'We don't have enough services to keep tourists' says Roscrea group

Amid ongoing protests outside Racket Hall, currently being used to house up to 160 asylum seekers, the Roscrea Community Action Group says it wants its concerns to be heard at a Government level

Protestors have kept up their round the clock demonstrations outside Racket Hall, Roscrea, where up to 160 asylum seekers are being housed. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

A new community action group has been formed in Roscrea to highlight some residents’ concerns about the impact the arrival of asylum seekers has had on the town.

Tensions remain in the area since a protest at Racket Hall, on January 11, made international headlines last month.

Some members of the local community learned that the hotel was closing, and up to 160 asylum seekers were going to move into the 40-bedroom hotel, leaving little accommodation for tourists.

A row broke out between protesters and gardaí when the first 17 asylum seekers arrived onsite — footage of the incident went viral.

The following Saturday, a large demonstration took place in the town over the issues. There have been no similar scenes.

However, six weeks on, the anger has cooled in the Tipperary town, but round-the-clock demonstrations continue at the entrance of the hotel.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner in recent days, protester Maria Phelan said: “It all started with our hotel closing and the number of people coming into our town, and there are services here for the people.

“We have had cancellations in this hotel, meaning business has gone elsewhere. People here pay their taxes, and this is what we get.

“There are not enough GPs and dentists, we are strapped for services. We don’t have a problem with the asylum seekers, we have an issue with the pressure we are under.

“We are here day and night for the foreseeable future until we are heard at Government level.”

The small town, which has a population of around 6,000, is already housing hundreds of asylum seekers in Sean Ross Abbey, Racket Hall, and the Sacred Heart Convent, while several smaller properties in Roscrea town are also home to a number of asylum seekers.

Last week, the Roscrea Community Action Group was set up to engage with the local community, the Chamber of Commerce, and political representatives.

Protesters at Racket Hall have expressed their concerns at the strain being put on local services, including GPs and out-of-hour doctors. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, business owner and group member Alison Lee said she expects the closure of Racket Hall to impact her pub business.

“This is my first year here,” she said.

“The pub was doing very well, it’s in the centre of the town. We have no nightclub, so groups of staff in Racket Hall would drink here.

“My financial year has ended in February, so the next one is next February, and I won’t officially know what the impact is until then. I anticipate being down around €10,000 in sales,” she added.

“We depend on tourists coming in from the likes of Racket Hall. This is a historical town, there is a castle and monastery, but where are the tourists supposed to stay when they visit?

“I would have had weddings in here for a drink, 21st birthday parties, funerals — that’ll all be gone with the loss of the hotel.”

Ms Lee says already that funerals, parties, and other functions are taking place elsewhere, which is having an impact on businesses.

“I am very proud of Roscrea. I hope we can focus on the positives and we can come together with the Chamber of Commerce and build up the town,” she continued.

“We understand there are around 750 IPAs [international protection applicants] here, and we also would like them incorporated into our culture. We don’t have enough services to keep tourists now, so we need to change that.”

Clare Dooley, who is also on the committee and a parent in Roscrea, said she had concerns about a rise in antisocial behaviour.

“You see people congregating now at night and there is fear. There is not enough gardaí on the weekends, and I just use the car now all the time. I would not walk at night.”

One protester, who is also a committee member of the action group, said she is concerned about a rise in antisocial behaviour.  Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Gillian Dunne, another committee member, said there are not enough services — such as GPs and out-of-hours doctors.

“If you need a doctor at 4pm you’ve to go to Nenagh,” she said.

“My dad passed three years ago, we rang the ambulance, and it was an-hour-and-a-half.

“Dad had a heart attack and we had to ring the gardaí, and they had to work with him while we waited for the ambulance. That’s not good enough. There are not enough resources for us and that is causing many issues.”

Fiona Dunford, another local, described the town as ”disadvantaged”.

“How can we invite people here with businesses closing and nothing for them to do in the town?” she said.

“Locals organised a welcome group to integrate people, but we need a huge amount to get this town on its feet and we have no community hotel yet, this forum was formed to raise these things.”

During a walkthrough of the town, the Irish Examiner spoke to some locals including Josely Franca. Ms Franca lives in Roscrea, but is originally from Brazil.

“The people have welcomed us,” she said. “My husband works here, we love it here, we are very happy. It is a nice community.”

Brazilian tourists Silvana Nogueira and her husband Gilmar who were visiting the castle said it was their first time in Roscrea and described it as “very beautiful and welcoming".

This article was edited on March 1 to make clearer that one speaker was referring to wider local involvement in establishing a welcome group.