Roscrea Community Action Group emerge from Racket Hall protest

A new committee formed from the protests surrounding the sudden closure of the Racket Hall Hotel have met with elected representatives and say they have an agenda focused on improving Roscrea.

Roscrea Community Action Group (RCAG) were formed last week and have elected a Chair and committee who will engage with the local community, the Chamber of Commerce and political representatives.

The group say they have two priority issues - to lobby for a cap on the number of people living in emergency accommodation in the town and to highlight the impact the dramatic influx in the local population is having on the community and access to essential services. 

"We wish to work together and alongside other groups and agencies in an attempt to identify the needs and solutions required to make our town a positive place to live and work in again", the group said in a mission statement published on their social media.

Chairperson of RACG is James Kirwin and Secretary is Fiona Dunford. The Committee are made up of Lorraine Cafferkey, Alison Lee, Gillian Dunne, James Gleeson, Michael Lynch, Sharon Kruse, Clare Dooley Gavin O'Connor and Martin Doherty.

The group will meet later this week with local Councillor Michael Smith and his Fianna Fáil party colleague, Deputy Jackie Cahill and will hold separate meetings with Independent Dáil Deputies, Michael Lowry and Mattie McGrath and with Tipperary Labour TD, Alan Kelly.

The Committee also hope to meet the Tipperary Garda District Superintendent to discuss concerns around policing manpower and resources in Roscrea and plan to contact government Ministers Roderic O'Gorman and Catherine Martin.

PROTEST IN TOWN CENTRE 

Meanwhile, the protest triggered by the sudden closure of the Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea almost five weeks ago expanded to Roscrea town centre last weekend.

Protestors opened a new front in their campaign to highlight the loss of the town's only hotel on Market Square on Friday and Saturday morning, while also maintaining a constant presence at the gates of the former hotel for the last 30 days.

Independent Tipperary TD, Mattie McGrath, stopped in Roscrea last Thursday and visited the ongoing demonstration at the entrance to the Racket Hall Hotel carpark and protestors said they continue to receive strong support from the local community in Roscrea.

"We came into the town to bring more attention to the protest and people are showing us their support. We have a book for people to add their names to our petition", Maria Phelan said. An online petition was also formed last week.

Meanwhile protestors remain encamped at the entrance to Roscrea's Racket Hall Hotel this week as the demonstration will reach the five week milestone on Thursday (Feb 15).

The protest, which received weeks of national and international media attention, began on January 11 when news broke that Racket Hall Hotel was to close its doors to the public with immediate effect and be repurposed to provide emergency accommodation for families of international protection applicants.

Those protesting say their demand of a cap on the number of refugees and people seeking international protection who will be accommodated in Roscrea has not yet been met and they will remain at the entrance to the former hotel premises.

A committee has formed to steer the protest and will attempt to represent the wide variety of concerns expressed by people who participated in a recent major demonstration march through the town centre.

Independent TDs from Tipperary and neighbouring Laois/Offaly addressed crowds in Roscrea and pledged to work with the committee to explore the possibility of extra resources and funding to help the town cope with the dramatic influx of people seeking emergency accommodation.

Currently Roscrea is home to people living in two other large emergency accommodation facilities located in the former Sacred Heart Convent in the town centre and at Corville House on the grounds of Sean Ross Abbey in the expansive St. Anne's campus on the northern outskirts of the town.

The former Sacred Heart convent will accommodate 400 people fleeing the war in eastern Ukraine when it reaches full capacity later this year and Corville House accommodates approximately 200 international protection applicants who mostly come from the Middle East and African countries.

People seeking international protection are also accommodated in numerous buildings and homes in the town centre. Currently less than 20 people are accommodated in the former Racket Hall Hotel and the premises is expected to accommodate 160 people when it reaches full capacity. 

Flags, banners and horsebox trailers for shelter from the elements have become a permanent fixture at the entrance to the hotel carpark, where people continuing to protest the closure of the hotel keep a 24-hour presence.

Protestors pictured in Roscrea town centre on Saturday morning last. Photo: PJ Wright