Speakers at a solidarity rally in Castlebar yesterday afternoon to show support for asylum seekers and refugees were subjected to heckling and interruption.
The assembly at Market Square was organised by the Mayo branch of United Against Racism and attracted up to 100 people.
A smaller group gathered nearby carrying placards suggesting that Ireland has taken in too many refugees and the first responsibility of the State should be to look after those Irish who are homeless.
When speeches by the Mayo Branch of United Agaist Racism began, a number of individuals from the smaller group rally moved towards the speakers and began heckling and asking questions all the while holding camera phones to record the exchanges.
“Answer our questions and we’ll go”, the interlopers promised.
Gardai were on hand and asked those who were interrupting to desist and move away. There was no serious incident and no arrests were made.
The purpose of yesterday’s rally, as explained by one of the organisers, Elena Lydon, was to show public support for the many asylum seekers and refugees now living in Mayo and let them know they are welcome.
United Against Racism is a national organisation that promotes inclusion.
One of the speakers, Joe Daly of People Before Profit, pledged “to stand together and build a national campaign on solidarity to push back the orchestrated campaign by far-right groups against refugees and migrants.”
Mr. Daly denied that Ireland was full accommodation wise or that the economy cannot cope with the influx.
He maintained: “There are 6,000 houses in Ireland which have been lying idle for at least six years. Ireland has plenty of wealth, plenty of houses”.
Another speaker, Alan Mee, Chairman of Castlebar Tidy Towns, highlighted the great assistance that migrants to the area had been in completing various Tidy Towns projects.
He also stressed that in his many travels across the world in search of work he had always been made feel welcome and included.
