IRISH issue but craicnet dead - immigration

[Minorityreports]

I've been involved in a facebook discussion about 130 immigrants to be housed in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. Locals have been protesting and holding overnight protests/vigils.

My initial reaction was you fucking bigots.

But now my reaction is actually, where the fuck are they putting these people - if anyone knows Leitrim, there is pretty much nothing there in the line of work (if these immigrants even have visas permitting them to work).

Could they not spread them out, in places where they might find work? I'm not sure of the status of the immigrants as their is no article, just a FB headline from a local radio station.

Thoughts anyone? Particularly if you actually know more about their status than I do.

Is housing 130 immigrants in one tiny village/town in the middle of fucking nowhere, a good idea?

That is a good question Minority. The government at the time were granting planning permission to everything and anything with no thought put in to local services/jobs/support. It was so dysfunctional.

The answer is not to fill these small towns with little to no employment opportunities with unemployable economic migrants. That is just creating another dysfunctional environment.

The residents of Carrickmacross are complaining about men in large groups from direct provision hanging around the main street all day long as they have nothing to do. Many women and girls there feel intimated. A local teacher has said she was raped by one of these men.

saltandvinegararethebest clukdnt agree more with u. This martyred woe is us whinging from those who touched it out...with the milk quotas, the money from america and uk. My father in Mondon and aunt in Bosto helped educate 4 brothers and sisters now teachers. We r the ones who were out foreign.
The Irish never get sick of being hard done by, even by their own families. Always one of them itching to tell you y dont belong.
Can you tell I am very conflicted 0

Some comments ts on here make it sound as though those that left were off on a jolly jaunt somewhere, leaving all the hard work for those left behind. They faced terrible discrimination. My father didnt even speak that much English so was put at more disadvantage.

He struggled with the culture. Home sickness. He never wanted to stat I Englnd and when we were all 7 or sat, we returned and got more shit from those who stayed. No winners
I would like to point out the high levels of street homeless with mental health and alcohol addictions who ate Irish men and women that lost contact with families and more or less disappeared.
Places like Arlingham House (I think that's the name) in Camden where some men came in their teens in the 60s and were still there around 2006. Forgotten.

Is housing 130 immigrants in one tiny village/town in the middle of fucking nowhere, a good idea

No.

@Cathnip Welcome to what's been happening across England, France, Italy, Greece and Spain for 50 years now.

"The residents of Carrickmacross are complaining about men in large groups from direct provision hanging around the main street all day long as they have nothing to do. Many women and girls there feel intimated. A local teacher has said she was raped by one of these men."

In the UK you would be called a racist Tory for this. This is part of being in the EU. It's not all raking in money by serving as a tax haven for Google and co.

Sorry but I think the town needs to suck it up. Scale up the services and let these people use the empty accommodation that is there and waiting

One person made the comment about those who left.

The problem is Ireland is predominately white only 2.1% Asian and 1.4% black, outside of the cities it is almost exclusively white so local people feel uncomfortable. But Ireland is one of the few European countries that has committed to take in refugees as they arrive from Africa in Italy or Malta so the numbers of refugees in Ireland is going to increase and they need to be housed. Those housed in the cities are often housed in very poor conditions as there isn't suitable housing available, hence the movement to empty housing in small towns.

How do you scale up services? Do you force doctors/SNA’s/teachers to move there?

There is a huge shortage of GP’s in Ireland. How are you propose getting an extra one for each rural town with direct provision?

Why should the town suck it up? No one asked them if this could happen to their town. The government does not have a mandate from the people to do this. Just because it happened elsewhere does not mean it HAS to happen in Ireland.

Ireland is a tiny nation. Apart from a few most arriving are bogus asylum seekers. Why should the towns change for them? As I said before if Ireland only accepted the genuine asylum seekers we wouldn’t be having this debate. At present Ireland is taking in more asylum seekers per capita than any other EU country.

It has been happening in Germany, Spain, Italy etc but it also has not been happening in every EU country. Poland is one of the countries that said no and they are still in the EU.

Merkel publicly admitted that multiculturalism has utterly failed in Germany. Ireland does not have to copy their mistakes by changing the population of towns by 20%.

And nobody asked the Eastenders if they were happy moving over and sharing their slums with waves of Irish immigrants either.

Look this is the world we live in now. The refugee crisis is only going to worsen as climate change intensifies. This is the reality of the situation now and Ireland is not exempt from fluidifying its concept of what community looks like to make room.

gwackywacky - you seem to have a huge chip on your shoulder about Ireland. Unless you live in a small town in Leitrim I really don't think you are qualified to comment. And no, we don't want Ireland to become like London or Birmingham or Oldham, thanks all the same. We have seen the mistakes made in the UK and Germany, all on the back of importing cheap labour, not through altruism on the part of governments in the 1950's, 60's and 70's, and we would like to avoid that situation arising in Leitrim.

Bubblesgun also made a comment about the people who stayed and worked hard. And if that is being expressed on here, then there are probably plenty more out there saying the same. But, I have heard it before in Ireland. Those who left are treated with a sort of mistrust. Not open dislike but under currents oxf resentment.
Ireland is and has been insular when it is on it's own terms. Sure one parish doesn't like the next, never mind being from somewhere out foreign. There is a lot of catching up

Annasgirl hows that like then, London Birmingham, Oldham? Populated with people different from you? Perhaps?
The tone of your comment paints the entire scene for me about what you see those coming to Ireland as.

I am Irish, living in Ireland. I live in a town, not a village, not a city. My neighbours are Irish, Syrian, Thai, Chinese, Polish, English, Iraqi, Greek, Spanish, Indian and Italian and that is only the ones we know. The local secondary schools has over 60 different nationalities. I am sick of this notion that the Irish do not accept immigrants or that Ireland is not multicultural outside of the cities. But I agree Ballinamore does not have the services for such an influx of people. There are not enough jobs and services for those already living there, how are they meant to just put more services in place. Ireland is still recovering from the recession, in the more rural parts of the country the recovery has being very slow.

Sure one parish doesn't like the next, never mind being from somewhere out foreign
Absolutely ridiculous statement. I don't know what kind of small minded area you live in.

Like mawi our local small town school has people from every corner of the globe who are fully integrated into the community.

I grew up in Meath. Spent time in Cavan. Lots of personal experience. Doesn't match yours maybe, but that's life sometimes.

@lolaflores
👏👏👏👏 well said.

I'm Irish, living in Dublin. I see this from both sides.

However, one of the biggest issues here is the lack of infrastructure and public transport in the country. The housing built in ballinamore during the boom was done so on the implicit understanding that everyone had access to a car.

130 people who probably won't have their own transport, in a small town of few opportunities almost certainly won't go well.

I agree that we should be shouldering our fair share of immigrants, absolutely. However, the Irish government are in a position to learn from the mistakes made by other countries in this area. It is disappointing (but not surprising) that they couldn't be arsed thinking this through properly.

@gwackywacky When the Irish moved to the U.K. in the 70’s/80’s and before were they supported by the state upon arrival and given accommodation/benefits?

Ireland is very multi-cultural these days.

Lola and qwacy please do not think you know Ireland better than the people who actually live there.

I wouldn't dare to say such a thing but, we ate allowed a view are we ot based on having grown up there, lived there, worked there, , visit regularly, have family and close friends living their and so on. Having parents retired there, to their homes?

Dare we not express an opinion from a different angle? Or, is it one flavour only?

Lolaflores
Irish economy sufficiently to ensure my parents emigrated, had us kids in UK , returned in the mid 70s, then fucked it all up again so we left in 88. Never to return.

^ You said yourself you/your family left in 1988. That was 31 years ago.

Ireland is and has been insular when it is on it's own terms. Sure one parish doesn't like the next, never mind being from somewhere out foreign. There is a lot of catching up

Of course you are entitled to your opinion as is anyone on Mumsnet but you seem to have a very limited view of Ireland which you are presenting as fact despite not, you know, actually living in the country.

Interesting article I read recently about a similar issue in Lisdoonvarna

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/01/matchmaking-irish-village-finds-harmony-asylum-seekers-lisdoonvarna

Catnhip I dont live in America currently but I think I can hold a valid opinion based on what I experienced living there for 4 years..as is any other human being entitled to.
It's not against the law you know, even if you dont like it.
However, you seem to be unwilling to allow anyone to express an opinion that you dont like because we r not currently resident? Is that what I am picking up on?
Trawl back through comments to bolster up your bombastic rage at someone daring to speak an opposing view.
Has free thought and opinion always been this difficult a concept for you or just now?

There isn't much in Leitrim but these people need help. Tbh I am disgusted by the racist carry on in the count lands.
Get with the times.
Dublin Cork Limerick Louth Galway and others are busting at the seams with immigration, the rents are extortionate, GP and hospital appointments are the worst waitung lists in Europe.
I think it is fucking disgusting the way some folks have carried on protesting, burning out direct provisions centres.
Get the bus up march at the Dàil if you feel so strongly against it.
I agree the government have not created the infrastructure, don't blame the poor Syrian family.
One family was on the news they dreamed of this peaceful life, they are being terrorised by small minded bigots in the country. in the country means country towns

And no, we don't want Ireland to become like London or Birmingham or Oldham, thanks all the same
Bit late for that in Dublin anyway.
Sorry to quickly derail did you see the incident in city west shopping centre last night? Some areas up there the Garda won't enter, Tesco won't deliver the bus won't service.
If it is any consolation half the Dubs will be in leitrim soon.
I'm looking at Athlone myself.