Ballinrobe hotel to accommodate up to 50 international protection applicants

A Ballinrobe hotel that has been closed since 2012 is to be used to accommodate approximately 50 male asylum seekers. 

Local county councillor Michael Burke said the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have confirmed that JJ Gannon's hotel would be used to accommodate up to 50 male asylum seekers from Monday, January 8. 

The Fine Gael councillor, along with Cllrs Damien Ryan (Fianna Fáil) and Patsy O'Brien (Independent), met local community groups to inform them of the situation. 

Mayo County Council had previously suggested, following queries from The Mayo News, that ‘discussions’ were underway regarding the use of the hotel for Ukrainian refugees. 

Last year, refurbishment took place for several weeks at the hotel, which closed its doors in 2012.

The property was formerly owned by Gannon family, but is now understood to be owned by a relative of a local man who lives in Kilkenny.

Cllr Burke said he had not received prior contact regarding the repurposing of JJ Gannon’s and described the development as ‘challenging’ for services in the town.

“As councillors we have no say in this decision and all we can do is put pressure on Mayo County Council and the HSE to enhance local services to cater for the extra numbers in town. We will also be asking local support groups to liaise and work with these men to make their integration to our area a good process for everyone,” Cllr Burke stated.

“This is a challenging situation for services in our town but we have had challenges in the past that we have overcome. I want to make it clear that the Gannon family have no involvement in this property.”

At least one other property in Ballinrobe is being used to accommodate refugees, including accommodation above Art O’Neill’s Bar on Abbey Street.