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Oughterard, Galway Welcomes All – Stop Eviction of Ukrainian Families

PRESS RELEASE:

Oughterard Community Calls on Norma Foley – TD to Stop the Eviction of Ukrainian Families

A number of Ukrainian residents from Oughterard Manor, local TDs, and a group of residents known as Oughterard Welcomes All are urging Norma Foley to intervene and prevent the pending eviction of their neighbours.

A representative of the Oughterard Manor residents said:

“We have thirteen children under 18 years old. Six attend Scoil Chuimín agus Caitríona in Oughterard, three go to St. Paul’s Secondary School, one attends Muire Doireglinne, and three are in a community college in Galway.

We were sure we would stay in Oughterard as long as possible. The kids have friends, they love their schools and teachers. We already feel like part of the community. We’re attending GRETB classes, joining local interest groups, taking part in events, and working. Many local people support us and stay in touch — they are our friends. We feel safe and comfortable here. It has been our home for more than two years.”

A group of local residents under the name Oughterard Welcomes All echoed the residents’ appeal, calling for compassion and common sense:

“It’s heartbreaking to think our children’s friends, and our own neighbours, could be taken out of the community for no good reason. Minister Norma Foley needs to address how people seeking asylum and people from Ukraine are being moved around like they aren’t human beings — like they don’t have friendships, jobs, schools, and community ties. It shouldn’t matter our status, where we were born or the colour of our skin — people belong in communities.

It’s not just the Department — the new owner of Oughterard Manor needs to listen. Our message is clear: we want our neighbours to stay. Stop this eviction.”

Independent Catherine Connolly TD said:

“I have the most serious concerns about the Department’s lack of a coherent policy in relation to the movement of asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees. My office is in constant receipt of urgent representations from very vulnerable people in Galway City and County who have been asked by the Department to leave their accommodation with very little notice.

Very often, these adults are forced to abandon their work and withdraw their children from school — despite the huge efforts they’ve made to settle into the community. Many are involved in voluntary work and are deeply embedded in local life. These decisions are causing further grief and turmoil for families who are already traumatised by war and famine.”

Fianna FáilJohn Connolly TD added:

“When people put down roots in a community, no matter who they are or where they’re from, they should be supported to stay. Children shouldn’t be taken out of schools, or people from their jobs and support networks. We’re urging the Department to do everything it can to prevent the residents of Oughterard Manor from being pushed out”

TD Mairéad Farrell – Sinn Féin said:

“We are trying to get answers from the Minister so that we can represent and inform our constituents, but there needs to be much stronger communication — as well as a strategy to keep these people in the community where they’ve made their home. Across the country, people seeking safety — both in the international protection system and under the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukraine — are being unfairly moved from the places they’ve made home. We need a planned, compassionate, and transparent approach from the Minister.”

TDs have been engaging directly with residents and local groups to understand their concerns and support efforts to stop the eviction.

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One facebook correspondent sums up well

Fantastic to see the community working together to maintain people’s dignity and stability.

This looks like integration at it’s best!

It’s so important for the ministers to realise that people who have settled into communities are not only welcome, they are also invested in contributing to and benefiting from their locale.

If they continue to move people FOR NO GOOD REASON, the minister needs to realise that their needs will INCREASE again!

And new, already stretched services will be needed again – putting pressure on the families and the services.

For instance, of kids are in school, settled and with friends, moving them means they might need more educational and emotional help down the line.

Stop this inhumane and pointless exercise.

I am not going to call it a policy because it cannot possibly be as it’s not at all well-thought out.

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