Racket Hall manager says there is ‘a turn toward acceptance’ in Roscrea

The manager of the Racket Hall in Roscrea has said he feels there is a 'turn' toward acceptance of those seeking asylum in Roscrea.

The Racket Hall was closed in January to accommodate asylum seekers, a move that led to ten weeks of protests by locals.

General Manager Gerry Lavin said the Racket Hall will likely be the last hotel to be converted into an accommodation centre, such was the impact of the protests.

“There is a big fear in this country, you see. A lot of it is fear and ignorance. The first five families we had here on January 5. It was 23 days afterwards that we got another family because the protests were so bad.

“And the government made the decision, and I don’t think they have done it since they said that would be the end of the use of hotels and single hotels in towns.

“So, this was probably the catalyst, and I dare say it will be the last hotel in the country to be used because it was horrendous,” said Mr Lavin.

Mr Lavin said that the government is to blame for the scenes outside the hotel turned accommodation centre.

He acknowledged that the situation is challenging but that their handling of it, as well as the ongoing removal of tents on Mount Street and the canal in Dublin, adds to the negative rhetoric.

He also said that the UK’s plan to send those seeking asylum to Rwanda meant more people entering Ireland illegally, which only makes things worse.

“And the latest thing I read today and I wasn’t aware of in the last week alone in Northern Ireland... the way to get from Northern Ireland to Dublin is by train or by car, and there were at least 50 people turned away.

“So, this feeds into the narrative. There is no doubt about it, the government are faced with a difficulty. You are all familiar with the tents taken away from Mount Street, and that's a certain look, and then they are put out on the canal, so they get taken off the canal as well, and there’s 40 more the next day. So there is a huge difficulty and that has to be addressed,” said Mr Lavin.

Mr Lavin made his comments after the Africa Day celebration event at the Racket Hall on Sunday.

The event was attended by around 300 people including councillor Michael Smith (FF) and Local Election candidates Aisling Maloney (GP) and Breandán Ó'Conchúir (SF).

They said he hoped to be accepted into and to add value to the community in Roscrea.

Their event was to show what they have to offer.

Mr Lavin supported the resident’s comments and said he believes things have changed since January.

He said in the run-up to the event, he had spoken with the local gardaí, who felt things were changing.

“They definitely felt in Roscrea, and further afield, it is turning.

“There is that element that will always be against, like if you tell them the wall is blue, it’s definitely red, and I’ll fight you cause it’s red. Of course, it’s not,” said Mr Lavin.

Mr Lavin told the residents we spoke to that the staff at the centre would continue to support them as their work permits become available in the next few weeks.

He said that residents in Roscrea were active in the community already, and those who are not yet allowed to work or volunteer are eager to get started.

“In terms of the guys we have in Roscrea, I definitely feel… like we have lads playing football every night. We have two or three of the ladies on arts and crafts every single week.

“We have two, if not three volunteering in the local charity shops.

“We have one guy working in a butcher who supplies us voluntarily.

“We would have 20-25 others who would volunteer if they could.

“There is a general… like you guys are familiar with myself and the staff, and there is an acceptance.

“Being accepted and getting acceptance is a big ask but I feel it is turning ever so slightly.

“I’ve said it to people so many times, we are all God’s children, and you know I would say that open-heartedly, said Mr Lavin.

Mr Lavin said it is a “big world” and that he himself, though not displaced, had lived in the UK for ten years, where he met his wife.

He said his own son currently lives abroad.

Mr Lavin praised his team and the work they do at the centre and said he hoped the residents felt safe in their care.

“You guys are lucky in one sense, and I’d like to think it’s from myself down as the manager.

“I’m very happy and content with the crew of staff I have here. You are all familiar with them now. They are all so helpful,” said Mr Lavin.

Speaking directly to the residents, he said: “Ye all know, you face massive tasks ahead of you and rocky road for some of you, but I would like to think as manager of the centre, that you are well comfortable here and settled in.”