Over 1,500 march in silent protest against accommodating asylum seekers in Oughterard hotel

Over 1500 people marched in a silent demonstration through the town of Oughterard on Saturday in opposition to any plans to accommodate asylum seekers at the former Connemara Gateway Hotel. The population of the town was 1,318 according to the 2016 census.

The protesters started their procession at Oughterard church and finished at the hotel. Protesters were asked to wear yellow vests in one flyer.

The march took place a day after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urged TD Noel Grealish to "withdraw" and clarify his claim at a monster meeting last week that persecuted Christians from Syria would not be accommodated at the hotel and the people who would be coming were African economic migrants who wanted to "sponge" off the system. His remarks received a huge applause.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuBeDN5761M

The Irish Independent is reporting that Cllr Tom Welby, said people in Oughterard were “not upset” at what Mr Grealish said.

“They are upset that he is being asked to apologise,”Mr Welby said.

“The media is focusing on one word, as in “sponge”, “Mr Welby said.

“If Noel Grealish had used the word “avail of” [taxpayers], no one would be talking about it,”the councillor said.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/over-1500-take-part-in-silent-protest-in-oughterard-amid-direct-provision-centre-concerns-38497500.html

Broadcast: Six One News | RTÉ One | 14 Sep 2019
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