Over the past weekend, a gathering to address racism was held in Roscrea, a town currently encountering numerous obstacles. The problems it faces are not due to those seeking a safe haven from warfare and tyranny, emphasized Pat McCabe, a Siptu organiser, at the meeting, facilitated by the Tipperary Anti-racism Network.
The decision to repurpose Racket Hall, the town’s sole hotel, into a lodging facility for asylum-seekers earlier this year unintentionally fuelled anti-immigrant feelings. Following the news about Racket Hall, fear took hold among some, causing them to rely on fear-based slogans like ‘Roscrea is Full’ and ‘Stop Changing Our Culture’. According to Mr McCabe, this behaviour does not mirror the authentic character of the town.
Despite being a community of warmth and opportunity, Roscrea, like many other Irish towns, faces complications due to the financial downturn, the pandemic, and rising living costs. Despite these challenges, Mr McCabe stressed that none were the fault of those seeking safety from tyranny, poverty, or conflict in their home countries. He also dismissed unsupported allegations of antisocial or illegal activities by immigrants living in Roscrea, attributing such rumours to fear and seclusion.
Contrary to such beliefs, Mr McCabe added that Roscrea, established on an historical road linking Limerick to Dublin, is an hospitable town that has regularly accepted newcomers. This spirit is demonstrated by the tremendous efforts of Roscrea’s residents in offering a warm welcome to those escaping conflict and persecution.
Pointing to the generous efforts at Corville House where locals assist refugees in finding a safe home and integrating into the local community, Mr McCabe emphasised they were not here to extract resources but to join and contribute to the wider society.
At a vigil attended by over 60 people, Mr. McCabe articulated his concerns about attempts to subdivide the local community based on fear stemming from differences in skin colour and national origin. He conveyed that rather than exploiting those fears, efforts should be poured into addressing the urgent needs of Roscrea.
Addressing these issues goes beyond simply vocalising them – indeed, causing distress to immigrant children by castigating them is utterly misguided. He strongly urged that the voids in education, health, transportation and more need to be promptly recognised and fixed.
He criticised the intimidating stance of those camping outside the homes of asylum seekers, burning braziers, and creating an atmosphere of unease. Such actions, whether they are directed at children or erroneously labelled ‘fighting-age males,’ can skew our moral compass.
This approach has only worked to portray Roscrea negatively to outsiders, fostered hate within the community and hindered regular social interactions, which are essential for the town’s well-being.
The vigil was not just for quiet contemplation, but also a message from Tipperary residents and public figures against the depiction of Roscrea as a place intolerant of immigrants.
“We want to counter such views. It’s time to unify as a community, for everyone’s sake, and work towards making this town a template for others,” said Mr. McCabe, announcing that the vigil was the initial move towards this goal.
The town of Roscrea is currently grappling with offering a promising future to its youth. To stay tuned, one can listen to our Inside Politics Podcast or sign up for alerts for the latest news and commentaries.