Two local communities are pushing back against State plans to place International Protection (IP) applicants into the only hotels in their villages in County Galway.

Residents of Carna confirmed they were maintaining a 24-hour presence on approach roads into the South Conamara Gaeltacht village, and outside Carna Bay Hotel, which they fear could accept asylum seekers overnight.

Residents in Kinvara in South Galway were also resisting Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (CEDIY) proposals to place migrants into the Merriman Hotel.

Kinvara Community Council (KCC) said plans to use the village’s only hotel for migrants for another two years would have a “serious impact” on “our local economy and community life”.

“Kinvara has always welcomed refugees, but we believe responsibility must be shared fairly nationwide. The government’s policy states that no town should lose its only hotel in this way,” KCC said after meeting local politicians last weekend.

The group called for patience as it worked through, “proper channels to find a fair and peaceful resolution”.

In a March briefing, CEDIY said the 32-room Merriman Hotel on Main Street would be contracted as an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) centre to provide 98 beds for IP applicants.

It confirmed it signed a two-year contract with the owner and operator, MLC Hotel Ltd, who will employ 16-18 staff on site.

Ukrainians fleeing war have lived in the hotel since 2022. Currently around 55 Ukrainians remain but they’ve been told they could soon be moved.

“For now, Ukrainians are staying there, but the Department indicated that could change at short notice,” said Galway East TD Louis O’Hara (SF).

“There is a lot of concern in Kinvara. People feel blindsided and disrespected. Kinvara has been very welcoming of refugees in recent years, but there has been absolutely no engagement with the community in advance of this proposal.

“There has been nothing around improving local public services to accompany this new contract. There was a failure to follow Government’s stated policy of not locating new IPAS centres in the sole hotel in a town or village.

“The way they go about it, keeping communities in the dark, is disrespectful and there should be proper engagement and consultation with communities, not just in Kinvara, which would help to alleviate concerns,” Deputy O’Hara said.

He met KCC last Friday with Galway East TDs Seán Canney (Ind), Albert Dolan (FF) and Pete Roche (FG), Senator PJ Murphy (FG) and Councillor Paul Killilea (FG).

Deputy Canney, a Minister of State, whose independent grouping holds the balance of power in Government, agreed to speak with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to relay the concerns.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Grúpa Gníomh Ostán Cuan Charna said it has been invited to meet Department officials today (Thursday) to discuss opposition to the proposal to turn Carna Bay Hotel into an IPAS centre.

About 30 people in Carna are on a rota to ‘keep watch’ 24-hours-a-day at three locations, including outside the hotel, and at two village entry points – Cashel Crossroads near Bóthar na Scrathóg and Rosmuc across from Pearse’s Cottage.

The ‘watch’ was established after unfounded rumours spread on social media last week that migrants were being bussed to Carna Tuesday night.

Hotel management, CEDIY and Oireachtas members insisted it was not true but up to 100 people gathered outside the building to protest the arrival of migrants. They did not arrive, but the 24-hour presence continues.

“We have no faith and confidence in what we are being told by the Department and from Dublin,” a group spokesperson said.

“We are getting great community support for the campaign, a mixture of young and old. Local businesses are providing food and hot drinks. We want the hotel to go back to what it used to be (before March 2022 when it was used for Ukrainians fleeing war).”

Galway West TD, John Connolly (FF) said the hotel’s owner made an application to become an IPAS centre, and Government was obliged to assess it.

“I’m trying to make sure the Department is fully aware of the circumstances of the community – the lack of amenities and facilities; challenges for local schools; inadequate health facilities and public transport. All that will contribute towards the decision

“As part of the decision-making process, I’m advising officials and Ministers of the challenges there would be (locating an IPAS centre) in a small community like Carna,” Deputy Connolly said.

He said he encouraged Department officials in February to engage with the local Co-Op, who planned to buy the hotel.

“They took that on board and said they would defer the decision for three months,” Deputy Connolly added.

Forbairt Chonamara Láir Teo confirmed it remained interested in buying it as a community hotel to boost tourism and protect the Irish language.

Councillor Noel Thomas (Ind Ire) said he was “full stop against” the proposal for an IPAS centre in Carna.

“If the Government were to refuse the IPAS contract that has been offered, it would mean the owner would have to sell it or use it himself as a tourist business,” he said.

Pictured: Carna Bay Hotel: Locals maintaining 24-hour vigil.