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I just thought you might like a quick update on the status of the 24/7 anti mass migration protests and encampments, as far as I can tell from talking to people etc (the exact locations of which and a few further details you can see if you search this subforum part of this site):
1) Knock. A public rosary is said at the Belmont Hotel and a guesthouse, which is housing migrants, every evening I believe, but no permanent encampment as of yet.
2) Ballina, they are still hanging in there at that site, but under constant pressure and I believe the actual encampment has been destroyed by the powers that be.
3) Clonmel, the encampment was destroyed, but built up again, but the government have created a while new entrance and are bulldozing there with a vengeance, rapidly creating a site for modular homes for migrants.
4) Naas, heroically still hanging in there I believe, but the government is also rapidly developing this site.
5) Thornton Hall, the same is true here, still protesters but developers are also getting through.
6) Newtown Mount Kennedy. So you had a 24/7 encampment for months, supported it is said by about 200 people, however, famously, the Public Order Unit smashed their way through and destroyed the encampment 3 times in total (meaning it was built up again then destroyed again etc). There is no encampment now, but they do have about 40 people very active there so it is by no means moribund.
7) Ballyogan, apparently do have a site permanently manned there, but aren't able to stop ingress and egress of the powers that be from the site.
8) Roscrea, earlier this year for many weeks they had such an encampment, but I believe it is not active now for a few months.
9) Fermoy, had one of the longest running and most important such encampment, but the Gardai got around them at the site earlier this year and it no longer functions I believe.
Coolock
At the time of writing it appears to be as follows:
This site has always been the largest by area, lots of sleeping quarters etc, with many adherents and much popular support in the locality. Its also very visible with busy traffic passing along it. It didn't actually face any, I don't think, pressure from the powers that be at all up to this, probably because it would clearly be a formidable fortress to attack.
Then suddenly this morning, 15 June 2024, the Gardai and developers went in. The Gardai didn't seem to be in huge force initially and basically the workmen were run out of it, minus one burned out JCB.
The next stage was a build up of a very serious number of uniformed Gardai who tried to keep the area clear of protesters by erecting and manning large security fencing. But it seems this disintegrated too, even the fencing got mangled, by the locals in Coolock who again seemed to have won out.
However the next stage was the arrival of the very well armed and protected Public Order Unit who charged, and pepper sprayed, and seemed to have cleared the whole area around the site (its a large disused paint factory) and are arresting, very aggressively, anybody who as much steps foot in the general vicinity. This is reported to include a factory worker who was just passing the area on his way home and who was battered mercilessly on the ground.
Anyway hopefully I can get more information on this as the night wears on, and I am subject to correction or more exact information on all of these areas if anybody would like to chip in.
This in any case is the real fight in modern Ireland, this movement and protesters have worked wonders in keeping this thing going and hopefully won't give up despite the great pressures they are all now under.
by Brian Nugent
