Ashbourne show of solidarity with asylum seekers

Support for a show of solidarity with those suffering as a result of the refugee crisis is sought for 3pm in Ashbourne tomorrow.

The demonstration, organised by local councillor Darren O'Rourke, will take place at the Arkle monument on the main street. People are encouraged to bring their own personalised placards.

Cllr. O'Rourke said: 'We are witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis since the second world war. The Irish people have great humanity. This might be born from the fact that we know, in a different time, it was the Irish who were the refugees seeking shelter. The outpouring of support over recent days has been palpable.

'Tomorrow's demonstration is impromptu. It's a way of showing solidarity with all those people who have suffered and who continue to suffer. We're asking people to gather at the Arkle monument in Ashbourne at 3pm to stand for 45 minutes in solidarity with today's refugees, to show that we support them and we want the international community to mount an immediate response.'

Meanwhile, Navan-based Cultúr Migrants Centre has joined the Irish Refugee Council and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland by calling for the Irish government to respond immediately to the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II. The Irish state must take a stand and demonstrate a real commitment to the human rights of refugees arriving in Europe. This in effect means increasing significantly the numbers of refugees we have agreed to relocate to Ireland.

Sinead Smith, project manager of Cultúr, stated that: “The German Government has stepped up to the plate and shown what governments can do when they show leadership on a humanitarian crisis such as this. As an organisation that has campaigned for the end of direct provision in Ireland and in our own backyard in Mosney, we believe that Ireland can and should provide refuge, safety and a new life for asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland in a manner that facilitates them to be part of and live in our local communities. We believe that many Irish citizens support this too.

'Ireland currently holds a seat on the UN Council of Human Rights and we need to demonstrate our commitment to human rights now when it really matters,' she added.

'Many of us from Meath will be at the Famine Memorial on Custom House Quay, Dublin 1 at 1pm on Saturday 5th September but events will take place all over the country and all are welcome to attend the stand for solidarity.

Cultúr are encouraging those who support this call to sign up to the Uplift campaign to call on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to increase the numbers of refugees Ireland will accept for relocation on www.uplift.ie.