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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Protestors outside the Racket Hall Hotel. Photo: PJ Wright
A protest outside the gates of Roscrea's only hotel against the decision to accommodate asylum seekers is continuing this morning.
Protestors say they have no plans to abandon their demonstration and plan to attempt to block any vehicles carrying international asylum applicants from entering the premises.
Last night, only hours after the Department of Integration and Equality informed local representatives about Racket Hall, protestors mounted a barricade and lit bonfires in barrels at the hotel car-park entrance.
Over 200 people attended the demonstration and protestors have arranged shifts to keep the barricade manned.
A further protest is planned in the town centre for tomorrow at 3:30pm. The demonstration is organised by local activist group Roscrea Stands Up, who have invited local representatives to attend.
The decision to close the hotel to the public and accommodate 160 international protection applicants has drawn strong condemnation from local elected representatives and was described as a "tipping point" for Roscrea by Deputy Michael Lowry.
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Roscrea's Garda Station is closed at night and the heritage town's healthcare services are overburdened elected representatives have pointed out and the town is already struggling with the dramatic influx in population last year.
400 Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war in their home country will be accommodated at a former Convent in the town centre and over 150 international asylum seekers are already accommodated at a direct provision facility located in the repurposed Corville House at Sean Ross Abbey.
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Students Workers in Racket Hall, Ciara Kirwan and Kate Maloney are pictured voicing their concerns about their jobs. Photo: PJ Wright
People in Roscrea have flooded social media with their concerns, with some revealing staff at the hotel contacted them yesterday to inform them that weddings and family events have been cancelled.
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Roscrea based Councillor, Shane Lee, addresses the crowd at the protest at Racket Hall in Roscrea. Photo: PJ Wright
More on this story as it happens.
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