Hundreds of people have protested in Drimnagh this evening after it was revealed that the local school in Mourne Road was used as a migrant centre over the Christmas period.
Locals chanted ‘save our schools’ and expressed anger that their community was not consulted in regard to the move. They hit out at the government who they said had “no respect for areas like Drimnagh” and who “wouldn’t treat people in Dalkey like this”.
The protesters walked to the Crumlin Road where they blocked traffic so, they said, that their protest would “make an impact”.
It would appear that the government’s policy of bussing in migrants claiming asylum into areas around the country, unannounced and without consulting locals, continues to cause controversy.
The site at Mourne Road accommodates both Our Lady of Good Counsel Infant School and Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School.
Drimnagh locals block off Crumlin Road which will bring traffic from City Centre to M50 to a standstill. They chant “save our schools”.#Eastwall #cookstown #Killarney #IrelandisFull #EnoughlsEnough pic.twitter.com/RDoZT5t5wp
— RM.tv🇮🇪 (@RealMessageEire) January 4, 2023
Locals of Drimnagh gather for the 2nd night running against male migrants being located into a local school. #EastWall #Killarney #IrelandIsFull #EnoughIsEnough #Cookstown pic.twitter.com/sGwF6MX7gK
— RM.tv🇮🇪 (@RealMessageEire) January 4, 2023
Parents gathered at the entrance to the Mourne Road school yesterday evening, after it was believed a bus had just arrived at the school bringing migrants or asylum seekers to the building. However, it was confirmed that while asylum seekers had been staying in the school from 23rd December, they had left and those arriving on the bus were there to give the school a “deep clean” before it reopened.
However, there was palpable anger at the protest this evening at the lack of consultation, with one man saying that saying the school was closed for the period did not mean parents should not have been consulted.
“The Dáil was empty, why weren’t they brought there?” he asked.
A local People before Profit Councillor denied that men were being housed at the school – and said women seeking refuge were housed there over Christmas.
However, that claim was contradicted by locals, one of whom said that men were being housed in the school.
“My child missed the last 3 days of school in this school before the Christmas holidays for this reason,” she said. “The local priest has confirmed this information. Have you came down to Drimnagh to check this out yourself? Or are you going to believe everything others say than believe the people who live in this community?”
In response Cllr de Nortúin said: “I’d never stand with open Racism that was on display in Drimnagh.”
However, many others applauded the protesters, with one saying: “Well done the mammys of Drimnagh. We can stand up for ourselves”.
The protest in Drimnagh follows ongoing disruption in East Wall where locals have repeatedly stopped traffic in the city centre after they say hundreds of unvetted men were bussed into a migrant centre imposed on the area without any consultation.
Yesterday, 8 men from Georgia and Algeria who were staying at a direct provision centre in Hotel Killarney were charged with violent disorder. Four men had been hospitalised after a violent stabbing spree broke out. Many commentators pointed out that neither Georgia nor Algeria is a war-torn country.
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