Updated 14:05

There have been angry confrontations at a 'No to Racism' rally in Rooskey, County Roscommon.

Demonstrators and members of the public engaged in a number of heated arguments after the event got underway this lunchtime.

The event comes after a number of alleged arson attacks at the Shannon Key West Hotel – which has been earmarked as a location for a future Direct Provision centre.

Around 60 people attended the rally in the town this afternoon.

Rally organiser Eamonn Crudden said the rally aimed to let asylum seekers know they are welcome in the town.

Demonstrators confront each other at a 'Love Rooskey: No to Racism: Asylum Seekers Welcome' Rally in Rooskey, Roscommon. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images

However some locals confronted the protesters insisting that opposition to the planned centre is legitimate – and accusing them of portraying the town itself as racist.

Mr Crudden said the event aimed to show the wider public that locals do not support the alleged arson attacks.

“We don’t want that to be the thing that stays in people’s minds about this area,” he said.

“There are an enormous amount of very, very decent people here that are absolutely horrified by these attacks.”

We're having an anti-racist gathering in #Rooskey on Sunday. Rooskey is a good place with good people. The fire starters can't be allowed to tarnish the reputation of the decent people of #Leitrim & #Roscommon. Join us on Sunday! #LoveRooskey pic.twitter.com/PZjZ08H8zN

— Izzy Kamikaze 🏳️‍🌈#LiveLyin Lied 🏳️‍⚧️🦕🦖 (@IzzyKamikaze) February 15, 2019

Rooskey

Rooskey is on the borders of Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford – and Mr Crudden said the area is full of warm people who want asylum seekers to know that they will be safe and welcomed.

“There are going to be speakers, music and we are hoping to have kind of a picnic because it is a pretty depressing series of events – but we don’t want our event to be a depressing event,” he said.

“It is aimed at letting asylum seekers know that the people who are there will welcome them into the area.

“We know that the Direct Provision system is not a good system but we will do our best to support them.”

Solidarity to the anti racist protest in #Rooskey today. We need to unite and fight for work, housing and resources for all. #dubw

— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) February 17, 2019

Racist

He said vigilante racist attacks “have no place in our society and communities” and need to be faced down.

On Tuesday, the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan expressed “grave concern” over a fire in the hotel the night before.

The fire followed another incident on January 10th.

“This pattern of behaviour represents an unacceptable and worrying development and should be condemned by all,” he said.

“The person or people responsible for this attack have shown a reckless disregard for the safety of human life and no respect for private property.

“The owners of the hotel had just completed the necessary repairs to the property from the last fire and the damage will now have to be assessed again for the second time this year.”

"Hateful rhetoric"

Yesterday, the European Network Against Racism Ireland said the minster’s “forthright and public stance is an essential contribution at a time when hesitation in the face of hateful rhetoric and hate crimes threatens to undermine the decency which the public rightly expects of its public representatives.”

The organisers of the No to Racism rally called on the public to reject the Direct provision system itself.

“Asylum Seekers must be allowed to work and live in dignity,” they said in a statement.

“They should not be isolated and segregated from our communities. Refugees should be made welcome in this country.”