A crowd of more than 150 attended a protest on the North Road, Finglas on Saturday afternoon.
Local people have been at the site, a former amusements facility, since they became aware of a large group of men claiming asylum from countries other than Ukraine having been moved in.
The centre is currently empty except for security personnel but residents believe that as the facility is fully equipped that they may be moved back once the protest ends.
Speakers expressed concerns over the lack of consultation and communication. They also pointed to the lack of facilities and fears regarding the fact that a large group of young men have been moved into an area already under strain. The fact that working class and small rural communities have almost invariably been the locations for such centres was also referred to.
Local people intend to maintain the protest and later moved to another empty former industrial site on McKee Road which it is also believed has been earmarked for use for asylum accommodation.
