Protestors marched through Newtownmountkennedy against using local accommodation for asylum seekers. 

Roughly 200 marched from the Wicklow village to the Garda barrier on the road to Trudder House, also known as River Lodge. 

They held banners reading “Ireland is our homeland, we will not be replaced” and “Send them back”. 

Protestors also called for people to “switch off RTÉ propaganda”. 

Chants included “Newtown says no” and “Whose streets? Our streets”. 

Protestors spent roughly 15 minutes at the gate of the property earmarked for asylum seekers before returning to the village. 

Protestors marching from Newtownmountkennedy against the use of local property for asylum seekers. Image: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Gardaí and protestors in Newtownmountkennedy clashed on Wednesday as protests outside Trudder House escalated. 

Six people were arrested, and four later charged, in connection with public order incidents at the property. 

They were also alleged to have failed to comply with the direction of An Garda Síochána when told to leave the area immediately. 

All four were granted bail today with no objections, subject to certain conditions, and they are due back in court on May 9th. 

'Fear' in Newtownmountkennedy

United Against Racism founder Bernie D’Arcy previously told Newstalk asylum seekers in the area are fearful for their safety. 

“This is the first time I’ve come across pure fear, they are shaking like a leaf,” she said. 

“They’re afraid of going into communities where people are protesting against them; they’re coming for refuge, not to take people’s houses or jobs. 

“I doubt they would feel safe as individuals to walk down the street in case they were attacked.” 

She said people who support asylum seekers are also getting “dog's abuse”. 

Local independent election candidate John Larkin said there was a “total overreaction” by Gardaí to protests and that they “absolutely” should have taken a ‘step-back’ approach. 

“The word in Newtown is concern more than anything, what are [the asylum seekers] going to do all day up here?” he said. 

He also claimed a large fire at the protest happened accidentally.