A public forum in Stradbally has seen locals expressing “confusion and downright anger” over the decision to accommodate refugees in tents on the site of Electric Picnic.

About a hundred people gathered at the Market House Shelter in the County Laois town last night to discuss the plan.

Newstalk last week reported that hundreds of refugees were to be housed at Stradbally Hall after Electric Picnic came to a close.

The Department of Integration confirmed the Stradbally contract is for a six-week period and will have a capacity of 750, which will be "used on a phased, contingency basis".

A "small number" of new arrivals have already been placed in tents, and this will increase as new locations for tented facilities become available.

Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie attended last night’s public forum in Stradbally. He told Newstalk Breakfast it quickly descended into a flurry of anger and confusion.

"I've never covered anything quite like this," he said. "Last night there was shouting, clapping, confusion and downright anger."

The meeting

Josh said the meeting began at 7pm, accumulating a crowd of about 100 locals.

"Locals were telling one another to shut their mouths, telling the owner of the land [that] this is not his decision to make [and] that he should forget about this, but the meeting was very disorganised overall," he said.

"There were wild claims spouting around, people shouting over one another, repeating questions.

"The site manager of Pastures New Limited – which has this contract – was there, the owner of the land, Thomas Cosby and a number of local councillors and they all got a lot of questions thrown at them."

The community

Mixed reactions from the community were heard, with one man asking fellow locals to "think of the [Ukranian] people for once".

"[We'll] come back here in a week's time, and if there is a problem, I'll be the first to stand up on that table over there and say, 'Close the gate'. I'll promise you that, but please give them the opportunity," he said.

The Church of Ireland Director, Reverend Alec Purser, said Stradbally is a "place of welcome".

"All of these Ukrainians who will come here, and are here, will be made feel welcome," he said.

"There was no debate about that, perhaps it was just the way it was told to the people – a little bit slow off the mark."

An aerial view of the Electric Picnic festival site at Stradbally, County Laois in August 2023. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The meeting heard that 27 more Ukranian refugees arrived yesterday, and will be staying in the tents for a maximum of two weeks.

"There'll be another turnaround of people but it's not yet known how many will be arriving each day," Josh told the show.

Former Fine Gael Councillor Aisling Moran said she "does not trust" what the community are being told.

"I just got a sense that it's longer than six weeks," she said.

"We're throwing people into tents in the middle of the field and leaving them there – I think it's absolutely disgraceful."

'Rumours and mistruths'

Speaking to The Hard Shoulder, landowner Thomas Cosby said the running of the facility will have "very little impact on the local community" and there is a “lot of total nonsense and misinformation” being spread about the Ukrainian refugees.

Laois Integration Network Chairperson Karen McHugh said they are trying to disprove some of the "statements and language" around the refugees.

"Don't be listening to others and don't be spreading more rumours and mistruths when the reality is totally different," she said.

"We will do everything possible to ensure people are welcomed."

The meeting came to a close, with an agreement that locals would meet again the following week to further discuss the site – although divisions remain as to whether it should be held in The Market House Shelter or Stradbally Hall.

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