A Dungarvan-based Traveller family has moved into a county council house in the town in spite of the objections of some local residents and councillors.
Michael and Brigid McDonagh, who have five children, had feared the council would withdraw its offer of the house in the Burgery, on the main Waterford road, when a campaign was launched against its allocation to Travellers.
The family's case was featured on this page last April, after it caused one of the stormiest scenes ever witnessed at a meeting of Waterford County Council.
Gardai were called after a row which resulted in an independent councillor, Mr Garry O'Halloran, - who has since retired from the council - standing on a table and accusing fellow members of being racist and of inciting hatred towards the Travelling community.
His anger was directed at councillors who had supported residents' demands that the county manager, Mr Donal Connolly, reverse his decision to allocate the house to the McDonaghs. The Burgery Concerned Residents' Group had claimed, among other things, that properties in the area had been rendered unsaleable by the decision and there was "real fear" in the community.
Mr Connolly said at the time that the family was well known, had been living in the area for a long time and would not cause a problem for anyone.
Ms McDonagh said yesterday she had no doubt that without the support of Mr O'Halloran - whose dramatic protest was strongly criticised by other councillors - the family would not have been given the house.
However, the family moved in during the August bank holiday weekend and is busily painting the three-bedroom detached house. "We love the house. We're over the moon with it," said Ms McDonagh.
"It's way better than being inside a caravan. We have everything under the one roof and you don't have to go outdoors to the bathroom or to wash." The family had lived at the Shandon halting site on the outskirts of Dungarvan for 10 years, and had been on a council waiting list for half that time.
The caravan they lived in had just one sleeping area, which was shared by Kathleen (10), Ann Marie (8) and Breda (6). Michael and Brigid and their two sons, Arthur (5) and Michael junior (2), all slept in the living area.
The McDonaghs have not yet had any contact with their new neighbours, many of whom objected strenuously to their moving in. Ms McDonagh said it would be "embarrassing" to approach the neighbours after everything that had happened, "but if they come to us we'll certainly talk to them."
