Ireland

Protest held in Co Kildare over planned conversion of apartments to international protection accommodation

One couple at protest who live in one of the apartments say they were served with eviction notice in November

A protest organised by Moyvalley Concerned Locals, outside the Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort, in Co Kildare. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
A protest organised by Moyvalley Concerned Locals, outside the Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort, in Co Kildare. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Stephen Farrell
Sun Feb 02 2025 - 08:43

A protest was held on Saturday at the Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort, Co Kildare, against the proposed use of apartments there to accommodate international protection applicants.

The hotel, with a stone Celtic Cross to its rear, is about 5km east of Enfield in the rural parish of Balyna, just off the M4.

The apartments are adjacent to the hotel in two-storey blocks of four, with a further eight apartments alongside.

While the protest, which attracted about 100 people, officially began at midday, protesters had begun to gather from 7am, according to organiser Larry Malone of nearby Cornamucklagh.

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The main concerns of the Moyvalley Concerned Locals protest group, according to Mr Malone, are that the remaining people living in the apartments will be evicted and that local jobs and amenities at the hotel will be lost.

“If the IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) centre is implemented ... people will .. not use the hotel and golf club, that’s what we believe,” said Mr Malone.

The protest was peaceful, although it became somewhat heated when one man appeared with a fold-up chair and a sign saying: “refugees welcome here”. This drew the attention of some of the protesters who gathered in front of him.

“I’ve every right to be here, same as you,” the man said.

One of the gardaí present addressed the protesters and matters quickly settled down again.

At the protest there was a visible Garda presence, varying in number from five to a maximum of 10 at the road entrance to the hotel.

Most of the protesters were from the locality, but some came from further afield, including Ballina, Co Mayo, and Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, according to Mr Malone.

Protesters gather at the gates of the Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Protesters gather at the gates of the Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Organiser Larry Malone said fewer people would use the hotel if the apartments were converted to international protection use. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Organiser Larry Malone said fewer people would use the hotel if the apartments were converted to international protection use. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Also at the protest were a couple in their early 30s and who have lived in one of the apartments at the hotel for more than two years but did not wish to be named.

They said that at the end of November they were served with a six-month eviction notice by email by a representative of the expected new owner of the hotel.

“We would like to be allowed to stay; we have looked locally, but there is nothing available that is affordable, we just want a place to live nearby for work,” the young man, a teacher in the local area, said.

While attempts are being made to arrange an information meeting between locals and a Garda representative for next week, the protesters intend to hold another protest next weekend, according to Mr Malone.

The Department of Integration, the Department of Justice, the hotel and a representative for the expected new owner of the hotel were contacted for comment.