‘We are not going away’ – Thousands march in Rosslare in protest of second IPAS centre

And yet, on the coldest evening this winter has seen, more than two thousand people gathered outside St Patrick’s Church in Rosslare for another march, another peaceful protest with just one objective.

“This is to disrupt, to make an impact, to be heard,” said Elaine Pierce who is the chair of the Rosslare Harbour Concerned Residents (RHCR) group.

The message remains the same as it was on day one: to save their nursing home, to prevent a second International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre being opened in a village which has already seen three of its hotels given up for Ukrainian refugees and is, as the banners say, at saturation point.

While a letter from Minister O’Gorman confirmed no contract for an IPAS centre would be signed until the development overcomes ongoing planning issues with Wexford County Council (WCC) and An Bord Pleanála (ABP), Elaine said no one was willing to take the minister at his word.

“Do we trust the minister? No. Especially after what happened in Killarney, the people there went out for a public information meeting and, while they were away, people were snuck in.

“That’s not going to build trust. Also, Leo Varadkar saying he’s not asking communities for their permission (to develop IPAS centres), he should be.

"This is our community and we know what’s best for it. Not someone sitting up in Dublin who’s barely ever been to Wexford, only to open our opera festival, and who asked him anyway?”

Just a couple of hundred metres away from the gathering point, stands the site of the old Great Southern Hotel, the site where, by day, builders continue to erect what appears to be an IPAS centre, and where, 24/7, local people have been patrolling the entrances, warmed by braziers and the many, many generous donations from local restaurants and residents.

Although they have not impeded those working at the site, not even a planning appeal has prevented the development from continuing apace.

“The reality is that the operator is still actively advertising for the roles (in the centre), some are being flagged as urgently needed,” says Vivien Naessens, “if the minister was serious about waiting for ABP’s decision why are they still advertising? They obviously think it’s a done deal.”

“People in the area have received word that the site is to be hooked up to electricity on Wednesday, December 6,” adds Elaine, “and that there’ll be an outage to accommodate that, power will be off 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on that date.”

At this point, as the masses began to grow restless, Niamh Dennis, who has been orchestrating the marches, addressed her captive audience, sending a message which she hopes will resonate all the way to the halls of the department for integration.

“We do not consent to another IPAS centre in our village, we want our nursing home,” she says. “The community spirit and unity shown since this began has been outstanding, each and every person young and old who has contributed in any form should be incredibly proud.

"The community has been exemplary in welcoming those in need of international protection, but the facts are we cannot take any more, enough is enough, we do not have the services available in our community to support the people who already live here and strongly feel it is unjustified to place hundreds more into our area without the services to support them.

"We need a nursing home for those living in the community and as a source of employment for our younger population.

"The Rosslare Municipal District needs its own nursing home. Minister O’Gorman needs to listen to, and do what’s in the best interests of, those living in our areas, he needs to fully understand we do not consent to another IPAS centre and we want our promised nursing home, he and all those in power need to realise we are not going away, we will continue our 24 hour peaceful protest, and we will march again and again and again and again until we win this campaign.”

Mindful of recent events and how quickly those with evil intentions can sully just causes, Niamh had a stern message for all those in attendance.

"We have been applauded nationwide for how we’ve conducted ourselves, let’s not give anyone a reason to change their minds now.

"We’re here to peacefully march and, in particular, to make Minister O’Gorman listen and do what is in the best interests of the people of Rosslare. Give us back our promised nursing home. Let’s march together, unified, dignified, and justified.”

Unlike the previous march, which saw protestors descend Delap’s Hill towards the Europort, this one headed in the opposite direction, to Ballygillane Roundabout. However, the result was the same.

Traffic, including many heavy goods vehicles, was brought to a temporary standstill as hundreds of people quietly walked behind some tractors under the watchful eye of local gardaí.

Along the route was a poignant reminder of what the people of this area have already achieved, the existing IPAS centre decked out for the festive season, its residents welcomed and embraced by a community which has done more than most in answering the call. At the head of the protest, as he was on Saturday week last, was Councillor Ger Carthy.

“This is about keeping the pressure on, keeping it on the agenda for TDs, councillors, and Minister O’Gorman,” he said. “You can see the resolve here, people can take no more. Young, old, pensioners, Rosslare has always had a strong community, they’ve really rallied together, and the message is clear: there’ll be no IPAS centre here as long as these people keep turning out.”

With an emergency meeting of WCC called for Wednesday (November 29) locals are hoping for some clarity on where the council stands in its continued efforts to investigate alleged planning breaches at the site. Cllr Carthy was hopeful that the myriad of legal issues regarding the development would be brought to the fore at that meeting.

“I wouldn’t like to pre-empt the outcome of a statutory meeting of WCC but I would like to thank the chair for facilitating it as quickly as he did.

"The executive will have to put the cards on the table at the meeting in relation to how best this is going to proceed; it’s okay to talk about the legal issues but we need to see that.”

That meeting was only secured after Cllr Carthy and Cllr Frank Staples received support from three of their colleagues from outside the district, but the former was reluctant to criticise those in Rosslare who had not followed his lead.

“It’s a personal decision (by the other councillors) I’ve had requests for things before and I haven’t facilitated them, but everyone has to answer that question independently. However, the meeting has been called and let’s hope they all support the endeavours of the people of Rosslare.”

The only other politician there on the night was Sinn Féin TD Johnny Mythen, and he said a nursing home was much-needed in this small community.

“There’s a lot of older people in this area and they were looking forward to having somewhere to go when the time comes, in their home place, it’s really important,” he said, before adding that the IPAS system was being exploited by developers across the country.

“There’s a lot of people making a lot of money out of the IPAS system, without a doubt, direct provision isn’t really the answer, when you have people living in those conditions, they can’t work, they can’t enhance the community or develop the community from there. A whole new model is required.”

With three laps of the roundabout behind them and no sign of those in front slowing down, tubs of sweets are passed back and forth, sustenance for anyone who may be flagging.

Aidan McFadden however, needs no sustenance, he is busy rousing up the crowd, encouraging the masses, acting as conductor-in-chief, but he finds time to denounce anyone who believes the actions in Rosslare are rooted in racism or anything approaching it.

“I am afraid we will get hijacked, but that’s where the police come in,” he says. “We have no control over that and we can’t allow that to dictate what we’re doing, if we do, all protests will come to an end.”

As someone who has been on the frontline of the protest since the beginning, Aidan says he has witnessed first-hand the opinions of those who don’t agree with their actions.

“It’s heavy going, we’re getting a lot of support, but there is a proportion of ignorant drivers who are hurling abuse. We’re not reacting, though, and we’re not going to react, we’re going to do this by peaceful means and fight this all the way, let due process take its course, and if that doesn't work we go to the courts.”

Walking beside him is Sean Grant, a man who was born and bred in the harbour and has lived there all his life. He stresses the importance of the mantra adopted by the community, the ‘Unified, Dignified, Justified’ approach which influences everything they do.

“We were left with no alternative to come out again, to show how determined we are. And you see the numbers here tonight, all ages, young and old, wheelchairs, buggies. This is peaceful, we’re trying to get our point across, if we have to go again we will.”

As the first weary walkers sidle away in hope of hot dinners and warm fires, Niamh makes her way through the crowd, informing protestors that their work has been a success. Irish Ferries have been delayed, a freight truck bound for the port is late, held up the by march. Mission accomplished.