“We’ve been complete victims of harassment, stalking, violence,” one speaker told a packed hall, as over 200 locals gathered to oppose State plans to convert the Citywest Hotel into a permanent migrant accommodation centre.
The meeting, held at the Green Isle Hotel on Wednesday night, was called in response to government plans to purchase the Citywest Hotel outright for use as a long-term International Protection Accommodation (IPA) centre. Locals say the plan was made without any consultation and warned that the surrounding communities of Saggart, Rathcoole and Citywest are already struggling to cope.
“I DON’T LEAVE MY HOUSE AFTER 6:00”
The meeting heard from one local woman who described a sharp deterioration in public safety since the centre opened.
“Through the winter months, I don’t leave my house after 6:00,” she said.
“I run from the Luas. I try to get the bus because it leaves me outside. I’ve been followed fully to my door. I’ve been chased by a group of men home and filmed.”
She claimed repeated attempts to report these incidents had gone nowhere.
“I used to trust so much in the police. I was like, ‘If someone does something wrong, that’s fine, it’ll be dealt with.’ It’s not…They hang up. The phone goes unanswered.
“I was actually denied leaving a statement when I went to the Garda station,” she continued.
“I was told by Rathcoole to go to Clondalkin to leave a statement. Then when I got to Clondalkin, they said, ‘Rathcoole should never have told you that. Sure, they don’t want people up there because they’re closed half the time.’
“We’ve lost transport, a facility, locality. We’ve lost our safety.”
PUBLIC SERVICES UNDER STRAIN
The meeting heard sharp criticism of local policing capacity, with repeated questions raised about why Rathcoole Garda Station remains part-time despite a growing population.
“With the increase in volume in the area, why is Rathcoole Garda Station still a part-time Garda station?” one man asked, to murmurs of agreement.
“That lady’s been tossed from pillar to post. That’s disgusting.”
Others said the plan would deprive the community of vital infrastructure.
“We’ve seen the effect of losing tourism in our village…we don’t even have a Garda station.”
“This will see us lose a massive meeting place.”
CLAIMS OF NO CONSULTATION AND DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT
There was widespread frustration at the perceived lack of public input or transparency around the proposed sale.
“It’s not democratic – it’s far from democratic,” one attendee said.
“Government bamboozled us.”
“We have no other choice but to try and stop this.”
“We no longer have a community.”
The meeting also heard that Tánaiste Simon Harris had described the facility as a gamechanger for the immigration system, but without consulting local residents, which was described as “high-handed and arrogant”.
CLLR. DE COURCY: “THE GOVERNMENT CREATED THIS PROBLEM”
Independent Ireland Cllr. Linda de Courcy, who represents the area, told the meeting that the plan to buy Citywest outright would turn the site into a “permanent migrant camp” and claimed the community had been ignored.
“The government wants to ensure Citywest will become a permanent migrant camp with no consideration for the local people and how they might feel about this,” she said.
De Courcy stated that the Irish government had no binding legal obligation to accept asylum seekers in such numbers and cited figures showing that over 80% of applications were rejected at first instance in January 2025.
“Governments have national obligations, not international ones,” she said.
She also raised concerns about vetting and identification procedures.
“Thousands of people have destroyed their passports before entering the country, yet they are still let in and allowed to roam freely,” she said.
“Simon Harris also recently conceded that the checks for non-EU citizens are not robust.”
SINN FÉIN COUNCILLOR JEERED OFF STAGE AFTER “FASCISTS” REMARK
Tensions peaked when Sinn Féin Cllr. William Carey was heckled by members of the crowd as he took to the stage, with one person shouting “traitor.”
Carey responded by branding the “Clondalkin Says No” group as “far-right” and “nothing more than fascists” – a remark that provoked loud booing and saw him forced to leave the stage.
“TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE”
The meeting heard that the sale of the hotel could be completed within weeks. Calls were made for local mobilisation, such as contacting solicitors, organising protests and more, to prevent the plan going ahead.
“We need volunteers.”
“Time is of the essence.”
The Citywest hub has operated as a mixed-use accommodation facility since 2022, initially to house Ukrainian refugees. It now hosts both Ukrainians and IPAS asylum seekers, and has been at the centre of controversy over its expansion. The Department of Integration has yet to confirm the final timeline for the proposed purchase, though it is expected to take place soon.