Hillside halting site, home of Olympic boxer, Francie Barrett, was closed by Galway Corporation last week after almost 20 years. However, the Galway Travellers' Support Group (GTSG) has expressed its outrage at the treatment afforded to members of the Travelling community during the closure of the "temporary" site and the rehousing of its residents.
Eviction notices and the presence of the Garda turned "what should have been a happy day" into one of "confusion, embarrassment and frustration," Ms Margaret ╙ Riada, co-ordinator of the support group, said. While she said the GTSG welcomed the new development of a group housing scheme for the Hillside families - "after 20 years of living in appalling conditions" - it was concerned at the way those families were treated.
Galway Corporation has defended its handling of the closure. However, Ms ╙ Riada says that travellers were given only 24 hours' notice to move by 9.30 a.m. last Tuesday into houses that were not ready. Eight families who were not being given houses were issued with eviction notices, according to Ms ╙ Riada, whose presence during the removal was requested by the affected Travellers. "Whatever people may have thought of Hillside, it was a home to many, and 24 hours' notice to quit is most definitely inadequate. We are currently making inquiries as to whether this is the same practice used with the settled community."
Galway Corporation has a Traveller accommodation consultative committee. The GTSG is represented on this committee, but says the group was not informed of the Hillside closure in advance. The Labour TD, Mr Michael D. Higgins, and Labour councillor, Ald Catherine Connolly, have expressed their "gravest concerns", through the GTSG, at the events of last week. There are 1,300 families on the housing list.