Racism 'alive and well' in Tramore, says councillor

An Independent councillor in Tramore has claimed he has been targeted by racists because of his support for asylum-seekers and…

An Independent councillor in Tramore has claimed he has been targeted by racists because of his support for asylum-seekers and refugees.

Mr Eddie Walsh said racism was "alive and well" in Tramore and Waterford.

His house was covered in racist graffiti earlier this year. Gardaí investigated the incident but nobody was prosecuted. Recently, a youth took food out of his mouth and threw it at Mr Walsh, telling him that all Africans should be sent home.

These were not isolated events, the councillor said.

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He regularly got negative comments about his support for the plight of asylum-seekers.

"Unfortunately racism is alive and well in Tramore and Waterford, particularly from people who have lived abroad," he said.

He added that politicians should take a key role in dispelling the many myths surrounding asylum-seekers and refugees. Some people still wanted to believe that asylum-seekers and refugees got free cars, mobile phones and quality clothes.

"It's just not true, but people won't believe it."

Mr Walsh also urged the mayor of Tramore, Mr Blaise Hannigan (FF), to withdraw his "disgraceful" remarks on asylum-seekers.

The mayor has said on local radio that Tramore had taken its fair share of asylum-seekers and that they should be dispersed more evenly around the State.

Mr Hannigan stressed that he had no objection to asylum-seekers.

However, he said there were 272 asylum-seekers and refugees in Tramore, which has a population of about 8,000, while entire counties had figures as low as 20.

He told The Irish Times that he had not received one negative comment since he aired these views.

Plenty of people supported his view in Tramore this week.

One middle-aged woman, who declined to be named, said there were too many non-nationals in Tramore.

"I feel like I am back living in London again. If they are genuine asylum-seekers, then fine, but many of them are not," she said.

Ms Mary Barry said she really did not know if Tramore had a higher proportion of asylum-seekers and refugees than other towns.

"But if we do, then it should be spread around a bit more."

However, Mr John O'Keeffe said he had no problem with asylum-seekers.

"I have never had any reason to feel offended or take umbrage at asylum-seekers.

"The town is virtually empty in the winter anyway, so there is no shortage of accommodation."

Asylum-seekers staying in the town said they had no say in the matter.

Ms Grace Odiaise, from Nigeria, has three young children and is bringing them up alone in Ireland. "I find everything, from A to Z, difficult here," she said.

"I would like to go to a busy place like Dublin where everything is not so far away."

Mr Qemal Dema from Albania had not heard the mayor's comments but said he and his family could not choose where they were sent.

"What can we do? It's nice here. I was at the post office and a man said 'Hello' to me and I said, 'How does this man know me?' People are very friendly."

Brothers John and Daniel Moore run two accommodation centres for asylum-seekers in Tramore.

Mr Daniel Moore said there was "a bit of a furore" when it first emerged that asylum-seekers were coming to Tramore.

"But then people got to meet them and they saw that they didn't have 10 heads," he said.

"We already have a good mix of cultures with tourists, so this is just adding to it."

Alison Healy

Alison Healy

Alison Healy is a contributor to The Irish Times