ROSCREA PROTEST: 'We're here for the long haul' - protestors pledge to remain at Racket Hall Hotel

Protestors in Roscrea are braving sub-zero conditions for a fourth night as they continue their demonstration outside the Racket Hall Hotel.

Demonstrators are maintaining their siege of the hotel and have erected a barricade which is manned 24-hours every day at the entrance to the premises, which has been designated to become emergency accommodation for international asylum applicants.

The question on many people's minds in Roscrea is if this protest will be a marathon or a sprint, as protestors held a meeting tonight to arrange the logistics of maintaining a perpetual presence into the coming week.

"We're here for the long run - whatever it takes" was the upbeat assessment from one of the organisers at the protest on Sunday afternoon and local businesses have been supplying fuel for warmth and hot food and drinks to the protestors.

Bonfires in barrels are the only source of heat for those on the frontline of the protest and the expansive car park of the hotel is filled with many cars with occupants sitting out of the cold, but who want to be present and show their support.

Gardaí have maintained a presence at the scene and the dense and very cold fog which periodically engulfs the area is regularly pierced by car horns and cheers from supportive passers-by on the busy road.

That support appears to have been unwavering from the majority of people in Roscrea also, where the local community has flooded local social media groups with support and admiration for their efforts.

The unfolding situation in Roscrea has also received national and international attention across broadcast media and the topic 'roscrea' remains the top trending subject on X (formerly Twitter) in Ireland for a third consecutive day.

Tipperary County Councillor and Roscrea man, Shane Lee, addresses a large crowd at the Racket Hall Hotel on Sunday night. Photo: D. Keegan

Local man and one of the organisers of the protest, James Gleeson, addressed a large crowd outside the hotel on Sunday night and thanked the many local businesses who are supporting the protestors, describing the support locally as "unbelievable".

He said people want to continue to support the protest and invited people to sign a rota to form a system to allow people to fulfill family and work commitments.

Mr. Gleeson said that should women and children arrive at the hotel they will not attempt to prevent access to the premises. "If a taxi pulls up with women and children inside we can't physically stop them and we don't condone that".

Tipperary County Councillor and member of the Lowry Team of independent councillors, Shane Lee, who also comes from Roscrea addressed the demonstration and said that politicians fear large numbers of protestors.

"The business people who have supported this protest have been absolutely fantastic", he said. "We're not going to lie down like doormats and let them walk all over us" Cllr. Lee said, pointing to government failure to provide additional Garda resources.

"There is such a knock-on effect from losing this hotel for this town - jobs, tourism, families visiting family in Roscrea who now have nowhere to stay", Cllr. Lee said.

"If we stay standing together and keep doing the best we can for as long as we can and keep sending out the strong message that the people are not going to step down. We're asking for fairness and we're asking for balance. We're kind, we're fair and we're playing our part", Cllr. Lee said.

MAIN STREET PROTEST

Yesterday Tipperary Dáil representatives addressed a protest organised by local activist group Roscrea Stands Up on Roscrea's Main Street, which attracted approximately 250 people. No local elected representatives from the government parties attended the protest.

The protest in the town centre attracted some criticism from those already protesting at Racket Hall Hotel, who felt all public demonstrations should focus on the hotel premises.

Tipperary's Independent Dáil representatives, Michael Lowry and Mattie McGrath attended the demonstration at Racket Hall after addressing the event in the town centre and spoke to a similar sized crowd where they reiterated their statements. 

Tipperary TD's address protest on Roscrea's Main Street

Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman addressed the protests in Roscrea when he spoke to Newstalk FM on Sunday morning and said an increase in asylum seekers means the Government must “take accommodation where we can find it”.

“We have seen an increase in the number of female and family applicants over the last number of weeks - we’re under real pressure here. That’s why accommodation in Roscrea will be used for families", he said. 

“We've had to take accommodation where we can find it because of the significant need and increase in demand both in terms of Ukrainians and international protection applicants.” 

Mr O'Gorman told the Anton Savage Show on Newstalk he sympathises with concerns that the only hotel in Roscrea will now solely be used as accommodation for asylum seekers. 

Mr O’Gorman said he is bringing legislation to Government “in the next number of weeks” to begin the process of building State-owned centres for international protection applicants and that recent protests in local areas did not affect Government decision-making.

Protestors face into their fourth night outside the Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea. Photo: D. Keegan