Big Roscrea march planned over Racket Hall

Local Councillor Shane Lee addresses a large crowd in the carpark of Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea. Photo: D. Keegan

placeholder image — Local Councillor Shane Lee addresses a large crowd in the carpark of Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea. Photo: D. Keegan

Organisers hope for a large crowd in Roscrea over use of hotel for asylum seekers

Protests in Roscrea against the decision to repurpose Roscrea's Racket Hall Hotel as emergency accommodation for asylum seekers are set to escalate.

Organisers behind the ongoing protest at Racket Hall will shift their focus to the town centre on Saturday, January 20 by holding a demonstration on Castle Street after marching from Racket Hall on the N7 (old Dublin road).

The march will pass the closed Damer Court Hotel (formerly Grant's) which is currently being examined by government for its feasibility to be resurrected as a state-owned 'community hotel.'

The protest will begin at 2:30pm and protestors have called on social media for a cavalcade of "tractors, bikes and lorries" to join the march through the town.

Protests are continuing outside the Racket Hall, where protestors keep a presence but don't demonstrate after 10pm to prevent any disturbance which might affect the 17 international protection applicants accommodated in the hotel since Monday.