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A packed Kinvara Community Centre gathered last night for an important update on the ongoing campaign to restore the Merriman Hotel to commercial use.

Despite invitations, none of the East Galway Oireachtas members attended due to Dáil business. Only one written statement was received—from Louis O’Hara TD, which was read aloud at the meeting.

The Community Council has yet to receive a meaningful response from the Taoiseach, Ministers, or elected representatives regarding why Government policy has been breached—a policy that explicitly states the sole hotel in a village would not be contracted for use as an IPAS centre.

Instead, the government insists the Merriman “is not a hotel.” This raises serious questions:
• If it’s not a hotel, why wasn’t a change-of-use application required?
• Why has it renewed its liquor license for 2025?
• What has a new fire safety certificate not been issued for housing 98 people?
• Were these matters considered in signing the contract with MLC Hotels Limited?

These questions remain unanswered.

The meeting also confirmed that a judicial review application has been lodged in the High Court, with a decision expected by 23rd June. A petition with over 800 Kinvara residents’ signatures accompanied the application.

The Community Council have raised concerns with Galway County Council on potential planning and fire safety breaches, a reply is outstanding.

Particular condemnation was voiced over the decision to displace the Ukrainian families currently housed at the Merriman by 4th July. These families are part of our community, and we appeal for local support in helping them find alternative accommodation in Kinvara.

Several attendees expressed support for people seeking international protection, calling for suitable and dignified accommodation solutions from the government. Finally, a strong appeal was made to keep our campaign respectful and prevent outside groups from using this issue to push divisive agendas.

The message from the community was clear: We expect answers, transparency, and leadership from our elected representatives.

Meeting at 8pm 21^st May 2025

In Kinvara Community Centre

AGENDA

1. Apologies
2. Minutes of last meeting
3. Matters arising
4. Correspondence
5. Paul Killilea Update
6. Park & Stride
7. Tigh Sayre’s
8. Accommodation for Ukrainian’s
9. Kinvara tidy towns community clean up, watering and thank you to volunteers –
10. AGM 18^th June –
11. Merriman Hotel Update
12. Date of next meeting: 18^th June at 8pm

15th May 2025

The Community Council remains in regular contact with East Galway TDs and Senators regarding the Government’s breach of policy in awarding a two-year IPAS contract to MLC Hotels Limited. Despite continued efforts, our elected representatives have not yet succeeded in reversing the decision and returning the Merriman Hotel to commercial use.

Our public representatives have informed us that the Department of Justice has notified them that, on 4th July, the 44 members of our Ukrainian community currently residing at the Merriman Hotel will be relocated if they still require State-contracted accommodation. The Department stated:

“We will also inform people of their options to source their own accommodation if they wish to remain in the area—either through the Pledge and Offer a Home schemes (subject to availability), or privately, using available supports such as rent supplement.

Information on the location of their follow-on State-funded property will be provided closer to the date of transfer, with as much notice as possible. We will provide a list of all relocations, dates, and, in time, destinations to key local State stakeholders to activate support services as needed—for example, school registration support in the new areas.”

At the April meeting of the Kinvara Community Council, attendees expressed willingness to host displaced Ukrainian families. If you or someone you know would like to participate in this local support initiative, please visit the following link:

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/32f0a-offer-a-home-offer-hope

The Community Council remains committed to advocating for the continued support of our Ukrainian guests.  

Kinvara Community Council is continuing in its efforts to make the Government adhere to its policy ‘not to award an IPAS contract to the sole hotel in a town’.  

Your assistance is required to bring to the attention of our public representatives the strength of feeling that the restoration of the iconic Merriman Hotel to its original commercial purpose means to this community. Please send your personal message to:

Sean Canney TD (Independent)          sean.canney@oireachtas.ie

Albert Dolan TD (Fianna Fail)              albert.dolan@oireachtas.ie

Louis O’Hara TD (Sinn Fein)                louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie

Pete Roche TD (Fine Gael)                  peter.roche@oireachtas.ie

A local group is applying for a judicial review, and over 700 signatures were secured in the accompanying petition. Further information will be advised at our May Community Council Meeting.

📌 Next Community Council Meeting

🗓 Wednesday, 21st May

🕗 8:00 PM

📍 Community Centre

All Kinvara residents are welcome to attend.

The government continues to claim that it did not breach its policy of not contracting the sole hotel in the village, as the Merriman is not a hotel.

On 31^st March in a Dáil question, Deputy Louis O’Hara (Sinn Fein) asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Norma Foley (Fianna Fail) if she would pause plans to provide an IPAS centre in the Merriman Hotel, Kinvara to allow for engagement with the local community, provide clarity on the future of the hotel’s current Ukrainian residents, and make a statement on the matter.

In a written answer (summarised by Kinvara Community Council), the Minister stated:

“My Department recently announced that 98 beds for families seeking international protection will be provided at the Merriman Hotel in Kinvara. The property was previously used to house people who were beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive due to the war in Ukraine and was also used as an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centre prior to 2022.

At the moment, relocations of people from Ukraine are paused, and if any new information becomes available on longer-term accommodation arrangements for this group, residents and local community groups and supporters will be updated without delay.

One of the queries raised during community engagement in Kinvara was the agreement to not contract IPAS accommodation in a given town’s only operating hotel, which was accepted by Government during the period of intense need and was agreed to on the basis of not removing an important current amenity from public use. In the case of the Merriman Hotel in Kinvara, our understanding is that this hotel has not been in public use since the COVID-19 pandemic, and since 2022 it has been contracted to this Department to accommodate people fleeing the war in Ukraine. In this circumstance, it hasn’t been considered necessary to reject such an offer from a property as it was not providing a hotel facility in this community. “

Kinvara Community Council has responded to the Minister:

“Your understanding of the status of the hotel is a misrepresentation to deflect from the Government’s responsibility to follow its policy, specifically, the commitment not to remove the last hotel from public use in a community. “

We await a reply.

Meanwhile, we have asked our government Oireachtas members to redouble their efforts to make representations to their government colleagues to pause the contract and enter a dialogue with Kinvara Community Council on the use of the hotel. You may email your views to our  East Galway TDs at:

Sean Canney (Independent)        sean.canney@oireachtas.ie

Albert Dolan (Fianna Fail)              albert.dolan@oireachtas.ie

Louis O’Hara (Sinn Fein)                louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie

Pete Roche (Fine Gael)                  peter.roche@oireachtas.ie

Separately, a group of concerned residents have commenced an application for a judicial review of the Government decision. To support the application, you may sign the petition, which is available at: https://chng.it/25YfQnL7vR

Newsletter – May 2025

Kinvara Community Council: Our May monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday 21^st May at 8pm and we encourage all members of the community to attend these meetings where discussion and debates on any items put forward on the agenda are always welcome. All sub groups who are affiliated to Kinvara Community Council must send a representative to every KCC meeting in order to maintain their benefits. Any items for inclusion on the agenda must be emailed in by Tuesday 20^th May and you must be there to present your item.

Merriman Hotel: A contract has been signed between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and MLC Hotels, the operators of the Merriman Hotel, to provide accommodation for 98 IPAS applicants for a two-year period. This agreement, finalized in early March, was made without consultation outside the Department and is now in effect.

The DCEDIY Community Engagement Team has confirmed that no evaluation was carried out to assess the capacity of local services, such as schools and medical facilities, to support the additional needs of IPAS applicants in the village.

The Community Council has once again written to the Taoiseach, seeking an explanation for the breach of Government policy in awarding this contract to the village’s only hotel. We have also challenged the Department’s claim that the hotel was “not in operation,” describing this reasoning as both incorrect and misleading. We await a formal response.

In addition, the Community Council has contacted our seven Oireachtas representatives (4 TDs and 3 Senators), urging a unified and collaborative stance in advocating for the residents of Kinvara. Minister Seán Canney has committed to convening a meeting of this group once the Dáil resumes this week. We have also followed up with TDs Albert Dolan, Louis O’Hara, and Senator Anne Rabbitte, seeking an update on their stated intention—made during a previous Community Council meeting—to request a pause to the contract. While they continue to advocate for our community, no progress has been made thus far.

The Department has further stated that there are currently no plans to relocate the Ukrainian community presently residing in the hotel. Residents have begun the process of applying for a Judicial Review of the Government’s decision to proceed with the contract without local consultation. Petitions in support of this application are now available to sign in local shops and pubs.

The next Community Council meeting will take place on 21st May at the Community Centre. All Kinvara residents are encouraged to attend. The Community Council will issue updates on its website and Facebook page as more information becomes available.

Burren in Bloom (3rd May to 25th May): Burrenbeo Trust is organising events throughout the month of May to welcome and celebrate biodiversity in the Burren. There are guided walks to appreciate birds, butterflies, woodlands, meadows, ponds and inspiring bio-diverse farms.  Insects, our much-undervalued creatures are given special attention in the programme with two talks; ‘The Curious World of Insects’ with naturalist and photographer Lisa Clancy on Saturday 3rd of May in Kinvara Community Centre and ‘Ants of Ireland and the Burren’ – an online webinar with John Breen. There is an art workshop for children with wildlife artist Gordon D’Arcy on Sunday 4th of May in Kinvara Community Centre. Also look out also for the rare opportunity to meet renowned environmental philosopher and Burren lover Matthijs Schouten on 22nd May in Doolin. Booking in advance is advised for all events. All info and tickets through burreninbloom.com and as a special seasonal offer – if you add a Burrenbeo Membership when booking tickets you get a FREE set of Burren Field Guides (worth €15) in the post.

Kinvara Community Orchestra: will present ‘The Dance of Life’ at Kinvara Community Centre on Saturday, 31^stMay at 8pm and Sunday, 1^st June at 4pm. Featuring guest dancers Louise O’Connor, Sadhbh Murphy, poet Mallika McCarthy, the Burren Baroque Ensemble and a selection of tunes and songs from the Orchestra, we hope you can join us to celebrate life in all its twists and turns! Tickets in advance at kinvaramusic.com or Healing Harvest soon! Hup!

Kinvara Tidy Towns; – We urgently need help to get Kinvara ready for adjudication – Getting involved in Tidy towns connects you with our community!  We only need help for the next 6 to 8 weeks…Even one hour would be a great help! We are out Wednesday mornings at 10.30am, 7.30pm and Saturday mornings at 10am.  We meet at the Kinvara Community centre. No gardening skills required. You can join our group or work on your own in your own time.   We match volunteers to painting/ light weeding/sweeping/interests.  Email kinvaratidytowns01@gmail.com if this is for you, message us on FB/Insta or speak to one of our volunteers. Just looking for one hour for your village? Be a part of it❤️

KAVA News:

1. 1st – 5th.                      Cuckoo Fleadh Exhibition
2. Saturday 3rd                Concert With Sharon Murphy, starts at 8pm
3. 16th – 25th.                 Exhibition Alicja Natalicz & Lidia de Lange
4. 30^th – 10^th June            Plein Air Exhibition and Workshop

Yoga Classes

• Tuesday Mornings 9.30 – 10.30 with Kate
• Tuesday Evenings 18.30 – 19.30 with Sibéal
• Wednesday Mornings 9.30 – 10.30 with Fionnuala

KINVARA ALIVE: – On the 11th of May 2025, we Kinvara Alive had planned to run a picnic in the park in Kinvara. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen issues, we cannot do this as planned and will have to reschedule and reorganize. Nevertheless our whole team at Kinvara Alive wishes you all a fantastic Fleadh na gCuach 2025 and lots of fun at all the activities on that weekend. You find us every Friday in the Farmers Market with lots of information for you.

Kinvara Plein Air Paint-Out: to celebrate the Cuckoo: Saturday 3 May at 11am on Kinvara Quay. Artists of all levels working in any medium most welcome. Free. Will be rescheduled to Sunday 11am if rained off.

Kinvara Community Childrens Centre: acknowledges that there has been a huge amount of disappointment and distress among the community following the allocation of spaces for September 2025. With 96 children looking to secure spaces and only 48 full afterschool care spaces available across two afterschool services, disappointment was inevitable. KCCC is working in conjunction with various community representatives to find a solution. We ask for your patience while we continue to work on this and updates will be provided as we continue through this process. If you have a potentially viable solution to the afterschool care issue, we would like to hear from you at info@kinvaraccc.ie . Many thanks, KCCC Management

Kinvara Parent and Toddler Group: welcomes parents and guardians to our weekly playgroup; Wednesdays 10am-12pm in the meeting room of Kinvara Community Centre. Children under 6 are welcome to socialise in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. We have plenty of toys and play tents for little ones and we offer tea/coffee and biscuits for grown-ups. We ask for a donation of €3-€4 per family to cover running costs and special events. Follow us on Facebook, search for Kinvara Playgroup or message 087-766 2294 to be added to our WhatsApp group which is a fantastic hive of information, and the odd hand-me-down, for local parents.

Cruinniú Na mBád 2025 is Fri 08^th – Sun 10^th Aug. Full details will be posted on the Cruinniú Na mBád website www.cruinniu.ie

Email items for May inclusion to communitycentre@kinvara.ie before

Wednesday 28^th May.

Due to space constricts some articles may have been edited, full details on www.kinvara.ie.

‘Items in this Newsletter do not reflect the opinions of the Community Council unless specifically stated’.

In Attendance: List available in KCC office.

1. Apologies: Shane Curley, Peter Roach, Mary Uí Eochaidh, Hilda O’Grady, Gerhard Terpelle.
2. Minutes of last meeting: Read by Ian and agreed.
3. Matters arising: to be covered in agenda
4. Correspondence: email read out from Sharon Murphy Galway One World Centre.
5. Paul Killilea Update:
6. Community Transport Study.  Waiting on its publication as is due end of April. I raised issue at Municipal District meeting again as it wasn’t on agenda and want to ensure it remains so. I am engaging with Active Travel Team and pushing for deadline to be met and to progress it further to next step.
7. I went around village and surrounds with our Local Area Engineer Dave O ‘Loughlin highlighting key issues and seeking solutions and information for those. Very worthwhile exercise and hoping with Engineer to get solutions to some of the issues in near future. Also planned meeting re traffic issues with Albert Dolan TD and area Engineer along with rep from Community Centre re traffic issues in village.
8. Reminder re School Transport Scheme deadline for applications is 25/04/25 as very important to get in for next school year.
9. IPAS Centre. Still making representations to both Depts. re future of Merriman as it’s simply not good enough to date what has taken place. KCC to be commended for efforts made to-date.  
10. Fleadh Na gCuach May 2^nd – 4^th are widening the spectrum of events for individuals and families. The team are looking for volunteers to help in any way – contact Maeve Kelly.
11. Pedestrian Crossing in village has been sought for years. A transport scheme needs to be in place. Eamonn Coy hopes that the next meeting scheduled will hopefully move the issue forward.
12. Kinvara Tidy Towns: reported to the Community Council meeting that our management of green areas in our village will be managed as close as possible to meadow from this year onwards. This will be a more managed approach than previously so cutting of the grass will take place every 4 weeks approximately so this gives wildflowers a chance to grow but also keeps the areas tidy.
13. Sustainable Development Goals – Our second update involves our efforts to publicise the Sustainability Goals as outlined in 2015 by the UN so our plan is to place a mobile unit with all 17 goals colourfully placed in the Community Centre and in Seamount College so that people will get familiar with them. We will request permission from the Directors before placing this mobile unit.  
14. Futureproofing the community centre against storm/flooding– group have done some work on drawing up a list of improvements for the Community Centre which would make the building more ready for any future climate related emergencies including storms and flooding. Being relatively energy independent which will involve more solar PV panels and some batteries as well as an EV charger will be part of the proposal. We have now had a meeting with EnergieXPro who installed the existing PV panels and they are drawing up a quote for us. They asked us for estimates of the numbers of people who might need this support. Also they request any details on possible grant aid we might be able to avail of and what will be included. We will communicate directly with the Directors regarding this.
15. New user agreement for KAVA courthouse – members of KAVA have questions regarding the new user agreement with KCC. They have asked to meet the directors of KCC to clarify the position at a meeting to be held between 1st – 9^th May.

1. Merriman Update –
2. The discussion on the government decision to issue a contract to MLC Hotels Ltd for the use of the Merriman Hotels as an IPAS accommodation centre was opened by Chair Ian Walsh with a statement from the directors of the Community Council. It was explained that this decision was advised to KCC without prior consultation or knowledge on 19^th March. The Board convened a meeting of East Galway Oireachtas members to discuss this decision. The Board pointed out that the signing of the contract was in direct contravention of government policy to not contract the sole hotel in villages. The Oireachtas members agreed to speak with the Taoiseach and request the rescinding of the contract. The Board had highlighted their concerns in local and national media.
3. The Taoiseach has written to KCC indicating that the contract was signed as it was the opinion of the government that the Merriman was not operating as a hotel and did not fall within policy guidelines.
4. The meeting was opened to the floor.
5. There were many contributions expressing significant opposition to this contract. Speakers stated that the Merriman Hotel is the only hotel in the village and plays a central role in both the economic and social fabric of the community. The decision to repurpose it for IPAS accommodation removes any opportunity of this critical resource being returned to a village that is heavily reliant on tourism and seasonal visitors for its livelihood. Residents feel blindsided by the lack of consultation or engagement before the finalisation of this contract. The absence of local dialogue goes against the very principles of partnership and transparency that underpin effective community integration and planning.
6. Several speakers expressed concern about the Ukrainian residents who are currently being accommodated in the hotel. There is considerable uncertainty about their future should the IPAS contract proceed. These families have integrated into the community, and any disruption to their current arrangements would be deeply unsettling and counterproductive. This community has welcomed both refugees and Ukrainians alike over the past 6 years, and now is the time to return the sole hotel of this village back to its original purpose.
7. East Galway TDs Albert Dolan (FF) and Louis O’Hara (SF) spoke in support of the community and undertook to speak again with the Ministers and the Department responsible for this contract. They were joined in this support by Senator Anne Rabbitte (FF), and collectively they committed to work to have this contract paused pending a review.
8. It was suggested, from the floor, that a judicial review should be requested. A local legal resource, with experience of these matters, has volunteered their services to initiate this work. 
9. The meeting resolved to continue to apply pressure through media channels, political representation, and to initiate the judicial review route. The overall consensus was to use all available channels to have this contract rescinded.
10. Next meeting Wednesday: 21^st May at 8pm

A contract was signed between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and MLC Hotels (operating as the Merriman Hotel) to provide accommodation for 98 IPAS applicants for two years. The contract was signed in early March (without consultation with anyone outside the Department) and is now in force.

The DCEDIY Community Engagement Team have confirmed that there was no evaluation undertaken on the ability of local services (e.g. schools, medical, etc.) to provide additional services for the IPAS applicants in the village.

The Community Council have again written to the Taoiseach asking for an explanation as to why Government policy has been breached in contracting the sole hotel in the village. It was also pointed out that the given reason ‘it was not an operating hotel’ is erroneous and disingenuous. We await a reply.

The Community Council have written to our seven Oireachtas members (4 TDs and 3 Senators) asking them to take a more collaborative approach in standing together for the residents of Kinvara. Minister Sean Canney has agreed to convene a meeting of the group when the Dáil reconvenes next Tuesday.

The Community Council has asked TD’s Albert Dolan, Louis O’Hara and Senator Anne Rabbitte for the status of their undertaking at the Community Council meeting to attempt to have the contract paused.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have indicated that there is no immediate plan to relocate the Ukrainian community from the hotel.

Local residents have commenced an application for a Judicial Review of the government’s decision to execute a contract without consultation. Petitions to accompany the application are available for signing in local shops and pubs.

The next Community Council Meeting will be held on 21st May in the Community Centre, all Kinvara residents are welcome to attend. This statement will be updated regularly to provide information to the community.

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All reactions:

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We had a constructive and open discussion with our elected representatives, outlining the serious impact this will have on our local economy and community life. Kinvara has always welcomed refugees, but we believe responsibility must be shared fairly nationwide. The government’s policy states that no town should lose its only hotel in this way.

Minister Sean Canney has committed to meeting the Taoiseach to discuss our concerns. After An Taoiseach has been briefed, a follow-up meeting with East Galway Oireachtas members will take place, and we will receive an update shortly after.

Kinvara Community Council supports the humane treatment of Ukrainians at the Merriman Hotel. We demand that no immediate action be taken to remove these guests without proper consultation.

We ask the community to remain patient as we work through proper channels to find a fair and peaceful resolution. Please continue to support the campaign by contacting Oireachtas members and making your voice heard