Thousands march in Roscrea supporting Racket Hall protest

ONE of the most tumultuous weeks in the modern history of Roscrea came to a climax on Saturday, when several thousand people flooded the town to show support for the ongoing protest over the loss of the Racket Hall Hotel.

Large scale protests in rural Ireland are often a harbinger or symptom of upheaval, however one thing was very clear in Roscrea on Saturday - the people of the town are united and determined to achieve improvements to benefit everyone living and working in Roscrea.

Against an initial barrage of criticism and unwarranted accusations across the national media and online, the people of Roscrea remained steadfast and slowly a clearer picture emerged to outside observers.

It revealed Roscrea has suffered from a litany of failures to ensure essential resources such as adequate Garda manpower and dental and medical services are preserved, and highlighted the dearth of communication between the high echelons of government and local elected representatives.

For many in Roscrea the closure of the Racket Hall was a bridge too far and motivated many local people, whose usual character would be quiet and reserved, to uncharacteristically engage in civil disobedience and put up a fight against the state.

But it was the subsequent scenes where the Garda Public Order unit tackled local people outside the hotel on Monday of last week that galvanised their determination to make their stand and make their voices heard.

Frightened and overwhelmed and feeling castigated and deeply misunderstood they decided to fight on and arranged their protest march for Saturday, which received much greater support than they had anticipated.

Beginning outside the Racket Hall Hotel the march set off headed for the town centre at 2:30pm and met local and Dáil representatives on Castle Street, where they addressed the very large crowd from the plinth outside Lily O'Brien's pub and in the shadow of Roscrea Castle.

The marching protest winds from the Old Dublin Road onto Lourdes Road as they made their way from Racket Hall Hotel to the town centre. Photo: PJ Wright

Independent Dáil Deputies Michael Lowry, Mattie McGrath and Carol Nolan were joined by local Councillor, Shane Lee and protest organiser James Gleeson, where they thanked everyone for braving the very wet and windy advance of Storm Isha to support Roscrea.

Addressing accusations of racism, Mr McGrath said locals would be happy to welcome people to the town - but only if resources and amenities were in place to do so.

"I have tried my best to defend your honour and your name when you were besmirched by national media and by others saying you were racist," Deputy McGrath said.

"There's not a racist person in this town," he said.

Deputy McGrath said one of the strengths of protests in Roscrea was how they united people of across the generations and pointed to children with their parents and grandparents taking part.

Independent Tipperary TD, Mattie McGrath, addresses the people of Roscrea during Saturday's demonstration. Photo: PJ Wright

"You want to protest your amenities, look after the people that are already here and to integrate the new people coming to Roscrea when we have the resources. 

Deputy McGrath said the people of Roscrea have demanded that Minister Roderic O'Gorman come to Roscrea and meet the newly formed committee to steer the protest.

"I salute your resolve - I support you anyway I can", Deputy McGrath said.

Deputy Michael Lowry, who estimated the crowd at the start of his address to number 5,000 people, criticised the government's plans to purchase and reopen the Damer Court Hotel (formerly Grant's) which has been closed since 2013 as a community model hotel.

He described it as an "on the hoof" reaction to the protests and said "rabbits out of hats" will not be the solution to issues in Roscrea.

"The facts are that Roscrea has taken its share, Roscrea has been very welcoming to hundreds of refugees, Roscrea's services here are completely overburdened," he said.

Calling for improved Garda, health and educational services for the town, he added: "The people of Roscrea are ready to integrate people, you have done your bit, you have done your share, there is no racism here, there's no anti-immigration here.

"But what we are looking for is fair play, we're looking for the resources to manage what we have already.

"The people of the town are concerned to hold their identity, to hold the character of the town and to hold the camaraderie and the community spirit that it was always acknowledged for.

"We need more doctors, we need more dentists, we need more nurses and we need better access to medical care", Deputy Lowry said.

Deputy Michael Lowry addresses the demonstration in Roscrea. Also pictured is Councillor Shane Lee (centre) and protest organiser James Gleeson (right). Photo: PJ Wright

Deputy Lowry pointed to the new Primary Care Centre on Gaol Road, which was completed in November and set to open in July, as a sign of a better future in Roscrea and said "more than ever now we need more medical services in Roscrea.

"We need more classrooms, we need more space for the children, we need more teachers and above all we need recreational facilities for the people in Roscrea and who require an outlet for their energy and to enjoy the time that they have.

"Let me compliment you on your conduct and responsibility so far - the people of Roscrea are ready to integrate people, you have done your bit and done your share. There is no racism here, there is no anti-immigration here and what we're looking for is fair play and the resources to manage what we have already", Deputy Lowry said.

Deputy Carol Nolan, a rural independent TD from neighbouring Offaly, said she watched the scenes unfold while she was in hospital and they angered her so much "I was fit to jump out of the bed and come down to Roscrea".

"I can see today the spirit of Sean Treacy and Dan Breen lives on here in Roscrea and I'm with you the whole way", Deputy Nolan said.

Independent Offaly TD, Carol Nolan, speaks during heavy rain and strong winds and is watched by Racket Hall protest organiser, James Gleeson. Photo: PJ Wright

Independent Tipperary County Councillor and Roscrea man, Shane Lee, told the crowd they were witnessing a day "that will go down in history".

He described the scenes which unfolded outside Racket Hall on Monday of last week as an "absolute disgrace" and said the narrative about Roscrea "was turned on its head by all the men, women and children who stood up together for what is best for this town".

"We spoke about balance, we spoke about fairness, but yet we weren't listened to" and said the national media attempted to portray Roscrea as "thugs".

"That's not what I represent - I represent decent families and genuine people and a community that stood together and said 'we're not backing down'".

Councillor Lee thanked the local media for what he described as coverage which gave Roscrea and the townspeople "a fair hearing, an honest hearing and a balanced hearing".

Protest organiser James Gleeson also introduced people from foreign countries who have lived and worked in Roscrea and made a happy life here. 

Read the full speeches and see our extensive coverage and picture gallery in this week's edition of the Midland Tribune (on sale Jan 24)

People supporting the demonstration in Roscrea over the loss of the Racket Hall Hotel filled Market Square and Castle Street. Photo: PJ Wright