Ballina protesters threaten to march on Dáil Éireann

Protestors in Ballina have said they may bring their concerns over plans to accommodate 120 international protection applicants in a local hotel to Leinster House.

A crowd of several hundred took to the streets of Ballina on Saturday afternoon as part of continuing protests over plans to accommodate the asylum seekers at the Twin Trees Hotel at the Downhill Road.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the owners of the Twin Trees recently came to an agreement whereby 33 of the hotel’s 68 bedrooms would be used to accommodate up to 120 international protection applicants, a move which has been met with peaceful protests outside the hotel on an ongoing basis since it was announced earlier this month.

Last Saturday's march began outside the hotel where the crowd heard from several speakers.

Marie Loftus, a resident of the nearby Greenhills Estate, said the protestors were giving a "resounding no" to the proposal because people in the local area are already struggling to access healthcare, education and housing.

“Our town and nation cannot cope with the number of asylum seekers," she said. "A lot of local people with pyrite are going to be on the move. We have 400 people on the housing list and homelessness is at an all-time high.

“These are the cold hard facts; we do not have the facilities or services.” 

Jason Reilly, a local resident, said there is a lot of anger about the plan for the Twin Trees Hotel.

“All we want is for the next generation to be able to walk this road and enjoy themselves like we have always been able to do. Why should we sacrifice all that for the profit of two or three individuals?” 

The crowd was urged by meeting organiser Alan Flannery, from Behy in Ballina, to stay silent as they marched up to the middle of town.

“I would urge everyone to stay completely silent, no talking or no laughing. This is not a joyful occasion, this is a sombre occasion,” he said.

The crowd then marched up Downhill Road, turned and continued along Cathedral Road before the march concluded with more speakes at the public plaza at the Innovation Quarter on Market Square.

Maria Greham, a meeting organiser, hit out at the owners of the Twin Trees Hotel.

“[They] and their political buddies are getting rich while we all suffer the consequences of what is to come,” she said. “They have also tried to divide the opinions of the people in our town.” 

She also criticised comments made by Mayo County Council Director of Services Tom Gilligan at last Wednesday’s municipal district meeting. Mr Gilligan had accused protestors of behaving like "schoolyard bullies" at the first public assembly held outside the Twin Trees on Friday, April 12. 

“It would suit this man better to do his job and secure adequate accommodation for the people of Ballina rather than making statements of hearsay from our local councillors and Minister,” she said.

Mr Flannery said that this protest had nothing to do with race and called on protestors to remember the "human element" in all this with regards to the staff of the hotel.

“I don’t care if you come from Mars, Ballina is stretched,” he said.” “There are staff in the Twin Trees who shouldn’t be ridiculed. They have bills to pay, mouths to feed. The people I have contempt for are the owners. 

“If they roll back on this and tear up the contract, they will gain back goodwill in our town or else be forever known as vultures in our community.

“If the community of Ballina is not acknowledged, the next place we’ll be marching to is Leinster House and we’re going to bring every town and village we pass through on the way with us,” he warned.