TENSE TOWN | 

Major demonstration planned in Roscrea over Racket Hall asylum seeker dispute

Organisers are calling for the march to be supported by lorries, bikes and tractors

Today at 10:11

Organisers of the ongoing Roscrea Racket Hall protest are to stage a demonstration tomorrow, January 20, in the town centre.

The demonstration will march by the former Grants Hotel, now the Damer Court, which has been put forward as a ‘community model’ hotel to be owned by local groups, in light of the closure of the Racket Hall to local functions.

The protestors will make their way from Castle Street to the Racket Hall and are hoping for a large crowd. The demonstration is due to begin at 2.30pm.

Organisers are calling for the march to be supported by lorries, bikes and tractors to signal their ongoing protest against plans to house up to 160 international protection applicants in the Racket Hall, the first 17 of whom arrived under Garda protection on Monday.

Earlier this week, Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman confirmed that Government parties had agreed in principle to examine funding mechanisms to allow Grants Hotel to be re-opened as a ‘community model hotel’.

Following a meeting between Minister O’Gorman, Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill and Tipperary county councillor Michael Smith, a proposal was put forward to turn the premises into a ‘community model hotel’ in an effort to ease tensions in the town.

Meanwhile, Roscrea Chamber of Commerce held a meeting on Thursday evening in the Abbey Hall with local businesses to discuss the fallout from the Racket Hall’s closure for the next 12 months, and its impact on the local economy.

Numerous events and weddings have had to be cancelled at the town’s only functioning hotel, including a gig by the Tipperary comedian Pat Shortt.

Mr Shortt announced on Monday: “We are very sorry to announce that our concert at The Racket Hall Roscrea on Friday February 9 2024 has had to be cancelled due to the closure of the hotel.”