*Photograph: John Mangan
RESIDENTS at one of the country’s most controversial facilities for housing asylum seekers and refugees were given two days notice that they were to be relocated to Dublin.
On Tuesday, male residents at Magowna House were informed in letters that there were going to be moved to Dublin on Thursday. Many of the young men had been working in Ennis, Inagh and Lahinch since taking up residence in Inch last May.
There are approximately 25 asylum seekers in Inch, 34 arrived at the outset.
Following the arrival of the male asylum seekers to Magowna House last May, three blockades were mounted by Inch residents on approach roads to the former three star hotel to prevent the arrival of further men. The peaceful protests lasted six days and saw residents operate off a twenty four hour rota.
Eyes across Ireland were fixed on Inch while the blockades were erected with camera crews pitched outside Magowna House for the week as their actions dominated the news cycle nationally.
Their actions resulted in the Minister of State for Integration, Joe O’Brien (GP) travelling to Ennis to meet with locals where proposals were discussed in a meeting at The Temple Gate Hotel.
Prior to its use for accommodating the men in May 2023, Magowna House had been closed since 2019.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) said that Magowna House “was never an ideal location. It was used at a time when there was a shortage of facilities, as time has moved on and more suitable facilities have been utilised which is to be welcomed”.
While he acknowledged that the asylum seekers had sourced employment locally, he pointed out that Magowna House was never going to be a long-term solution and that their capacity to work has become evident which will benefit them as they move out of Co Clare.
On the reaction of the people of Inch, Senator Dooley commented, “the people of Inch at the start were deeply concerned with the lack of information and notice, there was anger in the early days because of the fear of the unknown. The asylum seekers didn’t cause any problems and that was recognised, the location was too far from other services, it had to be used back then because anything was better than having tents on the streets”.
General Election candidate, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said of the actions by Government, “they are being treated like cattle, herded about with no thought that they are human beings”.
Sarah Ferrigan of Clare PPN who was among the first to welcome the refugees while the blockades were ongoing said she was “absolutely furious” with the lack of notice given to the men about their departure. She said they had “enough to deal with” and referenced intimidation on a daily basis “while they carried on their lives with dignity. And here is yet another cruel blow and what could only be described as a deliberate attempt to disrupt and disorientate what little security they have built”.
