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To clarify again: The Irish Government, under instructions in practice from the EU and UN, are determined to change the ethnic balance of Ireland, and are rapidly transporting huge numbers of migrants into every corner of the island, particularly into what are known as IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) centres. There is though considerable opposition and ongoing protests at a lot of these sites all over the country. This is encapsulated by about seventeen 24/7 encampments at these places, of which a small number remain active. The largest of these is at Dundrum, a small rural village in Co. Tipperary, at a local hotel and proposed IPAS centre there.
Late on the 12th of August 2024 information was received by the locals, particularly via Mattie McGrath TD, that the migrants were to be bused in that night or, it was estimated, at 5:30 am the following morning. A very widely supported meeting was held by the locals approximately from 9 to 10 pm that night, at the entrance to the hotel, encompassing maybe 100-150 people approximately.
The whole night long the locals, with approximately only four outsiders, two from Limerick City and another from Doon in that county, and this reporter, waited for the arrival of the Gardaí/migrants. These numbers fluctuated from about 50 to 100 and with very limited information on exactly what was going to happen, and with Garda vans circling constantly, almost none got any sleep or even rest, the entire night.
The locals had anticipated this kind of eventuality by preparing, with the assistance of Patrick McGreal, a letter and a number of legal papers which in two episodes, were then handed to the Gardaí in the morning. These explained the nature of the peaceful protest continuing at the site, and the local strategy was to combine that with a kind of circular walking protest, also peaceful, if this kind of crisis moment was to come.
In the event the Gardaí succeeded in their efforts here and maybe it might be felt that the above strategy was slightly flawed:
(a) it led to much interaction with the Gardaí, who in practice chilled the scene by outlining their version of the law. The law in their view allowed them to destroy the peaceful protest, and arrest anybody who attempted to stop them doing so. (Although the Gardaí also claim they support the right to such protest.) That is because the only effective part of that protest, was picketing the entrance to the hotel to attempt to block the migrants coming in, and the Gardaí aggressively destroyed those efforts, repeatedly claiming their right in law to do so.
b) Because the circular walking protest allowed the Gardaí to infiltrate to the entrance quite easily, as opposed to if the bulk of the protestors had blockaded the entrance.
Anyway thats just arguing the toss in retrospect, and note that this is a long war over many months, and who knows, maybe more months to come, so the loss of one battle might not be everything. The locals, who had put huge effort into this protest over many months, are massively deflated by the episode, for example one local lady, Nora O'Dwyer, allows herself to be quoted by saying “it was like a death”. However they are due to hold other meetings at the site, so maybe it is not over yet!
by Brian Nugent
