Protests against proposed immigration centres in several areas around the country took place last weekend, with hundreds marching in Naas in Co Kildare, and large crowds turning out in Coolock in Dublin and in Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow.
Locals say that politicians are “refusing to listen” and are “underestimating the huge anger in the county” on the immigration issue, with one woman telling Gript that the government would pay a political price for ignoring local concerns.
Jessica McLoughlin of Kildare Says No, also said that the “mainstream media spent the whole weekend covering what was happening in Mount Street while ignoring the local protests taking place throughout the country”.
In Naas, hundreds gathered at Monread on Saturday before marching to the courthouse in the town as part of an ongoing campaign opposing the build of an asylum centre which will host almost one thousand refugees on a site in Newhall.
Ms McLoughlin said that, like many other Irish people, she was living in a mobile home because she couldn’t find a home to rent, yet the government was planning on “planting the equivalent of a village into a field” in the area.
She said that the people of the area were told that the centre would house more than 950 Ukrainians, but that they had no idea who would be there twelve months later.
“Under the new system, 950 come and they are meant to leave after 90 days of being housed and find their own accommodation, but realistically, how is that going to happen when there is nowhere to rent?” she asked.
Kildare is “bursting at the seams”, she said. “People can’t get medical appointments, they’re left waiting weeks just to see a GP. There’s a huge concern out there that diagnoses will be missed and that people will die as a result,” she said.
“My own child is waiting a year for an assessment of needs, and I’m like everyone else – worried and upset that my child, like so many others, will be left without the care we need.”
Last week, the HSE revealed that 8,900 children were classified as overdue for assessment of need.
Ms McLoughin said that schools were also under strain in the area. “66 kids didn’t get a place in a school in Kildare, but now we’ve 1,000 people being brought here: it makes no sense,” she said.
“Now there’s peace talks in Ukraine – why isn’t the government assisting with rebuilding that country so people can go home instead of bringing the world here,” she said.
“There’s so many people are involved now in Kildare says NO now, and its happening everywhere. People will be looking for an option instead of the government or Sinn Fein at the election, as the government doesn’t seem to be interested in the future of the country.”
“Look at the No vote: a lot of that was about immigration, people knew “durable relationships” would be used to bring even more people here. It was anger at the government and the immigration policies that drove a lot of the No,” she said.
“All the local opposition is on social media and it can’t be hidden away any more,” she said. “A small amount of people are making a fortune out of this and profiting from it, but ordinary people are suffering.
Last November, a packed meeting of residents in Sallins near Naas heard that locals would be taking political action by standing in the next election as they believe the government are “ignoring the people on immigration”.
A packed meeting of residents of the village of Sallins in Co Kildare this week heard that locals would be taking political action by standing in the next election as they believe the government are “ignoring the people on immigration”.#gripthttps://t.co/4KimmKXnHc
— gript (@griptmedia) November 23, 2023
Ms McLoughlin said that Naas was “a community made up of many nationalities” who were “happy together” but that the area did not have the amenities for the people who live here already.
The Kildare protest took place just days after the editor of one of the country’s largest news photo agencies said that protests against the government’s immigration policies are being ignored by national newspapers because “they seem to think, if we ignore it, it will go away”.
However, local councillor, Rob Power, said last month that “it is expected that 600 Ukranians will be living on [the Newhall] site.”
He added said that reception centres such as the one proposed in Newhall will allow hotel spaces to be returned to tourism use.
Meanwhile a large crowd also gathered in Coolock on Monday opposing plans for a new migrant centre at the old Crown paints site the area.
Coolock says NO. A beautiful sight to behold. Every single one is a PATRIOT and a concerned irish citizen remember the people you @LeoVaradkar @MichealMartinTD @rodericogorman @simoncoveney don't care about. Roll on the elections. YOUR P45 Is in the post. pic.twitter.com/1MlD8Ornhz
— Harry byrne (@EireRealist2024) March 18, 2024
Protests were also held in the village of Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow after news spread that a derelict HSE site was being considered for housing asylum applicants.
The community of Newtownmountkennedy aren't going anywhere! #NewtownSayNo #IrelandisFull pic.twitter.com/XMeY2B0bfS
— Terry K (@TezTruth81) March 15, 2024