This article appeared in The Mayo News on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

Ballina celebrated its community spirit in 2023, with a year-long series of  emphasising inclusivity and togetherness. It is desperately disappointing therefore to see recent growing division in the town over the potential arrival of a few (more) International Protection Applicants (IPAs).

Despite the raising some very valid and current concerns, protests and rallies against the arrival of the IPAs have garnered relatively low local support, however it is still disheartening to see blame being directed at vulnerable people, often fleeing desperate situations, rather than where it actually belongs – with our government representatives. This trend is especially concerning in a town traditionally known for its welcoming, relaxed and open-minded nature.

It is also frightfully misguided.

It is mind-blowing that of all the injustices perpetuated by successive Fine Gael-led governments over the past decade and a half, this is what mobilised people.

They could have protested about our health system. While not entirely on its knees, it fails far too many people than it should given the wealth of our country. Protestors are quite correct in calling out the scandalous situation we are in where people cannot register with a dentist or GP or are left on precarious situations on trolleys in emergency departments. This is not the fault of International Protection Applicants, nor is it a new situation – it merited protests long before Ballina welcomed refugees.

They could have protested about the dangerous deficit in mental health services; a scarcity that contributes directly to hundreds of deaths each year, and is not improving.

They could have protested about the fact that owning a home is fast becoming a pipe dream for young – and some middle-aged – people, despite the fact that millions of euros worth of properties around the country lie vacant or derelict.

They could have protested about the lack of accessibility for people with additional needs, many of whom are essentially frozen out of society.

But no. They looked at people arriving from countries, freeing situations we won’t ever have to worry about, even in our worst nightmares, and decided, mostly based on hearsay and misinformation, that they were the biggest problem. And decided to focus their energies on intimidating them, and those providing them with accommodation. (Not even homes. Basic, unfit-for-purpose accommodation at best.) And despite the fact that several International Protection Applicants have been living in and contributing to Ballina for several months, protestors chose to take to the streets in a highly visible way.

The NIMBYism, privilege and meanness of this is nothing of which to be proud.

It is all very well to claim in calm, measured tones that your concern is rooted in advocating for basic facilities and services. This dresses up such protests in respectability. It is, however, quite something else for the exact same people to deny that the discussion is about race or ethnicity while simultaneously implying that their children will somehow be less safe if international protection applicants are offered accommodation in their hometown, or that it will somehow be a place of which to be less proud. Implications that are entirely without statistical evidence.

One would wonder whether any of those protesting have ever even taken the time to sit down and have a conversation with some of our recent arrivals to the town. If they did, they just might be a little less militant on the streets.

Despite the recent apparent groundswell in support for tourism, many of those loudly advocating for it now were entirely absent when hotel beds in Ballina were lying empty and collective support for growing the tourism market really was needed.

But as tempting as it is to take sides and take swipes, it is clear that like in many right-wing movements, protesters in Ballina have found a sense of community in uniting in a common cause, and finding an outlet for their own disenfranchisement.

While there will be no convincing the most toxic extremists, there is still a middle ground that is watching and listening and is open to learning. It is important that there are spaces in which people can reach across the divide, hear each other and offer the opportunity to learn, and perhaps bring some more empathy and understanding to the conversations.

Finally, however, it is worth noting that many IPAs have become valuable volunteers in Ballina, contributing their time and skills to various community initiatives. It is very fair to say that those protesting could do worse than try learning from their example, if they truly want a town of which to be proud.