International protection applicants arrive at Ballinrobe hotel as protest stands down

The first international protection applicants have arrived at a hotel in Ballinrobe that was the subject of a high-profile protest over last weekend. 

JJ Gannon’s Hotel on Ballinrobe’s Main Street is to accommodate 50 international protection applicants made up of families this week, the first of whom have arrived earlier this week. 

Protesters stood outside the former hotel from Friday evening until Monday afternoon after it was announced that 50 male international protection applicants were to be accommodated at the hotel. 

It was subsequently announced on Monday that families would be accommodated at the 12-bedroom hotel. A protest organised largely through the a Facebook page called ‘Ballinrobe Says No’ was subsequently disbanded. 

Locals have expressed concern regarding the town’s ability to cope with the extra demand for services.

Ballinrobe Community Development Council Chairman, Frank Keane, has called for more funding to services to help cater for an increase in population. 

Ballinrobe recorded a population of 3,148 in the 2022 Census, an increase from 2,786 at the previous census.