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07 Dec 2025

Objection campaign mounted against Racket Hall development

An application by the owners of the former Roscrea hotel will see the number of bedrooms more than double

Roscrea Shane Lee Market Square Racket Hall

A large gathering of people attended a public meeting on Market Square in Roscrea last Friday, which was organised by local Councillor Shane Lee

Reporter:

Darren Keegan

24 Jul 2025 8:30 PM

Email:

darren.keegan@iconicnews.ie

A campaign to lodge objections to the development of 60 additional bedrooms and ancillary facilities at the Racket Hall International Protection Centre in Roscrea is being led by a local Councillor.
Independent local Councillor and member of the Lowry Team, Councillor Shane Lee began the campaign on social media last week and on Friday invited people to attend a public gathering on Market Square to sign a petition objecting to the expansion of the former hotel building, which will more than double the current  number of bedrooms.
The development will consist of a single-storey kitchen building and a three-storey bedroom wing to the side of the existing building and has stirred rumours of another public protest by people unhappy with the growth of the site. 
Last year protesters kept a presence at the gates of the building for ten weeks and a public march, which attracted over 2,000 participants, was held through the town centre and attracted national and international media coverage as Roscrea was thrust onto the frontlines of the debate surrounding immigration.
"If you wish to object to this application you have the opportunity by signing the objection which is still open to the public at Lily O'Brien's pub on Castle Street and in Brendan Moloney's newsagents on Main Street", Cllr. Lee told the Tribune.
Personally, I’ve been inundated with calls from people about this proposal from the owners of Racket Hall, Swiftcastle Limited. It’s hugely important to show support against  the proposal if that’s how you feel".
 
"On Monday, 14th of July I lodged my own personal objection against this application. On Monday my objection was the only one lodged to date and the deadline for objections is the 29th of this month.

"Stand up and be counted because the services in our town are just not there, we cannot facilitate what we currently have in our town. Personally, I’ve always spoken about fairness and balance, which is not happening - it’s ideological, unfair and unjust", Cllr. Lee told this newspaper.

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