation in this country, and in one corner of one of the wealthiest areas in Dublin a 'tent city' grows by the day and houses more than 200 of the refugees.